Next Stop...Lake City MN

Below is from the Lake City Community website 

March 31 - Saturday (says Thursday)

“Happy Days are Here Again.” City Hall Ballroom. 2:00P. Enjoy the spirited songs of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s with acclaimed jazz vocalist Rhonda Laurie and her band. Join Laurie on a journey through the music of the Greatest Generation. Come dressed in your favorite attire from this generation. Prizes will be awarded to the most authentic/best dressed. This is from the Lake City Community website  Why, this adds a whole new dimension to this event!!  I am so excited that someone had the creative inspiration to invite people to dress for this!  How wonderfully nostalgic and retro-respective of America's Greatest Generation!!! Need some tips on where to get some retro inspired clothing?  I personally love collecting vintage clothes, but the gals in those days had much smaller waist sizes, as Via's Vintage Wear expert Kelly explained to me.  On the other hand, if you want brand new clothes in sizes tiny to voluptuous try Bettie Pages's at MOA.  You might even find one of the Twin Cities' favorite dance instructors and super chic retro darling  at the ready to outfit you in a wonderful dress!!! Now, what will I wear?!?!?!  xoxo

Belgrade Was Amazing

Unforgettable Belgrade!

There I was faced with the dilemma of half a voice due to illness and being face to face with an intimate, captive audience.  What's a singer to do?  At first I was not sure that I could accomplish the task.

Actually, it was a great challenge. Great, in that it forced me to use other communication skills to get across my message. I could not rely on my sound/tone/pitch to fully communicate the song.  It was as if the lyrics took the front seat, and I had to use my face and gestures more.... and I had to make sure, even though I could not always get the notes (Rick said I was limited to an Eb above middle C), I communicated with this audience.  I kept thinking about all the aging singers who may not still possess their vocal prowess yet put across their songs in a completely meaningful way.  And there I was, really communicating with this audience, in a completely vulnerable, authentic way.  And through it all, I feel I made a very strong connection with the fine folks of Belgrade who came out for the music and stories and got them with my small croaky voice.

Thank you Kathie Harris for doing such a great job at your library and in welcoming us,

and thanks to the fine folks of Belgrade who came out and graciously listened and gave me what I needed to get through the show! xoxo

Pierz, Cokato, Kimball, Sauk Centre, Belgrade, and Upsala!

WOW!  That was a whirlwind of shows with lots of great people and musicians and fun!!!

Musicians included:
Robert Bell on guitar or Rick Carlson on keys, Josh Granowski on bass or Jeff Brueske on bass, Gary Schulte on violin or Tony Baluff on clarinet.

St. Cloud became sort of the hub for the first three shows in Pierz, Kimball and Cokato-Mary took a nice shot of gary Schulte and I at the Cokato Library

I love the sign in the Cokato library entry way which reads:..."built through the efforts of the people of the community - to preserve the past, enrich the present, and enhance the future..."

                                                                       

Here we are at Kimball      
High.  The boys had their own dressing room!!!

















After Kimball, The new hub became Salk Centre.  Sauk Centre is where Sinclair Lewis had his boyhood home.  I thought I was taking a photo but I guess it was a video...oops!

As always, was fun to explore new places and meet new folks.  Belgrade is my next blog, so please stay tuned.  In the meantime,
 I wanted to share an interesting (though blurry) version of one of my favorite songs in my show:

Glory Of Love-Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald!