by Sharon Early

Created on: November 26, 2011

Amy Lynn Hartzler, born December 13th of 1981, and better known as Amy Lee-co-founder and lead singer of the rock band Evanescence, is a classically trained pianist, a singer, and a songwriter. Born Amy Lynn Lee, she has two sisters and one brother. Her father John Lee was a disc jockey and radio personality. Her mother was Sara Cargill. The Lee family moved around quite a bit through the southern and midwestern United States in places as divergent as Florida and Illinois, before finally settling in Little Rock, Arkansas, which is the birthplace of Evanescence.

Throughout her childhood despite the constant relocating Amy studied classical piano for 9 years, she composed her first song at age 11, when she still dreamed of becoming a classical composer. Amy attended the Middle Tennessee State University for a short time, studying music theory and composition. Lee cites musical influences from Motzart, to Tori Amos, Danny Elfman, Bjok, and Plumb. Her collegiate career was cut short by her need to focus her energies on Evanescence and her budding musical career.

In 2007, Amy Lee first became engaged to and then married Josh Hartzler. The nuptials took place on May 6th 2007, after which she proudly posted on EvThreads that she is now “officially Mrs. Amy Hartzler. Her husband is a long time friend of hers, and is not in the music industry, Josh Hartzler works as a therapist.

The band Evanescence was founded with guitarist and songwriting partner Ben Moody, whom Amy met at a youth camp. Within a month of their meeting they were playing acoustic music sets in small Arkansas coffee houses and bookstores. They eventually recorded two EP's in 1998 and 1999 and began their quest for the big time. Moody left the band due to creative differences with Lee in October of 2003 and was replaced by the former Cold guitarist and songwriter Terry Balsamo. The band Evanescence continues to produce and perform music in venues around the world. Amy Lee is one of the most recognized female faces in rock and roll and was named the #1 Hottest Chick in Hard Rock by the industry publication Revolver in 2011.

Outside of music, Amy Lee is the Chairperson for the organization Out of the Shadows which is an international epilepsy awareness foundation. Her younger brother Robbie has been diagnosed with an epileptic disorder. Amy was individually recognized for her musical talent and skill as a songwriter in 2008 when she received the Songwriter Icon Award from the National Music Publisher' Association. The award is for the purpose of recognizing “outstanding songwriters for their personal achievement.”

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