Biography

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In the beginning...

I am a "Joisey" girl who grew up in the shadow of THE CITY. My home town is Hawthorne, NJ. One day I woke up and found myself residing in St. Petersburg on Florida's Suncoast. Hmm... Had I traded one asylum for another?  Why, yes I had.

After more than 20 years living in "God's Waiting Room,"  I now live in "God's Country" - Presque Isle County, Michigan.

What Got Me Started?

I first picked up the guitar at age 10. The following year my family moved a lot and good ol' Mom suggested that I try out for a talent show at the new school. After strumming and singing for the audition, silence filled the room. Was humiliation was on the way?  Nah, I'd just stunned them with  a big, clear voice!  I was hooked on performing from the first round of applause.

Under the Influence

Much of my high school years were spent learning David Bowie songs by ear (much to the horror of my parents and teachers). Although my compositions are vastly different than his, I've tried to emulate what I like best in his writing.


 

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Style!

A variety of styles go into creating my songs. After all, variety is the Spice of Life! Folk, Blues, Rock, Pop, Metal and Jazz are just a few of the flavors to savor.

Together, we explore philosophy, relationships, the human condition, humor, global and environmental issues... Satisfying and deliciously different! Comments include Progressive, Dynamic and Alternative Acoustic.  Some characterize it as Americana.

I've received several awards for the quality of my songwriting.

Performances

Through the years, I've appeared at many venues in the state of Florida. Among them:  Skipper's Smokehouse, First Night St. Petersburg, the Will McLean Festival, the South Florida Folk Festival, and the Wings & Strings Festival.  1997 marked my first festival performance featuring national acoustic acts at the Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL. This festival presented such notables as the Austin Lounge Lizards, Iris Dement, Peter Rowan, Pierce Pettis, and Richard Gilewitz. 

I've been involved with Ruth Eckerd Hall by presenting a lecture on folk music in America combined with a performance of my compositions.  This took place before a Peter, Paul and Mary concert.

For three seasons I produced, hosted and performed in Keeping Company... with Donna Klein where three other songwriters join me in an interactive round-robin performance.  I started a new concert series in 2008, Donna Klein's Song Pull, where a performing songwriter joins me for an afternoon of swapping songs and stories for our audience in an intimate setting in Presque Isle county.

Where am I?

I spent five years tending to the needs of the Women Musicians' Alliance as its founder and president. 

I'm also teaching music, forming a guitar orchestra, and am presenting an informance program in schools.

Jodi Brege and I joined forces in June 2009 to form Gemini Moon. Jodi's moved on to greener pastures, and I wish her all the best! She really whet my appetite for working with other musicians.

I met Laren Corie late spring 2010. Although we are diversely different in our writing and playing styles, we complement each other completely. Laren not only writes and sings, but also plays mandolin, harmonica, giant mandolin (an instrument unique to Laren), guitar, and violin. We've been performing as Moonlight Red since autumn, wowing the crowds along the way. You can find out more about us and watch us perform at our Web site, on Facebook, and YouTube. To have us perform in concert at your home or venue, please contact me!

The lure of the footlights has drawn me back to the theatre like a moth to the light.  I became involved with the Rogers City Community Theatre in 2007 as an actor, director, and music director. I also serve as founding president of the troupe's non-profit organized in 2009. Here are the highlights:
 

Actor

Year Play Role
2007 Urinetown, the Musical Soupy Sue
  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Domina
2008 Little Shop of Horrors Ronnette
  The Pajama Game Mabel
2009 Hello, Dolly! Cook #2
2010 Curtains Carmen Bernstein
  Noir Suspicions (dinner theatre) Claudette, Judge Koch

Director

Year Play
2008 Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Jr. (summer youth production)
2009 Murder at the Café Noir (dinner theatre)
2010 Honk, Jr. (summer youth production)
2011 Arsenic and Old Lace

Music Director

Year Play
2008 Little Shop of Horrors
2009 Hello, Dolly!
  Disney's Aladdin, Jr. (summer youth production)
2011 Willy Wonka, Jr. (summer youth production)

Recordings

I currently have three recordings available, New York City, Sail Beyond the Sunset, and Christmas Traditions. I have half of a new album recorded. Eventually, I'll get back into the studio to finish it!


Get a printable version of my biographical brochure!

Get a printable version of the informance program brochure!

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