Early History

Colleen grew up surrounded by a musical environment - her family. Everyone plays and sings. Each family gathering turns into a musical jam session. At age six, Colleen started staging her own shows in the basement, charging for popcorn and Kool-aid (a mind for marketing even then!). When her parents got an electric garage door opener, Colleen moved to another level and even bigger venue. The neighborhood crowded into lawn chairs set up in the driveway.

Colleen studied drama and piano throughout junior high and high school. She developed her stage presence by performing in dramatic plays such as Caged Birds, Grease, MacBeth, and The Wizard of Oz. Colleen completed Royal Conservatory of Toronto Piano, grades one and two, and Preliminary Theory, achieving First Class Honors. Colleen joined the All City Centennial Choir in 1995, and was a member for three years. She studied voice with Jana Lapel from 1995 to 1997 and continued vocal instruction with Laurier Fagan in 1997 and 1998. Upon learning Guitar in 1997, Colleen began adding music to her poetry.

In April 1996, Colleen performed at Queen Elizabeth High School's Western Days with her band, Backroad Rebels. This was the turning point. Until then, Colleen had considered a career in radio broadcasting. However, now her destiny was certain. The applause, the happy faces, the love of singing, and the thrill of performing captured Colleen's heart and Soul. Colleen Rae the artist was born.

At age eighteen Colleen Rae perform a Connie Smith Tribute Tour that lasted two years. She also performed with the trio, Rocky Mountain Roses, where she honed her skills as a harmony vocalist. After a year with the trio, Colleen decided to only focus on a solo career.

In 1999, Colleen Rae headed into the studio to record a demo of three songs she co-wrote with renowned songwriter Dennis Charney. That demo attracted funding from The Alberta Foundation for the Arts for her next demo recorded at Louis Sedmak Productions.

As a solo artist in 2002 Colleen Rae performed at the Calgary Stampede, Roughstock Rodeo and at Frank Sisson's Casino as the opening act for Jake Mathews.

Other highlights of her career included performing at Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, headlining at Carlton Trail Jamboree in Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan, and at Klondike Days, Edmonton, Alberta.

The passion and drive are obvious, see it and hear it for yourself.