FARMINGTON — Most teenagers wouldn’t admit a preference for country music, even when that was what they heard at home.

Local musician Sandy Waite-Haskell not only heard it but realized country music was “the love of my life” after her musical family got together regularly to play.

Five years ago, the woman also known as Arizona Rose added another love to her life, her husband Ric, whom she introduced to the music and who has developed a talent for playing virtual instruments on the computer. They will release their first CD during the Farmington Fair.

“I felt it was only fitting to release it then because one of my fondest childhood memories was of the big family parties,” Waite-Haskell said. “The biggest was the fair party where my father, Joe Waite, his five brothers and sisters from Rumford and other local musicians would gather at our home on Saturday night to entertain a house full. My mother, Glynnese, would host and prepare enough food to feed everyone who came through the door.”

The couple’s first CD, titled “I was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” from the Barbara Mandrell song, reflects her life and includes their rendition of some classic country tunes such as “Jambalaya” and Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight.”

“We’re so excited because neither of us ever imagined we would be releasing a CD,” she said.

Creating their recording studio out of a closet in their home, Ric learned to coordinate synthesized instruments from computer software to back up Sandy’s music. He works with 128 musical instruments but could pick and choose from more than 1,500, he said.

Overcoming a touch of shyness, Waite-Haskell started performing after college. She has entertained residents of local nursing homes for the past 35 years, including Sandy River Nursing Care Center in Farmington where her mother has lived the past 25 years.

She also has played at the Wilton Blueberry Festival, the Farmington Fair and Larry Bisbee’s Countryfolk Music Theatre in East Dixfield. She is the past host of Musicians of Maine on Mt. Blue TV, Channel 11, where her 2009 Meetinghouse Park summer concert series will begin airing this fall. The couple also performs in Arizona, where they reside during the winter.

They will perform at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Farmington Fair. For copies of their CD or more information phone 778-3900 or e-mail [email protected].

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