From Rainbow Lake to Grande Prairie and Peace River to Coaldale, Jill Newman honed her guitar chops as a lead guitarist playing in country rock bands. With nothing but her trusty telecaster, a few tacky country and western outfits and a strong sense of adventure, Jill logged countless miles on the road. Her unique voice and gutsy guitar playing engaged audiences in the honky tonks and saloons of Northern Alberta and BC.

Jill's love of music began at an early age. With a mom who played Chopin on the piano and a dad who listened exclusively to Hank Williams and Dolly Parton, Jill quickly learned that musical styles don't matter so long as the music is good. By the age of six, Jill was entertaining her family by loudly singing Jim Reeves songs while riding through the Wisconsin hills in the family station wagon. Jill was delighted, on her 16th birthday, to receive her first banjo and later that year, her first guitar, which she played until the frets wore out. When a friend gave her an electric guitar (a cheap Stratocaster copy with high action), she knew she had found her calling: She was going to be a professional guitarist.

As a teenager growing up on Vancouver Island, Jill delighted audiences in local coffee houses with her original tunes. By the age of 21, she was singing and playing guitar for a living. After a brief detour through university — with a stint as a radio host on a college station — Jill packed a suitcase, some business cards and her guitar and, as the song goes, headed out to Alberta. She was soon working seven nights a week as a pick-up guitarist with everything from country rock groups to an all-female punk band. Several years of roadwork, some harrowing experiences, and the harsh prairie winters took their toll and Jill found herself longing for life back on the west coast. She returned to Vancouver and began playing her earthy brand of lead guitar and singing in bands, theatre gigs and concerts throughout the lower mainland.

In 1996, Jill turned her attention to original projects and became the lead guitarist and a vocalist for Jessee Jane, Vancouver's hottest all women roots band. Performing their award winning original material throughout the lower mainland, the Janes earned a loyal following. The demise of the Janes led to several years working as the lead guitarist for the roots-alt country band, The Swinging Doors and many successful gigs at Ranch Festivals and Vancouver's roots venues.

Discovering Lucinda Williams' CD "Essence" and Tom Waits', "Mule Variations" gave Jill the push she was looking for. She knew it was time to concentrate on writing and performing her own material. Penning tunes and planning her CD became Jill's passion. With the help of producer and multi-instrumentalist, Stephen Nikleva (Sandy Scofield, Ray Condo, Red Herring, Veda Hille, Animal Slaves), Jill created her debut CD, "Fragile Walls".

"Fragile Walls" showcases Jill's songwriting, skillful instrumental work and passionate singing. Her songs are filled with the depth and emotion that comes from a lot of living and a lot of miles on the road. Whether she's singing about forgiveness in the ethereal "It's All right" or playing gritty slide guitar in the sardonic "Plenty of Fish in the Sea", Jill Newman's unique voice and solid, earthy lead guitar work make her a truly original artist.