Born in January 1980, Cheri Potter, was blessed at an early age to discover two of her passions in life ~ music and art! Her love of music first surfaced at age four, when she belted out “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie” at a talent show and brought people to their feet! Her first Sunday morning solo “We Shall Behold Him” earned her the nickname “Sandi Patti Potter”.
Cheri began piano lessons on her fifth birthday, however soon after beginning lessons, her piano teacher was at a loss of how to teach her how to read music. After listening to her teacher play the song, Cheri would sit at the piano, look up at the music as if “reading” it, and play the song. It didn’t take too long for her teacher to realize that Cheri was not reading the music at all, but rather playing it by ear!
Cheri began writing her own music by age 14, and at age 16 (in 1996) she recorded her first CD Single “Window/I Promise”. Cheri’s song, “I Promise”, written as a tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing, went on to receive air play on radio stations throughout the United States, was awarded second place in the 1997 Christian Artists’ Seminar in the Rockies Songwriting Competition, and has been featured three times on Arizona news stations on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. This tender song continues to touch hearts and bring comfort to those who've lost loved ones.
In 1998, Cheri was asked to write a song for the “Nations Missing Children” Organization, to be performed on the Bank One Ballpark baseball field before an Arizona Diamondbacks Game. Within a week, she wrote a song entitled “Before Tomorrow Is Gone”, and along with a friend, sang it before a Diamondbacks crowd of nearly 40,000 people!
At age 19, Cheri performed at the Celebrity Theater in Arizona three times over the course of two months. Once as a finalist in the “Merry Arizona Search for a Desert Star”, and once as a finalist in the “True Value Jimmy Dean Country Showdown”, which won her the opportunity to open for country singer “Martina McBride” at her Celebrity Theater concert.
Cheri met her future husband, Damian DeGruccio a year ealier in 1998, but it was soon after the Martina McBride concert that their friendship developed into something deeper. Three years later, they were married in Carefree, Arizona and have happily settled into life as husband and wife, as well as partners - along with Damian’s brother - in their home business.
In November of 2004, Cheri found an interest in sculpting using polymer clay, and it has come one of her passions! She particularly enjoys sculpting 1/12th scale children and babies, and has began selling her sculptures on the Internet as well as taking a few commissions per month. (Be sure to visit Cheri’s website featuring her sculptures by visiting the “Music & Merchandise” page.)
This year, she has been given the opportunity to record her first full-length CD! Recording began in May 2005, and the new CD is expected to be finished and available before the beginning of next year.
Throughout her years of singing, songwriting, and playing the piano, Cheri’s songs have reached into the hearts and homes of thousands of people. However, she continues to be most inspired by the individuals, young and old, who have shared their hearts with her and their stories of how God has used her songs to touch their lives. So many people have lost loved ones, but find a moment of comfort in hearing the message of “I Promise”, or are taken back to a memory of first love by “Do You Ever”, or find hope in the reassuring lyrics of “Always”. And that is what matters most.
Cheri is humbled by God’s blessings and the talents he has entrusted her with. And her ultimate goal in life is to use His blessings to inspire, comfort, or even just bring a smile to those she is fortunate enough to share them with.
