The music industry is packed with singer/songwriters but oddly enough there are very few females who sing and write their own songs. The musical landscape is about to change with rising singer/songwriter, Kate Voegele. This 20 year old, Cleveland native may have just released her first full length album, but she has spent the past few years gaining experience and learning about the business from some of today's most prolific musical artists in the industry.While growing up, Kate's father, who is also a musician, exposed her to the songs of legendary artists like Carole King, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Eric Clapton. Listening to them inspired her to write, and by the time she finished high school she had filled notebook after notebook with songs of her own creation. At 16, Kate received the break of a lifetime when some rough demos she recorded with her father led to an opening slot on the 2003 John Mayer/Counting Crows tour. Subsequently, she opened for Dave Matthews, the Wreckers, Howie Day and John Mellencamp. She also got exposure on the festival circuit, performing at two consecutive Farm-Aid concerts, Summerfest, SXSW and a multitude of club venues. Topping off her road experience, she took first place among over 4,000 entries to the New York Songwriters' Circle, winning Pop Song of the Year for her single, Only Fooling Myself. That same single also won the USA Songwriting Contest. Kate's ambitious nature soon took over thanks to her experience on the road and awards she won, and she became motivated more than ever to make an album and take her music to an even wider audience.Kate began to collaborate with some of today's top professional producers and songwriters who have worked with talented young artists like Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne. Together, they worked up a set of demos in Los Angeles which caught the attention of several A&R representatives. However, after meeting with fledgling label, MySpace Records, she decided that their fresh approach to marketing and appreciation of original music were the right fit for what she wanted to accomplish. She signed with them in October of 2006 and released her debut album, Don't Look Away. It wasn't long before Hollywood came knocking on her door.CW, the television network known for introducing fresh new acting talent and promoting new musical artists to the world through exposure on its shows, has given Kate a recurring role on the fifth season of its hit television series, One Tree Hill. She will be featured in a multi-episode arc as an artist named Mia who gets the attention of Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), a club owner. Kate makes her debut on the January 22nd episode. In conjunction with her foray into acting, MySpace Records has decided to re-release her debut album. This busy young woman is also currently touring with musician, Ben Lee.In five short years Kate has gone from filling books with her original music to touring with some of the top artists in the music industry, winning awards for her songwriting skills, and becoming a recurring character on one of CW's top rated shows. At this rate, there is no telling where Kate will be a year from now, but we here at Young Hollywood are looking forward to seeing her career soar to new heights as she continues to explore new paths and write new music.To find out more information about Kate, check out www.katevoegele.com.