About Artist
I started singing in front of company when I was 9 years old due primarily to my piano teacher Mom who accompanied me and coaxed me to. I became the soloist in the kids choirs in school and church. My first band at 14 was called "The Five Lives". Isn't that funny? We sang around Newport, Tennessee where I grew up. I was that hometown girl that sang at all of the local events, you know, graduations, football and postman banquets, weddings, etc.. Yes. That was me. I moved from Newport, Tennessee to Houston, Texas and got a job at NASA where I was on a team that trained the astronauts to land the shuttle. :) I sang at Johnson Space Center picnics in an issued blue jumpsuit and had my own astronaut wings. (I borrowed the suit and knew the guy who made the wings). I also wore high heels on stage - they don't issue high heels for landing the shuttle or for space walks for that matter :D
Even as a single, divorced Mom, I seem to sing everywhere. One opportunity was a duet . (Hi Brad). We did easy listening cover tunes around Houston. I remember that loud hamburger joint and the sound of the register over a Karen Carpenter ballad. And, of course, weddings... and a French restaurant where I sang songs like "It's Too Late" with a killer R&B band (loved that flute solo), and that great 9 piece orchestra at over a year's worth of company parties. (Hi Max!) That was my favorite because I wore a long gown and gloves, and did songs like "The Rose". We also performed at the places like the Galvez hotel, Galveston and the White Hall Hotel downtown. I was also an understudy for the Houston Pops - an Andrew Sisters Medley spoof! (Hello Ned!) My daughter and I relocated to Dallas where I discovered the new country (sounded like the Eagles to me?!) and became an Opry circuit regular around Texas. The most popular of those being the Grapevine Opry and Johnny High. I usually did Linda Ronstat, Reba, and Trisha Yearwood covers. Johnny is a big supporter of my songwriting and asked me to sing some of my original songs on his show. One night, I joined a trio that sang like the Judds - and we formed "Heartland Express". (Hi Girls!) We also followed the Opry circuit singing the Trio Album (Dolly, Linda, Emilou), the Whites and three part harmony copy. I sang tenor. (It's been said I could harmonize with a pipe humming). Somewhere in there, I was in an MCI rock band where I sang some Journey and Heart (Hi Mike). I don't think we had a name for that band. Ha! And, there is a musical in there somewhere. I was the lead, Lavern for "Warehouse", an original musical comedy that I did when I was off for the summer. I auditioned to sing with the choir offstage. Of course, I loved it.
Okay - I'm suppose to add that the first song that I recorded, "Valley So Serene", (a blue grass song about being homesick for Tennessee) was aired in four states in two months, and I was also aired internationally for several months after. (Thank you, Stan). I started getting fan mail and alot from other countries. Valley was used in a United Way Campaign Theme for Quaker Oats for my hometown county in Tennessee and aired in commercials and videos for the UW. I was also interviewed on many radio stations including one in Newport where they made me cry. That is why I started taking my music a little more seriously...
However, it wasn't until I wrote a song about my abusive first marriage that my career really began to fulfill me. I began keynote speaking on behalf of domestic violence issues, and feel like I'm making a difference by performing my signature song "Don't Hurt the Baby's Mama" (My x-mother-in-law said those words). It has been used in healing workshops. I would like to do a public service announcement on behalf of Domestic Violence Awareness with the signature theme. Singing is still the most comfortable thing that I do.
Don't even get me started on my supportive family because that would be another full page :). This was for Mary.
