Started singing at 3 years old, and in first Strawberry Festival at 4 in Beebe, Arkansas. Started piano lessons at 6 years old, and started playing Gospel music in church. At 15 years old, started teaching piano. Performed in all phases of stage production, acting plays and shows. Arkansas Tech College majored in voice-music. Taught voice, piano and played at private parties while active in theater, shows and productions. Was Miss Arkansas Tech of 1969. After college went on tour with a Dallas group, Dave Rake’s and Summerwine. I have been privileged to work with Charles Thomas and Art Porter, two of the best jazz pianists in the South. I’ve worked with just about every musician in the Little Rock, Arkansas area: Pat Henry, Larry House, Jim Aldrich, Bob Boyd, plus Charles and Art and the fine musicians they had working with them. I finally decided that I would begin to play piano again, and though I will never be as good as I was, I still try, but working with the talented people I have been privileged to work with in the Mike Dollins Band, I get to sing up front and not play. Influences: I was never a groupie like so many of my friends......I enjoy the Beatles now more than when they were in their “hay-dayâ€. I was introduced to the great legends of jazz vocals: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson. Betty Carter was quite an influence, also.....it wasn’t her voice, but her timing that really caught my ear! It was many moons until I learned to appreciate and love the blues, and is a large part of my repertoire now along with my jazz standards. I just didn’t realize that I was hearing the blues everywhere.........but that is the case now!
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