My love of music began with classical piano lessons at age 4, and continued until the end of high school. My musical bent led me to joining school bands (I played the trombone!), and later the University of Calgary jazz bands. Soon after graduating from University, I fell in love with my husband, and this inspired me to try songwriting. I tried recording those first few songs for him, and realized my vocal power and range wasn't quite as strong as I wanted it to be - but I did believe I could improve it. So, I started taking singing lessons (classical singing, from the George-Hahle Academy of Music) to improve my vocal confidence. Soon after, I auditioned and was accepted into the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, where I sang as an alto for 2 seasons (1998 - 1999). My husband and I would also go out on date nights occasionally, to see live music. One night, we found ourselves at the Mecca Cafe, where I vividly remember watching Cam Penner and the Gravel Road perform. That night, and several other date nights spent at the Mecca seeing acts like Mike Stack, the BillHilly Four, and Steve Pineo, compounded my determination to find a way to join a band... though I didn't yet know in what capacity it might be.
Since I was a classically trained piano player, I decided I needed to learn an instrument that would perhaps lend better to country western music, and something that would be unique. So I bought myself a banjo in May of 2001, along with Jack Hatfield's "Bluegrass Banjo" series of self-teach banjo books/and CD's! After two years of teaching myself the banjo, I auditioned for and landed a spot with a Calgary based cover-band called "the Deputies", and their acoustic trio "Haggard Slaggard & Worn" playing banjo, keyboards, and singing on a variety of cover tunes the bands would perform. (The band was fronted by Nigel McEathron, a talented multi-instrumentalist, who was kind enough to take a shot on a newbie banjo player/keyboardist!) We played many excellent private gigs around Calgary and the surrounding area, and my performing skills improved greatly.
As good as the experience was with the Deputies, the songwriter in me was itching to try playing with an original-music act... and one that performed in public venues where my friends and family could come out and see me play. One night in September 2004, I went to see Tom Phillips and the Men of Constant Sorrow for the first time. (Oddly I had never seen Tom's band at the Mecca despite all the times we went.) Watching them on stage at the Ironwood, I thought there was perhaps an outside chance that Tom could use someone to play perhaps keyboards or banjo, and maybe sing backup with him. I asked him about it after the show, and he invited me to sit in with the band at King Henry VIII Pub the coming Saturday night. He kept inviting me back, and so I sat in for a few months while the band got to know me and decide whether or not I should become a permanent fixture. I auditioned playing banjo, but the more "heartbroken" nature of Tom's repertoire didn't always lend to banjo accompaniment. I offered to play keyboard, but Tom felt keyboard wouldn't suit his band, and asked if I might give accordion a try. I did own an accordion (which I could barely play) but since I really liked the band, I was game. I had also heard Ron Casat play with Tom's band on accordion, and realized just how beautifully the accordion sound meshed with the band.
The weeks went by, and being new to the squeezebox, I was determined to keep up with the boys! I found some of the best players in town, and invested in coaching sessions on accordion (from Penny Sanborn of the Macen Accordion studio), country/pop vocal techniques (from Lynda Lewis) and keyboard improvisation (from Julian Kerr), and guitar (Peter Marley). Over a 3 year period, my confidence improved tremendously. I was thrown more and more solos, duets, and began sharing in some of the lead vocals with Tom.
Watching Tom perform was also an inspiration from a songwriting perspective. I learned the importance of simplicity and song structure - as the band would often pick up newly written songs Tom had never played before, and pull them off in public performance. I also had the opportunity to perform with some of Calgary's finest musicians along the way - such as Steve Pineo, Jane Hawley, Tim Williams, Kit Johnson, Tim Leacock, and Danny Patton. In fact, by some odd twist of fate, I was the last person to sing with Billy Cowsill on stage before he passed away. He got up to sing with the band at the Ship and Anchor just a couple of weeks before he died, pulling himself out of his wheelchair, and grabbing Tom's guitar to sing "Hey Good Looking" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" - while I sang his backup harmony. The band also shared billings with great artists such as Stompin' Tom Connors, Randy Bachman, Lonestar, and Doc Walker.
So, as you might guess, monkey see, monkey do! I left Tom's band to launch my own act in Feb 2008, and immediately headed into the studio to record my debut CD so that I could use it to get my own gigs. Rolling Wind was completed by June 2008, and I had my first show at Carlson's in High River. I hired Peter Marley (who taught me) and Danny Patton (who produced my CD) to back me up, and had a wonderful first show. The club owners had even bought me flowers (wow - and I still have them dried/saved)! I also had my CD reviewed in several publications, including Nashville's Performing Songwriter Magazine - who picked the CD as a Top 12 DIY project in their Jan/Feb 2009 issue saying I was a versatile singer whose sound evoked Patsy Cline and Nancy Griffith. I have been really fortunate to perform in some of the area's best live music venues, and have my music aired on CKUA, Golden West Radio, and CBC Radio.
2009 was also a hugely important year for me as an artist. After performing several months by hiring freelance musicians, I felt it was time to recruit my own band. Lawrence Ball (we call him Papa B) was an old friend of my husband's, and an accomplished guitar player, and we asked him to sub in on bass one night. Lawrence took the show very seriously, prepared better than anyone else I'd performed with, and just aced it! So, I twisted his arm to join me! Actually, he loved the songs and was very excited to get on board too. Shortly after, Anton Danielsen (we call him "Animal") saw my "recruiting a drummer" ad and came to see me play at a solo lunch show at the Ironwood. I auditioned him a few days later. He immediately picked up the right grooves - and kept the touch light and musical. Not to mention he was so friendly and always smiling when he played. He said he'd had years of playing the same old cover tunes in bands, and was keen to join an original music act. The three of us have really meshed well.
In early 2010, we teamed up with Allen Christie, a very well-established singer/songwriter from Caroline, Alberta to provide lead guitar and lead/harmony vocals. He's an amazing talent - who writes superior, authentic tunes. He had also clicked beautifully with the band, and he's fast becoming a repeat-offender in our shows...at least as often as we can get him! In addition, I've continued to work on my own lead guitar skills and added harmonica to my skill set. The band has completed our second CD, with Lawrence taking on the meticulous job of Producer. I have continued to write songs, and perform - and am at a stage now where I can fill three or more sets with highly entertaining, quality original material. We've also added some very skilled alternate players...see THE CREW page for more.
Some of you may also know that I work as a marketing consultant as well, and own a firm called START Marketing Inc. True, I'm a really busy person - and in fact I've written a few funny songs about my zany day vs. night life...Check out "Yodel Little Mama" on the Videos page for a funny song about this....it'll be on my next album. Anyway, if you know me through my work, you'll understand that creativity is a big part of making marketing work effectively. Well, in my music - it's the flipside - it's my creative self-expression, and I enjoy putting in the marketing work to make it happen. The truth is, I embrace both dimensions of my life because together they keep me highly challenged and creatively active. I think it is one of the secrets to my success!
