The star that influenced me in elementary school was Petula Clark. As a singer, she was loud and clear. Because I played the flute for three years in both elementary school and in seventh grade in the school band, I learned to read notes. After taking about fifty piano lessons in the fifth grade, my ear was primed and accustomed to indelible melodies of classic composers. They are still viable in classic piano repertoire. After having read the sheet music and played the pieces a few times, I had completely memorized it and could play without the musical score.
At age fifteen, I purchased a Gibson guitar, to accompany my vocals. On guitar, I was self taught, having bought books. I revelled in vocals, four hours at a time . My preference as a singer and for song selection, was Judy Collins, and I learned many of her songs by ear.
Two summers as a fifteen and sixteen year old I taught swimming to elementary grade school children in an Olympic sized pool. I was not just an athlete, but also a diver. I could swim the entire length of the pool, underwater. I differ with the vocal teachers who claimed I was a mezzo soprano, because it took all of my athleticism to stand and attack the high notes, singing four hours a day in my forties.
As a liberal arts major, I attended three SUNYS and a Community College, and dropped out of each. After having been married for thirteen years and raising a stepchild, I divorced. During the marriage I worked ten years, full-time in a shoestore. For a total of eighteen years, I worked in the retail business, standing on my feet full-time. At age forty I began working with my esteemed, over-the-top arranger and producer, Andy Calabrese. Also, Mark Webster, another producer, arranged seven songs on the Dance Party CD.
This library of uplifting songs were written, vocalized and recorded inspired by meaningful friends, my imagination, and nature walks. These songs, with Jazzeropics, should have you on the edge of your chair!
