This page contains a brief overview on the album DIANNE KILLEN: Pattern of My Heart. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
Dianne grew up in Kittery, Maine the youngest of three girls. Her father delivered mail in the tiny coastal town. She remembers singing at an early age with her father playing the guitar. "He learned to play from an instructional series on PBS. I tried to play his guitar but it was one of those Sears specials and the strings were too hard to press down on. I didn't know there was any other kind so it was years before I picked up a guitar again." While her older sisters were listening to The Beatles and The Stones, Dianne's first album was a Monkees record. "I didn't know what harmony was at the time but that's what I liked about them, besides, Peter was so cute."

She joined her junior high school choir and kept singing through high school and into college listening to the radio and singing along with Rita Coolidge, John Denver, Joni Mitchell and Elton John records. She bought her first guitar while attending college in Tennessee. "It was a Yamaha I bought at a fire sale for three hundred dollars. I learned some songs and also began writing my own songs. I wasn't studying music; I was an equestrian and physical education major intent on becoming a teacher."

But one day, Dianne helped organize a coffee house concert and ended up as the opening act for a bluegrass band. "I was really nervous and the banjo player took me aside and told me to remember that all those people watching wouldn't be watching if they had the nerve to get on stage and perform themselves. So with that advice I began my performing career."

After college, Dianne moved back to New England and started her first country band. That led to the formation of Angel Train, a band that won many awards, including The Boston Music Award and The Marlboro Country Music Talent Round Up, beating out over two thousand acts nation-wide. That led to a national tour opening for Poco and .38 Special. The group also opened for Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rodney Crowell, Highway 101, and Sweethearts of The Rodeo. Winning the Marlboro contest also brought her to Nashville to record with famed producer Barry Beckett. "Angel Train was a great band and we had terrific success, the experience opened a lot of doors."

Later, Dianne took a songwriting class in New York City from hit songwriter Hugh Prestwood. "I was fortunate enough to learn from one of the great writers in the business." Prestwood encouraged Dianne to make the move to Nashville which she did in December '92, obtaining a publishing deal within months of her arrival. "I wrote songs with Ronnie Dunn, Paul Jefferson and Suzy Ragsdale. I played at writers nights all over town and got to truly experience living and breathing songs 24 hours a day!"

In 1995 Dianne met and fell in love with songwriter Michael Killen and the two began performing as The Killens. Michael and Dianne entered the studio the following year to begin work on their first album, "A Voice Like Yours." That CD defined their sound as a duo while showcasing their original styles and songs. Appearances on The Grand Ole Opry, at The Kerrville Folk Festival, Billy Blocks Western Beat and The Bluebird Cafe followed. The duo has gone on to release three more CD's including 2005's "Eagles & Horses."

2002 marked the release of Dianne's first solo disc, "Pattern of My Heart." As Dianne puts it, "I had always wanted to make an album of all these songs I'd written over the years and Michael championed the cause, producing and designing the whole thing. I'm very proud of both the album and his dedication to making it happen." Michael adds, "It had been a dream of mine for some time to make an album of Dianne's original songs. I give all the credit to Dianne for the amazing singer that she is and for writing incredible songs."

Whether performing with Michael or on her own, Dianne Killen is thrilled to bring her unique voice to contemporary American music.

Track List:
1. Lord, Grant Me Patience
2. Nothing Between Us Tonight
3. Every Time We Kiss
4. If Only Love Had Left Me Blind
5. Pattern of My Heart
6. My Heart Will Prove You Wrong
7. Give You What I Need
8. Lovin' on Borrowed Time
9. Just The Kinda Thing
10. As Long As I Have You in My Heart
11. Tonight, I'm Gonna Fall in Love
12. This is Love
13. I Just Can't Find it in My Heart

Suggested CDs:

• The Killens
• Kate E. Oyler

Other Genres:

• COUNTRY: Country Rock
• COUNTRY: Country Pop
• SOLO FEMALE ARTIST