SPARKS — Musician Whitney Myer has released a CD and performed at local venues for more than nine years — and she’s only in her early 20s.

The singer and songwriter, who will be performing at the Great Basin Brewing Co. in Sparks on Saturday, is fully dedicating herself to a career in music after graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Spanish degree. 

“I’ve pretty much been in a band with my dad and uncle since I was 14,” Myer said. 

Her father, Scott Myer, plays guitar and her uncle, Fred Myer, plays the drums. Myer’s uncle and father previously toured with bands No Doubt and Sublime. 

Myer came from what she described as a “very musical family.”  Taking after her mother, Myer also plays the keyboard and guitar. She can be the girl on a stool playing guitar and crooning solo, she can sing the blues and she also has some hip hop-style songs.

The CD Myer is working on will feature local musicians like Jay Cowell of Sol Jibe. That CD will tentatively be released in either May or June. 

After several years of performing in the area, Myer has become familiar with the local music scene. 

“It seems like it has a music scene in Reno and Sparks that kind of waxes and wanes,” Myer said.  “There are so many talented people here, but not a huge demographic that will come out to local shows.  If people hear about a famous band that’s coming on the radio, they’ll go, but aren’t as likely to go to a show with someone they don’t know performing.”

The music of the Whitney Myer Band appeals to people from different age groups, Myer said.  Her most notable musical influences are James Brown and

Gladys Knight. 

“I was also really influenced by both of my parents,” Myer said.  “My mom is the worship leader at her church, and she taught me how to sing harmonies.  I also played with my dad since I was little.”

The Whitney Myer band also will be headlining at the Made in Reno show at the Knitting Factory at 211 N. Virginia St. in Reno on March 26.

Great Basin Brewing Co. is located at 846 Victorian Ave. in Sparks.  The show on Saturday starts at 9 p.m. and there is no cover.  All ages are allowed to watch the performance. For more information, call Great Basin at 355-7711.

To sample her music, go to www.myspace.com/thewhitneymyerband.