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"Music can express all that we feel. Words or no words,
it can be used to set a tone and there is no need to understand how it was made or from whom it came. If you like it, enjoy
it." La Tanya
My first and deepest impression of vocal music is of "Mommo," (pronounced
MAH-MOE) my maternal grandmother singing and encouraging her then youngest of nine grandchildren to sing. "Do Lord, Oh Do Lord, Do Remember Me, that's right,"
she cooed, "sing baby," over and over until both she and the child fell asleep in a four legged, straight backed,
kitchen chair. She is always and will ever be present when I sing. My influences are:
My husband and children, who have taught me so much and provided me with "never a dull moment"; my Mother, Mrs. Margaret
Wright, whose love of dance and music spilled naturally onto her children; my Grandparents; The Rev. Millard "Daddy"
& Mrs. Irma (Mommo) Washington, who helped anyone in need, regardless of race; my God-Parents Myrtle and Leo Edgerly, local Divas of Dance Ruth Beckford, Gwen Lewis, Genise Brown, and Elyse Dukatz; Father John Maxwell, at St. Andrew's-St. Joseph's Catholic Church where I learned
to sing in Latin, French and Spanish, and last but not least Mrs. Barlow, one of the Oakland Public School's finest music
teachers, who took us outside the "Hood" to display our talents. There are so many others, however not enough space. I was lucky enough to grow up during a time when art, in all its forms, was sponsored and supported in the home,
neighborhood, schools and by the City Parks & Recreation Department. Groups of children and adults came
together several times during the year to perform with one another, and to dispel myths about one another's cultures, by sharing
music and choreography on the stages of Oakland
Schools and at the Oakland Auditorium (Now the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center). The City of Oakland sponsored citywide Dance Symposiums where students
from all over the Bay Area met to perform a common dance under a common roof. It was surreal but fantastic to see hundreds
of children and adults costumed and doing the Virginia Reel. I grew up knowing, viewing and loving Ronald Dellums
(additional info) as a father figure, who so closely knit into the Oakland community, was a judge at our Doll
show at Poplar Park (additional photos), for an at-the-time matriarchal dominated block of
predominantly single mothers and their impressionable youngsters (of which I was one). His cultured and handsome
presence in the community left a lasting impression especially on Magnolia Street and the surrounding communities in
West Oakland.
By age 18, I'd spent 13 years studying dance, six
years of gymnastics, performed and organized neighborhood shows and was determined to become a comic book artist. Art is my
first love and my mother keeps a photo from the Oakland Tribune
when I was blessed with a summer scholarship to California College of Arts & Crafts
while in the sixth grade. She displays framed artwork I've painted in her home from various stages of my life. I attended
Montera Jr High school (Now Montera Middle School) with talented
artists like Sheila Escovedo and afterwards Skyline
High School with Tom Hanks (he and I were born on the same
day, the same year July 9, 1956). For 13 years,
it was my pleasure to be involved in a business/artistic partnership with a very talented group of Bay Area Musicians better
known as "The Fundamentals." I have always considered myself to be
a Bay Area WORKING Musician. I've choreographed movement for The Fundamentals
and others, branching off to do commercials and plays with other Bay Area Artists. I have my own band (BanDuJour),
but "Have Vocals Will Travel" I always say. I love the spontaneity of freelancing vocally with different
big bands, meeting new people and hearing music reinterpreted by them. I currently perform at several local
venues and enjoy creating websites for small businesses (like myself) and training their owners on the benefits and importance
of maintaining a web presence and the importance of e-commerce. I am a huge fan, inspired and excited
about meeting people I admire in the music and entertainment field. One favorite benefit of being recognized by other musicians
is the yearly pass to the NAMM Show (also see National
Association of Music Merchants) in Los Angeles, which is open only to trades people. In January, the most phenomenal music
makers and makers of musical instruments come together from all over the world to buy, sell and trade products at the Anaheim
Convention Center, 2 blocks from Disneyland,
three levels, and the size of three football fields. I walked side by side with George
Benson one year, discussed mouthpieces with Branford Marsalis,
and attended seminars with musicians who make Michael Jackson's music come to
life on stage (and in the studio). I met Lee Oskar from the group "War" selling his brand named harmonica, and just because I'm there, I'm acknowledged.
I star gaze, check out booths, play choice brand instruments of famous people who are there to endorse their chosen products,
and attend as many shows as I can for musical inspiration. I love performing. Music has been to me: like a husband
that I will never divorce; a best friend; comfort in times of loss; a means to give my self-expression; and a financial net
in hard times.
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