"Whatever you are meant to do, move toward it and it will come to you."

Gloria Dunn

They are North Carolina’s official musical ambassadors:  The Embers.

Oh yeah… everybody knows them for performing "Beach Music"… but to me they are much much more than that!

The Embers sing the songs I remember from back in the day.. when I was a young girl growing up in Riviera Beach Florida.   Oh I can get real specific with this.  They perform songs such as: OH GIRL,  COWBOYS TO GIRLS, I’LL BE AROUND, STUBBORN KIND OF FELLOW,  and  LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT. Those songs.

I have had many brushes with their greatness here in the Triangle… at several festivals and fundraisers.

They are the perfect band to book especially in the summer time… when people are outside enjoying themselves.  I swear this band is everywhere!  What a gig to have!  I mean this is their job– PERFORMING– it’s how they make a living full time out in the world.  These are some lucky, lucky musicians in my book.

Here’s my big news about "Smoldering with The Embers":  I have been in communication with the lead vocalist: Wayne Free.  He and I participated in a huge event founded by the late Kay Yow at NC State University. It was the Kay Yow Hoops For Hope basketball game at Reynold Colliseum held in February.  At the half time celebration for breast cancer survivors, the Embers performed a song called "Never Give Up:.  They dedicated it to Coach Yow.

Wayne’s heard about my journey and desire to sing professionally, and so he’s invited me to sing with the Embers at some of their upcoming performances during this spring and summer.

There’s one song we’re definitely going to do: A song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: Precious Love .  I could have melted when Wayne suggested that song, because I am a huge Marvin Gaye fan and that song’s on my i-pod playlist.

It just feels like good things are flowing, and falling right in place, at the right time.

If you love the Embers like I do, and want to read more about them and their performance schedule check out this link:

www.theembersband.net

"Whatever you are meant to do, move toward it and it will come to you."
Gloria Dunn

The deal’s been struck, folks!

I am one of the featured performers for a wonderful philanthropic organization that’s about to celebrate it’s 25th anniversary on April 2nd.

I made an exciting connection recently with the President of the foundation at a conference celebrating women in leadership roles.  Andrea Bazan.  She is a real dynamo.  Delightful. We connected on so many levels.  I left that conference hoping that our paths would cross again soon.

Then. POW! TCF began planning for its gala and they wanted a singer to kind of set the tone for the evening applauding the generosity of people who have given abundantly to TCF in the past.  Andrea wanted me!!! Yay!!!

My contribution is going to be two songs.  For sure one will be "Get Happy" Think Charlie Chaplin.  The producers for this main event really want to have some fun with this, and so they’re going to tweak the lyrics a little so the tune’s about TCF and what it does in a fun way. Am I game?  You bet I am!

Now, the other song is still to be determined.  My voice coach Lisa Blair and I will come up with something that fits the theme of the gala.

I am excited about the night and because I am a girly girl… I am also thrilled about picking out an outfit for the night.  The colors that will predominantly adorn the Durham Performing Arts Center are silver and aqua.  You’ll never guess:  I have a silver colored cocktail dress and aqua sandals. What the what, you ask? Yes, people, I have the theme colors in my closet already, thank you very much!  I will ask my hair stylist, to make some glamor magic happen, and voila! This chica will be ready to rock.

A big night to celebrate and give thanks– to generous souls and new partnerships.

Here’s to another 25 years for the Triangle Community Foundation.

Here’s a link if you’d like to learn more:

Http://www.trianglecf.org/