Kayla Woodson

Kayla has been singing ever since she could talk at the age of two but realized her love for performing in front of an audience when singing her first solo at a school fair at age four and then entering her first competition receiving 1st Place in the Winners Talent Showcase.  When she turned five, she joined LA Kids, a division of American Kids, which gave her experience singing and performing at various fairs, festivals, nursing homes, competitions and traveling to Branson, Missouri.

At age seven, she became a member of the Jefferson Performing Arts Society where she performed in the Broadway Gala including musical selections from Peter Pan, Les Miserables, Godspell, and the summer program Children of Eden.  She was also invited to sing on the Kids World Stage at the Contraband Days Festival in Lake Charles, LA.

At age eight, she performed with several local bands including traveling to Disney World to sing with "The Topcats" and to Texas to sing on the Texas Opry Circuit.  She experienced singing duets as Thunder-n-Lightnin' in which the nicknames were given to them from the kids at Camp Challenge (Kayla was Lightnin').  She also sang with opening act Gail Marie at a David Ball concert.  She has performed the National Anthem at many events while eight years old including; televised New Orleans Hornets professional basketball game, radio broadcasted New Orleans Zephyrs baseball game, Baton Rouge Kingfish hockey game, TKO Productions championship boxing match, televised ESPN College Basketball Slam Dunk, Krewe of Grela Ball, and the Big Dog Bowl football jamboree. 

At age nine, she was featured live on radio and appeared on television, the news and a TV commercial for Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  She has received many awards throughout the years and received a very special award acknowledging her as a young talented artist.  While representing the United States, her performance on stage at the 2003 Golden Magnolia International Children's Music Festival landed her a F.I.D.O.F. (International Federation of Festival Organizations) Diploma recognizing her exceptional talent in music arts.  From there she was invited to represent the United States and perform at the Golden Star in Romania October 2004.  Coming up August of 2004 she had the great honor of being chosen to study under Andrea Bocelli's vocal instructors in Italy.

She had the honor of singing patriotic songs including the National Anthem at Lafreniere Park for the Sept. 11th tribute to our country, being a musical guest on the talk show "Our Generation," and being invited again this season to sing the National Anthem at the New Orleans Hornets basketball game.  She had a blast being interviewed and singing live on B-97 97.1FM, Rajun Cajuns 100.3FM, & Today's Best Country KCIL 107.5FM.  Also she is the youngest member on the 2004 Louisiana Music Cavalcade which is a program supervised by Louisiana's Secretary of State's office under Fox McKeithen to promote Louisiana artist culture and music.  They opened for legendary Percy Sledge at the Delta Music Hall of Fame in Ferriday, LA. 

She traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to appear on the show "Music City Spotlight" which aired during the 2004 CMA'a Music Fest/Fan Fair and was seen in the commercial.

Kayla and Jamie O'Neal

At age ten, she traveled to Italy to train at the Bocelli School of Music under the direction of famed Andrea Bocelli's current vocal instructors.  While in Italy performed at the Piano Bar where Andrea Bocelli was first signed and at the Evening Gala.  This was quiet an experience she'll never forget.  

She performed at the House of Blues in New Orleans with the LA Music Cavalcade opening for New Orleans own Irma Thomas.  On the radio, "Three Minute Love Song" is getting air play.  And she was an opening performer at country singer Jamie O'Neals' concert at the Mandeville Trailhead Amphitheater.   

Her 13 song cd titled "Life Isn't Easy" is now available and is filled with songs from the past, present and songs you will hear for the first time.  It was produced by Buzzy from the local New Orleans band "The Topcats" who recorded, mixed & mastered the cd at the Apartment Studio. 

She traveled to Bucharest, Romania to represent the United States at the televised Golden Star Children's International Talent Fest performing an original song titled "Louisiana Lightning" by an Italian composer.  Twenty-two youngsters represented their countries and Kayla took home 2nd Prize.

At age 11, Kayla is performing with her band "Louisiana Lightning" and loving every minute of it.  They have performed at many prestigious events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, Washington Parish Fair, Destrehan Plantation Festival, & the Mandeville Seafood Festival.  She is a member of the USA Opry Network performing at the Lakeside Opry and traveling to Texas performing on Texas Opry shows as well.  She recorded her second cd show casing her ability to sing in country, pop, gospel and even a tune in spanish.