I started this blog to update folks who are interested in my tour of "Happy Days..." across Minnesota. I am a jazz vocalist singing songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond. I have been accompanied by a jazz trio and love to share the history with the music.
I am getting ready for going up north on Tuesday and performing one of my favorite regions on earth: the Arrowhead Region of Northern Minnesota!! Here is my performance itinerary:
Tuesday May 1st Duluth, MN
Wednesday May 2nd Virginia, MN
Thursday May 3rd Grand Rapids, MN
Friday May 4th Hibbing, MN
Saturday May 5th Clocquet, MN
I am extremely excited to meet alot of new folks, see alot of new places, perform with amazingly great musicians, visit Judy Garland's and Bob Dylan's birthplaces, maybe squeeze in a mine tour and who knows what else. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. You can email me!
“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.
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!!!
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
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:
Thanks to their amazing librarian Vicky Grimli, and the help of Julie (and son DeAndre) from KDIO Radio, there was an amazing turnout of approximately 100 people. Folks showed up from alot of the neighboring towns including the Dakotas!
The show went really well, and afterwards, I had an elderly gentleman come up to me and sing Among My Souvenirs to me, and suggest that I add it to the show. What a beautiful suprise to be serenaded like that!
After the show, and after we were offered wonderful baked goods
which they had to twist our arms to take, (wink wink) we set out to have a late dinner. Not expecting much to be opened at 9:30 at night in rural MN, you can imagine how delighted we were to stumble upon this amazing Italian Bistro, Bella Cuccina, in Morris MN.
Boy did we ever have a fabulous meal. Rick said it put him in a meat coma and ended up falling asleep as soon as we got back to the hotel. I, on the other hand digested my food for a little while, catching up on some late night infomericials!
NEXT STOP STARBUCK
The next day, we breakfasted in Starbuck MN, home of the world's largest Lefse!! Not to mention a great breakfast spot: The Nutcracker Cafe!
All in all it was a great trip. We felt very grateful that we were able to make an impact on so many people. Vicky, the librarian said that before the recent funding, this town never would have access to quality jazz concerts. That is what I call the beauty of Legacy Funding.
Well Cottage Grove was a wonderful welcoming first stop on the new season of Happy Days! Rick Carlson, Gary Schulte and Jeff Breuske and I played to a wide span age group which was quite refreshing!!! I really love seeing young boys and girls in the audience enjoying the music.
Also, I had a great chat with Jeanne the librarian about how similar things are to the Great Depression and how relevant this show is to the current times even though the theme of the show is centered mostly on the 30's & 40's...
Our next stop will be Graceville MN and I am already checking out the history and particulars of the town. This is really fun for me having not grown up here in MN. It is all new to me. I found a great website with some old photos of Graceville: Vintage Graceville
This Wednesday I will be interviewed by the nearby local radio station out of nearby Ortonville. I might have to visit the Big Stone County Museum while I am there and check out the Charles Hanson North American Wildlife Collection. More to come...
Bing sang many Depression era songs alluding to the American Dream. Thsi song is from the motion picture "Here Is My Heart"and is one of Bing Crosby's many recorded songs of reassurance...
As I near some dates for my return to Happy Days, I am getting very excited just thinking about traveling around Minnesota and meeting all kinds of new folks and seeing new sights. I anticipate the joy of sharing my love of the Great American Songbook and the reward that I get in doing so. I will be posting my schedule for the next few months as soon as I firm up a few dates. Next stop: Cottage Grove on February 11th!!!
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