BLOG 1

I was born in the rural South, where the birds sang their morning songs. I heard them tweeting outside my windows, from the trees and landings on the wall of our back room. The frogs were singing too a different sort of whale and the cricketts were squealing a melodious rhythmic sound. As a child, I loved listening to and matchig their sounds. Let’s not forget the crow of the roosters waking us up or the dogs yawning in the early morn as they awoke. This is where I first discovered my voice and the different pitches and rhythmic patterns of their tones. I listened to the conversation the wildlife had with each other in the quiet of the morning as the World around them was asleep.

The sun was shining in my window brightly in the distance sky through the leaves of the pine and oak trees as I yawned and stretched my arms to awaken. What a glorious symphony, the early day sound of nature and its inhabitants. I’d get out of bed and go to the basin of water and wash my little body. Then I’d go and bang on the piano in the dining room with one finger. Eventually, I could play a little tune and sing a little child’s song. “Fere Jacque, Fere Jacque, dorme vous? Son ne le ma ti ma, son ne le ma ti ma, Ding ding dong. “ YEAH! Look Ma…are you listening to me?

I saw a little man standing in the woods,

He had a great big hat and a tall dark hood

Tell me who that man can be

Standing there so quietly,

With a great big hat and a tall dark hood.

OOH I AM SCARED !!! MAMA

Then, on Sunday, mama would dress us three older children in her newly designed pinaford dresses, plat our hair in corn rows, make us put on our socks and shoes. Then Daddy would lead us outside i the yard, pile us in his T Model Ford and drive us to his church. That was the Daughters of Zion Baptist Church where he was the Pastor. We’d join the Sunday School class and soon they’d teach me another song which I’d have to learn and perform for the Easter program:

“Jesus loves me this I know

for the Bible tells me so.

Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus Me, Yes Jesus loves me

For the Bible tells me so.

This was my first professional singing gig. Singing solos in the church.