Each fiber of my being somehow has music attached to it. Both oldsters are musicians and teachers, both grandmas were entertainers, my Nana a piano player back in the times of silent films and my Grammy a Broadway dancer. Appears to me that I was not left with much of a choice in the problem. When I was thirty, ( O.K, now I am dating myself ), I joined what’s known as a GB ( General Business ) band.

For the 1st year we probably did marriages that were scheduled before my joining. Fortunate for us these people failed to select another band when they discovered the vocalist they suspected would be there was really going to be me. The crooner they’d prepared from the video tape had left and I took her place. I loved singing the bride and groom’s special songs and somehow added to their day. I enjoyed having to be hopeful and “on” even on those days when I felt “off”. Yes, that is my heart and to me one of the finest forms of self expression going.

As I look back, I suspect I liked the awareness, too. I did not desire too much, but when anyone came up to me on my break and declared how amazing the music was, it felt good. Chemistry is there or it’s not — you cannot force it as with any relationship. I think I giggled more on my gigs than at any other time. We’d joke on stage or the keyboard player would make “funny” sounds with his keys while I was in the middle of a song, attempting to make me giggle and often succeeding. Imagine singing “Crazy” while “burp” sounds are going off in the background. Occasionally , it did not work and I lost it in a song.

Oh, when that occurred the complete band was in stitches and all I could do was muster up the self control wanted to keep going, hoping the people dancing did not notice. Often , they did, and they giggled at us having such a nice time. But, do not allow that give you the incorrect impression. Whenever a marriage finished, I got a superb sensation when the bride and groom thanked us for doing a fine job.

Now, you can be announcing, “Hey, if this was so great, why did she leave?” I say, “Good question .

We finished out the marriage bookings for the year and commenced doing club work more and got some marriage bookings from that.