Franklin Matters: Wrentham native Ayla Brown returns to THE BLACK BOX on February 17

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Wrentham native Ayla Brown returns to THE BLACK BOX on February 17

Country music recording artist and Wrentham native Ayla Brown headlines a New England Artists Series concert at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin on Friday, February 17 at 8 p.m.

The singer-songwriter, athlete, and TV personality experienced early recognition in 2006 as a Season 5 semi-finalist on the Fox-TV phenomenon, American Idol. The singing competition has launched the recording careers of superstars Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson and many more.

Wrentham native Ayla Brown returns to THE BLACK BOX

Since then, Ayla’s career has taken her to the legendary stages of the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium. She has opened for numerous country music stars, including Jason Aldean, Clint Black, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans, Tracy Lawrence, Loretta Lynn, Craig Morgan, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner and Chris Young. Ayla has also made multiple CMA Music Festival appearances and was a national news correspondent for The Early Show on CBS.

She recorded her self-titled country music album, Ayla Brown, at Ronnie’s Place, the Nashville studio of legendary country music star Ronnie Milsap. Ayla produced the album from her own record label, Ambient Entertainment, and wrote seven of the CD’s nine tracks.

Her 2012 sophomore release, a patriotic-inspired album titled Heroes & Hometowns, peaked at #1 on Amazon MP3 and reached #51 on iTunes. Ayla performed two singles from the album, “Pride of America” and “Hero in Her Hometown,” with the Boston Pops in 2013 during the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade. A portion of every CD sale of Heroes & Hometowns benefits Hugs for Heroes, Inc., a Massachusetts-based military nonprofit. Ayla has entertained American troops overseas in Afghanistan, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

Ayla’s most recent album, Let Love In, was released in 2015. The full-length, 13-song album was sponsored by the popular Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, and two of Ayla’s songs, “Matches and Gasoline” and the album’s title track, are in rotation in every Texas Roadhouse jukebox throughout the country. On Valentine’s Day, Ayla will release a brand new single, “Take Your Name.”

Tickets for Ayla Brown’s concert at THE BLACK BOX are $22 (adults) and $20 (students/seniors). For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370. THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin.