I believe that in every one of us there is an inner musician. I know that has been the case for me since the day I was born. It didn't hurt that I grew up with two incredibly talented parents. ;) I started singing the day I started talking. My parents have a recording of me singing "Jesus Loves Me" when I was 2 years old. I'll have to post that sometime..... I remember standing in the bed of my parents truck in the front yard, I guess I was about 6, singing at the top of my lungs and imagining that all the neighbors loved my voice so much that they all came out of their houses and to my driveway to hear my impromptu concert. J
All through school, I sang in Choir, talent contest after talent contest, community events, and even recorded the "National Anthem", which was played at my small town ballpark until a few years ago (that cassette tape HAD to have been worn out ;) ) I came home every day and went to my room and sang with my little karaoke machine. J My Senior year in High School I received a full scholarship to the University of Arkansas. Myself, and of course my parents, were very excited. :) The summer after I graduated from High School, I started dating my soul mate and partner in crime, Tommy. :) When visiting him at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, I fell in love with the Music Department and the beautiful campus..... and it didn't hurt that my boyfriend went to college there..... I marched right in to the Choir Director's office and started talking to him about the Department. He asked me to sing for the Department Heads that day. Since I had no idea I would be applying for a scholarship when I got up that morning, I had on overalls with a thermal underwear type shirt and my hair in a pony-tail (no make-up)... Serious stuff for a girl like me.. lol I went out to my car, got my book of Arias (Opera) and sang an aria from “La Boheme” and another from “The Magic Flute”. I was in fact a Country artist who was trained classically to sing Opera (that’s how you get scholarships ;) ). That day, the Choir Director and Dean of Music offered me a full scholarship. SO ~ Away I went!
A few years later my soul mate and I got married. A year after that, we had our first baby boy, Cody. As they do, things happened and music fell to the wayside. As soon as my oldest son started school, we knew something was wrong. A few years later, after we’d had our second son Connor, our oldest was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Music was definitely not on the top of my list of ‘Things To Do’ at that point. I spent most of my time researching the disorder (a high-functioning form of Autism) and finding ways to help Cody have a healthy and rewarding life. Little did I know that this little professor would teach me things and reward me in ways that I had no idea were possible. He and his little brother are truly a blessing.
Fast forward a few years…. My husband (probably getting tired of me singing in the kitchen and shower/ the two rooms with the best acoustics ;) ) convinced me that I needed to start singing again. He knew how much a part of me music was and knew I needed ‘me time’. I started singing with one of my Best Friend’s husbands, then with a local band. I loved it… I love it!! Singing is such a release for me. There is nothing more exhilarating than being on a stage in a room full of people and having them enjoy something that you love so much and are so passionate about.
One day, my Step-Dad (and one of my best friends) was playing my band’s demo in his office. One of his co-workers, Ron Smith, walked in to the room and asked who it was. When Mark told him that it was his step-daughter, he asked to meet me. That night, I went and sang karaoke with Ron Smith. That turned out to be the most important night of karaoke of my life. Ron turned out to be a great friend and he also happened to know a lot of people in the music industry. He liked my voice and wanted to help me build a career. Ron made a few phone calls and helped me get my demos to Nashville producer, Clyde Brooks. Clyde liked what he heard and called me for a meeting. I liked Clyde instantly! He has been working in the industry for years and is so knowledgeable! He knew exactly the direction I wanted to go without me even telling him. This trip to Nashville was in June I signed with Clyde a few weeks later. Clyde has been sending me songs over the past few months. From these songs, I will choose my first two singles. It has been so incredibly exciting! I honestly did not think that all of these things were possible. I have been so blessed in the past few months.
I wanted to write this blog to chronicle my journey through this crazy and hectic industry of Music! There are so many facets of the Music Industry that I knew nothing about as an avid fan and local musician. I want to share my journey with my fans , friends and family! I also want to share with them my crazy and hilarious world as a wife and mom of two very energetic little boys and my struggles to balance the two.
I promise, I will never have a blog entry this long again!!! Lots of things to get in there!
Until next time……
