How Does a Girl from Orange County End Up Performing in
CUBA?

The scene: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on Independence Day, 2005. The audience: more than 2,000 cheering U.S. troops. Katy Eggleton on stage!

Katy’s wild and wonderful journey to Cuba began in the sixth grade when she won a solo part in her middle school's musical. After many more musicals and a couple of years in a singer-songwriter program, she took the stage with a band and wowed her fellow classmates, 600 of them, with her own rendition of Matchbox Twenty's “Bright Lights,” her first rock solo.

Through one of her music teachers, she met the founder of the Los Angeles Music Awards, who couldn't believe she was only 16. He had been making preparations for a tour of military bases, which would culminate at Guantanamo Bay for the 4th of July. One of his artists was short one back-up singer, and whop bam boom Katy was committed to three weeks on a bus as the youngest member of a country rock act.

Across the Southern U.S., from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, the bus tour visited a different military base almost every night. Katy immediately felt at home with and respected by all of her band members. The band got the red carpet treatment at Guantanamo Bay, with the stage erected at the beach so the band's performance could be lit up with fireworks from behind. After the concert, she was greeted by troops chanting, "Katy! Katy!", signed autographs, gave out cards with her e-mail, and now has an instant fan base just waiting for her first single.

Katy reported that at every base she visited the troops were fun and friendly. She felt their love and respect and also spoke to them about their love for their country, and why they serve. She felt honored to give back to them by entertaining them, and they made no secret of their appreciation.

Katy returned from the tour a changed girl. With a new perspective, she felt for the first time comfortable in her own skin on stage. And with these experiences she found more songwriting material and purpose.