Abby Gough: Biography Birth Name: Abigail Wendy Gough Birth Place: Houston, Texas Date of Birth: 02/05/1997 Profession: Country-music Singer/Songwriter Born February 5, 1997 in Houston, Texas, It was destiny for rising star Abby Gough, to write and record a song for one of her biggest influences, country music legend Merle Haggard. “My father is a huge Haggard fan so I grew up listening to Merle Haggard and by the time I was eight years old, I knew every word to every Haggard song.” Laughing, Abby says “Not too many of my friends even knew who he was.” “Me & Merle” is just one of seven original songs on Abby’s first CD, Southern Fire Angel, released March 31, 2012. Abby appeared on a CBS affiliate station, KHOU-Channel 11 Houston, The Deborah Duncan Show, for the first time in October of 2011. “I still love the old classics and have even included a couple of them on my CD Southern Fire Angel. I gave my sound to “Sweet Dreams” by Patsy Cline and “Empty Glass” by Gary Stewart.” Abby appeared again on The Deborah Duncan Show again in March, 2012. Abby started to sing when she was just 8 years old in her church. Abby’s father and grandfather, both musicians and singers, have had a great influence on her life. “I watched them sing and play guitar as long as I can remember which is where my deep roots and great love for country music come from.” She picked up a guitar when she was eleven years old and taught herself to play. Abby began songwriting when she was only thirteen years old and finished her first CD Southern Fire Angel at fourteen years old. "I have been performing for so long now that I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t. This is my dream! I have known this since the first time I performed in front of an audience.” In recent years Abby has performed on many stages from Houston to Nashville. She was selected to perform for the 2012 Springboard South Music Festival at City Centre and again in 2013 at Warehouse Live in Houston. Also, in 2013 she performed in Nashville at the world famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Hardrock Café. She continues to write her songs and perform for audiences all over with her band “Southern Fire.” Abby is currently working on a new project in the studio. She has just finished a new recording of one of her originals, Tennessee, and is working on her first music video. “I am so excited for this project. “ Abby says, “I love to entertain and through my video I not only get to share my song but the vision of what it means to me.” She has big dreams and is confident she will realize all of them. “From the first time I stood on a stage and performed, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I still have so many goals to reach but as long as I am making music my dreams are coming true.”