I am a teacher in Chicago, I'm a singer as well. I've been singing nearly all of my life. I began singing at the age of 6 with my three sisters in church. Our family quartet was known as The Haynes Sisters.
That musical chord runs consistently throughout my family. My earliest and strongest influences were my mother, Barbara Darleen Haynes; whose songwriting talents were recorded by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, Marshall Thompson; a cousin and singer with the Chi-Lites, and Tony Haynes; a cousin and platinum selling Songwriter.
At 18, I recorded on the first album that Carver High School in Chicago produced, titled: Musically Yours with the Madrigals,(Of which I was a member), lead by Bennye J. Tharpe, and The Carver Jazz Band,(Of which I was also a member), lead by Dr. Curtis L.Prince.
After graduating from DePaul University, The Haynes Sisters had to turn down a contract to record with Motown. My mom believed that my sister Barbria was too young for that life, and I had just begun my teaching career. We later recorded with Orbert Davis and Grand Staff on a Designer Touch commercial.
After being married by Bishop J.E.Watley in Chicago, (Jody Watley's grandfather, and yet another musical relative), to Lee Cummings, brother of retired NBA, former rookie of the year, Terry Cummings, yet another talented and musical relative...I began writing music and poetry which I continue to do today.
I teach my students and children to sing now, a green belt in Tae Kwon Do,I am a highly spiritual being, and it is reflected in my poetry. My works are featured on Poetry.com. I write, dance, sing, play the flute and the bass guitar.
Personal Motto: You will have the rest of your life to remember, but what you have to remember, depends on what you do today.
