People of Passion Cy-Fair singer and songwriter brings soul back to country music Written by Kirsten Ham | Photography by Jason Lehecka Amber Lynn Slack combines heartfelt lyrics with amazing vocals to create a classical country feel 72 • CY-FAIR MAGAZINE Visit CyFairMagazine.com for Cy-Fair jobs, events, news and more. A As soulful chords escape from the strings of a 1960s Gibson guitar, Amber Lynn Slack rehearses repeatedly until the verse sounds perfect. Having rescued her from a dangerous situation at the age of 10, her grandparents Donnie and Debbie Slack raised Amber and her brothers in the caring community of Cy-Fair. Through their encouragement and support, as well as a chance meeting with music legend A.V. Mittelstedt, Amber realized her dreams of pursuing a singing career. Homegrown Roots “I’ve always loved singing country music, and Texas sure is a great place to do that,” laughs Amber. Growing up in Cy-Fair, her early years were filled with warm days along Cypress Creek, involvement in school theater programs, and spending time with her beloved grandparents. One thing set Amber’s childhood apart from that of her peers, though: She was already honing her talent with live public performances. “On a Sunday afternoon, we headed to this dance hall out in the middle of nowhere,” Debbie explains. “You would’ve thought it had been abandoned, but there were hundreds of people there.” Amber’s friend Lefty signed her up, and when the 12-year-old took to the stage, the audience was blown away by her rich A.V. Mittelstedt works with Slack vocals reminiscent in the studio to perfect tracks of Patsy Cline. After for her upcoming album her performance, a Styrofoam cup was passed around and gathered tips for her. “There was a $100 bill in there,” remembers Debbie. “And she asked me, ‘You don’t think this was someone’s grocery money, do you?’ She was so surprised.” Being able to play at local venues like the Alvin Opry, Tin Roof BBQ, Cypress Saloon, the Sugar Land Opry, the Kemah Boardwalk, and the Pasadena Opry has provided Amber with unimaginable experiences. One of those unique opportunities includes being one of only two children invited to sing at the Ben Johnson Memorial Benefit, second only to LeAnn Rimes. “I’ve sang with Randy Meadows, Big John Mills, Randy Corner, and of course the Good, Bad, & Ugly Band,” says Amber. “They’ve taught me so many different aspects of the business; that knowledge is irreplaceable.” Working with a Legend While performing at the Moose Lodge, Amber was introduced to songwriter and music producer A.V. Mittelstedt. Known for his work with artists like George Strait, Mark Chesnutt, Clay Walker, and Clint Black, Mittelstedt boasts five decades of music industry experience, in addition to numerous awards and national recognition. Although Mittelstedt had long since hung up his headphones, an unknown family connection caused him to take a second look at Amber. “It was the strangest thing,” recalls Donnie. “He asked me if I knew an Otto Slack, and that was my daddy. A.V had worked for him at a meat packing plant.” Mittelstedt took Amber under his wing and began teaching her how to play the guitar, the art of stage presence, production techniques, and how to cue her band mates during performances. “She was a natural,” Mittelstedt recalls. “She had a Godgiven talent, that extra that made her a cut above the rest.” “A.V. has put forth so much time and effort into me,” Amber says. “We all feel like God brought us together; it’s been a huge blessing. He’s my best friend.” More Than Lyrics After the death of her father and parental choices that led to being reared by her grandparents, Amber poured out her emotions through song. “I Can’t Save You Now” describes Amber’s relationship with her mother and the trials they’ve been through together. “There’s so much of me in that song,” Amber says. “I can barely sing it without choking up.” Amber describes her songs “I Cry” and “Just One More Day” as exposing her softer side and reveals that she’s always been a sucker for a sad country song. “She makes things fit together and paints a good picture with her songs,” says Mittelstedt. Admittedly, there’s another side to Amber’s music. “This girl can write some cheatin’ songs,” shares Mittelstedt’s wife, Dinah. Amber jokes that you can’t sing classic country music without loving cheatin’ songs. “I don’t want to write things that people don’t care about,” says Amber. “If you don’t have passion for what you are doing, your efforts just fly out the window.” To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email [email protected] CY-FAIR MAGAZINE • 73 Nicknamed “The First Lady of Rockabilly,” Wanda Jackson also served as a strong influence for Amber’s songwriting choices. “I got to meet her once, and she signed my guitar,” Amber recalls with a smile. “She’s an amazing female artist; I love her.” No Slowing Down Mittelstedt continues to work with Amber, and they are in the process of recording her first album. Her main goal has been to bring back the classic country sound, with strong emotions and deep feelings behind what she is singing. “Just keep going,” she advises other ambitious musicians. “Some people make fun of me for wanting to sing country music, but I don’t care. If you love something, you should pursue it with everything you have.” A.V. only laughs and adds, “Musicians should always keep something on the side they can fall back on.” Despite emotional struggles and inevitable challenges, Amber has never thought twice about pursuing her dream of becoming a singer and has no intentions of being derailed. “I went for what I wanted and nobody could slow me down,” she says. “I’m not about to stop now.” CFM KIRSTEN HAM enjoys being the editorial coordinator of CyFair Magazine and still remembers being an award-winning soloist in her parent’s living room. Options. Flexibility. Affordability. Register now for fall! Weekend College, online courses, Dual Credit courses, First Year Communities, workforce certificates and more! Weekday classes begin Aug. 27! Weekend College begins Sept. 7! Save the date Oct. 13 for the 8th annual Cy-Fest the original community day of free family fun! LoneStar.edu/cyfair LSC-Fairbanks Center 14955 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77040 LSC-CyFair 9191 Barker Cypress Cypress, TX 77433 affirmative action/eeo college 74 • CY-FAIR MAGAZINE Visit CyFairMagazine.com for Cy-Fair jobs, events, news and more. Get to Know Amber Lynn Slack • Age 19 • Graduated from Windfern High School • Favorite artist is Wanda Jackson • Once had extreme stage fright • Enjoys singing country classics from artists like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Tammy Wynette • Won a singing contest at Tootsies in Nashville when she was 11 • One of her most difficult challenges has been learning to play the guitar • She hopes her music inspires and encourages others To advertise, call 281-579-9831 or email [email protected] CY-FAIR MAGAZINE • 75