Mark Sanborn

I’ve talked quite a bit since losing my regular Saturday night gig about a desire to land at a new restaurant or piano bar, or some such place.

That opportunity was recently presented to me and I promised the manager to give it consideration and share a few dates that would work with my schedule.

I couldn’t do it.

I find the greatest joy in singing.  I love it.  Y’all know this.

I don’t like the business of performing– getting paid.. negotiating the fee.. and being forced to do the follow up calls when a check is never received.

That’s the way it goes sometimes… and with a feeling I was about to go down that same awful, frustrating road again..  I was forced to say "No Deal."

So right now, I remain on the lookout for a sweet deal and a swell place to perform on Saturday nights.

In the meantime, I am scheduled to sing at a wine tasting fundraiser at the XIOS (pronounced khi-os)   Greek Restaurant in Apex.  I’m also looking forward to singing to patients and their families at the new courtyard at Duke Medical Center.

I’m good with this "deal or no deal" decision, because over the years I have learned that opportunities to sing do open when you sing for the pleasure of lifting others..  purely for the love of the music.

Onward + Upward + Loving it!!!

I can’t stop thinking about all the fun that came out of performing with The Embers Thursday night at the North Hills Commons.   These mighty musicians really know how to put on a show!  They go big and even though I know they’ve played some of their songs over and over and over again… they perform them as if they’re new.  That is an effort that deserves major kudos!

You could not find a warmer, kinder group of gentlemen.  I had nothing to worry about. Nothing.  I knew before I touched the stage, that they had my back and that they wouldn’t let me fail. Oh, the comfort in those things.

That said, before the show I found myself fretting about the little things.. such as:  what shoes would work best with a red dress, and what kind of lip gloss would blend best with red lip stick, and accessories.  Stuff like that.

I have to give props to my beautiful and talented daughter Ashley Marie.  She hooked her mommy up.  We had this long distance phone call, with me in my closet, throwing shoes here and there… hunting for the ones that she described.  This young fashionista knows her stuff, I must say.  I was able to go comfortably into the night.

One day soon, I’ll learn to post pictures and all this describing won’t even be necessary: Red dress, black sling backs, black bold bangles, gold earrings.

So the show went on.

I was awed by the staging.. all the big electronics all over the place, the lights on top of the stage.. in the back and front.  This was a huge production… nothing I’ve been exposed to on this musical journey. In a word, WOW.

The people at North Hills could not have been nicer to me– before, during and after my performance.

They had a great night and so did I.  "A-plus", one woman said to me as I stood back stage.

I am up early and blogging, because I am still taking all of this in.  I can’t stop thinking about all the little moments that have made my heart so happy.  Little moments matter. Trust.

The vibe from The Embers is so positive…   And what they do– they do so well.  There’s nothing deep or  heavy or political about their shows.  They make happy music– fun songs that leave you lifted.  It works well for them.

Final note: I like what author Sam Parker writes about the essential fundamental of effort in his book: 212 The Extra Degree.

The bottom line goes like this:  It takes 211 degrees to heat water, but 212 to make it boil.  One degree makes all the difference… and in life, can separate the good from the great.  From where I stand, The Embers have that extra degree.

I am striving for that, too!

Onward and Upward and Loving !!!

See for yourself what I mean:

www.theembersband.net

I wanted rest and relaxation… peace and quiet… a day of doing nothing.  I felt loved and honored.   My beautiful and talented daughter Ashley Marie sent me a dozen roses.  They are exquisite. Perfect.  Pink and White.  I have them front and center in my home.  I smile every time I look at them.  This was my Sunday.

Saturday was a different matter all together.   It was a day of possibilities.

I had the pleasure of meeting Luke Lucas.  He is the co-owner of the Icon Music Studio in Durham.  It is a small, fully-equipped operation.  Mr. Lucas says he designed it specifically for singers. Presently, his focus is on developing a local and younger pool of local talent.  I listened to some of the work produced by these young men and women.  They’re really good.

I learned that Mr. Lucas has visited this site and he’s heard my singing.  He shared his thoughts. He has a no holds barred approach in sizing up talent.  Among other things, he told me that I could sing, but that I had no style.  Yes, he did!

Believe me,  he did not hurt my feelings.  In fact. I concur.

For all these years, I have been singing other people’s music, and singing them in a way that pays tribute to THEIR style.  Sometimes I alter the style a ittle bit, but I essentially stay true to a song’s original intent.

I really liked the vibe I felt at Icon.  I am hoping that I’ll be invited back to actually begin some kind of project.

Then I was off to the next thing.  I am listening to a CD produced by Mr. Lucas.  Honestly I haven’t gone past the first cut.  It’s called Iconic . I have already downloaded it to my i-Pod.  You have to move when you listen to this song! I just love it!!

I also love the prospect of having a regular gig again. Yippee-Skippee!!   I will post details and dates just as soon as they are nailed down.   The club/restaurant is located in North Raleigh.  The lounge is cozy and intimate. There’s a lovely piano and there may be nights that I sing live, and not to backing tracks.

Over the moon?  You bet I am.  This musical journey just took another interesting turn.

Henri Frederic Amiel

This singer hasn’t made a public appearance in nearly two weeks.  Truth be told, I’ve done nothing to advance my desire to perform.

Oh, I could make excuses. I have a million of them and they mostly center around my busy schedule.  Pish-Posh!   I am not going there.

The bad economy did have me take some action.  I cancelled my voice coaching sessions.  I also turned down a very talented artist’s request to work with me on voice lessons.   I told them both that when things turn around I will let them know what might be possible.

I am grateful for the volunteer work I do at the Durham VA Medical Center.  At least I know there will be singing on my menu at least once every quarter.. with the wonderful opportunity I have to honor and serve.

Guess all things considered, things aren’t so bad.  I am waiting to hear back from a booking agency.  They are looking for a singer to sing at a cocktail party in Charleston, South Carolina.  It’s a Piccola Spoleto event in June.  I tell ya, if that gig comes through, I’ll be truly over the moon!

Until I hear something.. I’m going with the philosophy that no news is good news!

My new good friend Wayne Free with the Embers has turned me on to a website that helps singers with their vocals.  It’s run by Brett Mannings at www.singingsuccess.com.

This website will assist me with my vocal work without having to pay a coach.  At least that is my hope.

Now that I’ve got this nothing shaking blog out of my system, I’m feeling better about the musical journey that I was thinking was growing kind of flat right about now.  Perhaps not.

Onward + Upward everyone…

"The obstacles you face are mental barriers which can be broken by adopting a more positive approach."

C.Blasier

For the next several days I’m channeling Motown singer Tammi Terrell .  It’s preparation work actually for a duet I’m performing with Wayne Free. He’s the multi-talented lead vocalist for the The Embers.

Sometime this spring and summer we’ll be singing "For Your Precious Love".  It goes something like this:

[Marvin:]
Oo-hoo-oo.
Every day there’s somethin’ new,
(Oo-oo-oo, baby.)
Honey, to keep me lovin’ you.
(Oh-oh-oh, honey.)
And with ev’ry passin’ minute.
(Wo-oh-oh, sugar.)
Ah, baby, so much joy wrapped up in it.

[Tammi:]
Oh-oh-oh, heaven must have
Sent you from above.
Oh-oh-oh, heaven must have,
[Both:]
Sent your precious love.

Really, what serious music lover DOESN’T know that song?  Come on! It’s among his all time greatest hits!

I’ve been a Marvin Gaye fan since the 1970′s. My love for his music has grown stronger over the years.  I mean, I can listen to one of his hits today, and hear something new!  The musical arrangements were just genius. Thank the Funk Brothers.

But back to Miss Terrell.  What an amazing singer/song writer.  She was just 24 years old when she died.  It was a brain tumor. She collapsed into Gaye’s arms onstage during a performance.

I have googled her.. I have watched You Tube Videos of Tammi and Marvin.. I’ve done the wikipedia thing.  I’m just doing my homework. She was a stunningly beautiful young woman.  So much promise.. The future looked so bright for her.

I will be thinking of this strong and talented young woman when I sing For your Precious Love.  I will have to sweep the cobwebs off my heart and recall all those tingly, romantic feelings when love was new– when I thought I had met the man of my dreams, blah, blah, blah. That’ll be a challenge, but memory does serve me well when I need it to.

Marvin Gaye scored duet hits with Mary Wells and Kim Weston but those hits paled compared with his successes with the late Tammi Terrell.

She’s the real deal. I am beyond happy to sing her song.

]]> http://www.PamSaulsby.com/index.php/2009/04/06/channeling-tammi-terrell/feed/ 0 http://www.PamSaulsby.com/index.php/2009/03/23/smoldering-w-the-embers/ http://www.PamSaulsby.com/index.php/2009/03/23/smoldering-w-the-embers/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:45:41 +0000 Pam Saulsby http://www.PamSaulsby.com/?p=164 "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

"When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

–Marianne Williamson

I had a totally awesome time tonight at Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh.

I just had to go "bold" on that.  The night was just that great!  I was surrounded by musicians who love to play, and an audience that loved song and dance.  The energy was electrifying.

Some of the people that I invited to the show were not able to come, but I was shocked with glee when two of my very close friends walked in the door.

I didn’t even bother to invite Tom + Iana because I knew they had plans for the night. It was my thinking, that there would be a timing conflict with their plans happening at the same time as mine.  Well those two sure proved me wrong.

As always I was happy to have an opportunity to perform.. but  was just lit up even more to get that kind of love from people I really care about.

Enough of the warm and fuzzies– Irregardless, which has been a landmark in Raleigh forever really rocks after dark. They move all the chairs and tables, and folks just get down and party– young and old alike.

The best part of all in this is that I get the chance to do it again– Saturday, April 11th.

There were just a few rough spots for me tonight— knowing when to begin and then begin again after the musician’s solos or some kind of extended riff.   I don’t consider these small things because when a band is tight– I mean really tight, this doesn’t happen.

Moment’s Notice is already "tight". I am the newbie, so my intention is to work harder for a more cohesive song.

I couldn’t bring any more energy and joy than I brought tonight, but I can make the band’s job easier.

The weekend fun’s not over, though.

I am hoping big time that weather doesn’t hurt the big event Sunday for Girls on the Run of the Triangle.

I am the speaker/singer for our fundraiser: Girls Night Out @ Nordstrom in Durham.

The recession already isn’t doing us any favors.  Ticket sales could be better.  That’s why I hope the weather does not keep supporters at home. My fingers, toes, and everything are crossed.

I am looking forward to singing with the store’s pianist Dan Wielunski.  We’re going to perform "Fever" and "Girl from Ipanema"… after I make some remarks.  I have entitled my remarks  THE JOY WITHIN: FINDING YOUR TRUE NORTH.

Girls on the Run is making some really good things happen for girls in the triangle– making them feel beautiful just the way they are, and teaching them how to have fun with fitness.

It’s a cause that lights me up, and I wish it.. I will it.. success. Always.

"if we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow we aren’t really living."
Gail Sheehy

I am in a quandary.  Yes, I am definitely looking for singing opportunities in the Triangle, but I don’t feel that I should jump at every invitation that comes my way.

This tough economy is hurting many well established nightclubs and restaurants in the area.

I am told that some of the better musicians are performing for much lower fees, adjusting to help the business owners.

But, what do you do when they want you to perform for nothing.. dress up, show up, share your talent and just go home. Yes, times are hard, but that just doesn’t seem fair to me.

I am nobody special on the music scene.  I am not trying to say or prove otherwise. I know better.  However, I believe so strongly that sharing a gift is an artistic contribution that has value and should in some way be acknowledged.

There needs to be some tangible payoff.

Here’s the thing: Isn’t performing somewhere even for free, better than performing nowhere at all?

If I were a true newbie, then there would be no hesitation. I’d leap at the opportunity.  But you see, I’ve been trying to find success in this "Second Act" of mine for 5 years. It should count for something– in more ways than one.

I intend to move forward in this wonderful world of  entertainment, and I will demand respect and to be taken seriously.

These are the things I am weighing in my head.  Should I accept these sing for free engagements for free, or should I just say no.

I know one thing for sure: This woman ain’t backpedaling.

It was a breathing exercise being taught to me by the teacher in a new voice coaching class that I’ve put myself in to, at a Triangle school of higher learning. Cryptic enough?

It didn’t help at all that the session was scheduled for ten o’clock in the morning– a time when my brain is still a little on the fuzzy side, what with working the night shift.

Simply put, I didn’t learn the lesson.

It was apparently detected that I have a "breathing" problem– something that I really thought got handled successfully with previous coaches.

I got the feeling that I was starting from nothing, when in reality, I’ve had professional voice coaching for more than four years.

Certainly in first sessions, pupil and teacher are feeling each other out– getting to know each other– trying a little bit of this, and a little bit of that.  I get that.  In this situation, however, I felt there was fumbling from start to finish.

In short order, another set of eyes and ears appeared in the classroom.

I was instructed to sing some of the songs from my own sheet music.  Something was wrong.  The songs just did not sound the way I’ve come to know them.  The tempo was off, and there was no clear indication of when the vocals were to begin.

Just more fumbling.

Forget about a finish to the songs.. Not a single song was completed.  The pianist played the piano, and that was it.  All business– NO suggesions, NO guidance. NOTHING.

Is this just the awkward beginning of a beautiful new relationship? No.  I think I ventured into territory where I don’t belong.

You live, you learn.  These are things that make life interesting. That’s the bottom line to me.

I’m moving on, and I’m good with that.

The fighting between Israel and Gaza presently shows no signs of ending.  Peace is no where in sight.

I can’t get the pictures out of my head, and it both saddens me, and angers me.  I am in no way choosing sides– fingering who is right and who is wrong.  It’s just that bleeding and crying children hurt my heart.

All of this is happening and I prepare to sing for wounded soldiers at the Durham VA Hospital on Wednesday.

I am rehearsing songs that make me move and make me smile.   Songs such as:  Route 66, California Dreaming, Peel me a Grape, Oooo Baby Baby, and Whatever Lola Wants.   Man, these are tunes that bring me joy!

They can, at least for a time, take my mind off the news that cripple the human spirit.

As I drive in my car or stand in front of mirrors in my home/office– I rehearse these songs.  I sing.  I am happy.

In these moments, I feel so grateful that I possess a gift that both uplifts me and others.  I  feel abundantly blessed.