Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Ava grew up singing in her oldest brother’s rock’n’roll band. When a new song would come out, she’d buy the record, learn the lyrics and go around the neighborhood "putting on shows". Ava recalls, "I had one of those little True Tone record players, and I’d act as if I were Brenda Lee singing for anyone who’d listen."

Country music can be catching though, and each morning when Ava awoke, her father would be in the kitchen with the radio tuned to a Country station. Pretty soon, Ava started going to WNOX Auditorium on Saturday nights where an all-Country Music Show was performed. And not long after, Ava was hooked! Actually two good things happened in the early 70’s... First was that she became a country convert, and second, Ava met her husband, Roger, who was the drummer in the band.

Ava began singing professionally at age 10, joined a local "Country Music Show" at age 15 in Knoxville. Ava stayed with the show for four years. The show was carried on thirty television stations which gave Ava good exposure. Ava began performing around the Knoxville area, and even recorded for a local record label. Then Ava’s mother, an avid fan of Lawrence Welk, suggested Ava send Mr. Welk a tape.

Ava wrote to Mr. Welk in 1973. A couple of months later, Ava received a letter from Mr. Welk, wanting to have her on the show. Ava and Roger flew to the west coast in February 1974. Ava did her first show and was hired as a regular right on the air by Mr. Welk.

Ava pursued her recording career. She experienced success with her recording of "Waiting At The End Of Your Run." Then scored big on the charts with "Bucket To The South," going all the way to #13 on the Billboard Charts and #12 in Canada.

Being part of a nationally watched television show and having a hit record opened many doors for Ava. She appeared on many television shows such as: "Nashville Now," "Music City Tonight," "Prime Time," "Crook and Chase Show," and "The Grand Ole Opry," where she received a standing ovations for her hit "Bucket To The South." Ava has worked with many acts such as: Conway Twitty, The Statler Brothers, Barbara Mandrell, Dottie West, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, and many more.

When the Lawrence Welk Television Show ended and went into reruns in 1982, Ava and Roger moved back to Tennessee. They continued to travel on the road, working dates with her own band. Then in 1990, she opened her own theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, called the Rainbow Music Theatre. She performed there until August of '96.

At the present time, Ava performs at various dates all over the United States.

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