Suzanne - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I have a very loving family and great friends in my life. I'm lucky. I sing and play guitar which is a very big part of my core. I started in San Diego coffeehouses in the mid 60's, then as a working singer/guitarplayer for 20 + years starting at age 19. The first four years I was in a duo with my friend Pete Varhola. Pete and I worked mainly with the Reuben's Restaurant chain; we played Atlanta and all around Calif. After my years with Pete, I went into a solo career and worked for Reubens but then went on to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Carmel, CA. The 80's found me into Country music bands, first fulltime and then later parttime, while Dan and I were raising the boys. Country music was thriving so I jumped into that with both feet and loved it. I got to work with some of the most incredible musicians. In the 90's I started integrating day work into my life as I knew I'd need other skills to carry me. As for my music "wheel", it went full circle at that point. I could see that coffeehouses /cafes coming back in vogue in mid 90's with singer/guitarists. I went around San Jose where we were living and got some "JFFTO" ("just for fun/tips only") gigs in these new cafes doing open mics. This time it was focusing on songwriting, however, so I started dabbling in writing. Scary place to go for a former "cover tune only" performer! Now here I am creeping up on 60 and a few years ago finally started to get serious about writing songs. Never too late to learn something new! Two of the most incredible people I've ever known in my life? Matthew and Michael Reed. I never knew my heart could love, and break, as much as it does for my sons. They are both so uniquely talented, so smart, so funny, so real. "I hope I get to see them soon" ....I always say that to myself. Please visit ALL the wonderful folks in my "Friends" section and go support their shows if they are playing in a town near you.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/06/2006
Band Website: www.suziesandiego.com
Band Members: Suzanne Reed - Vocals, Guitar
Influences: MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS: Tom Waits, Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henry, Richard Julian, Patsy Cline, Michael Reed, Joan Baez, John Cowen, Kitaro, Tuck&Patti, Leonard Cohen, Jennifer Warnes' CD "Famous Blue Raincoat!) many more.INSPIRATIONAL WEATHER: I LOVE cool cloudy days. They energize me and make me feel at peace and "at home" (shades of my Irish blood?)
Sounds Like: Some say I sound just like Suzanne Reed... I have to agree
Record Label: Whathe? Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Slideshow

Slide show?
Posted by on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Austin! and Heybale.

Austin, Texas.. ..I walked into the Continental club with my friend Rosie Flores. I wanted to hear the band Heybale. I met Redd, the guitarist, long ago and was looking forward to hearing this ban...
Posted by on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:25:00 GMT

I'm a Mom

Parenting. I remember.. pre-kids. I used to think to myself "I wonder if I'll ever be a mom, and I wonder who those kids will be?" Dan and I were good parents, I think .. certainly not perfect, b...
Posted by on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:37:00 GMT

The Smart Bros ,,, 4, and more, on the road

My son Mike /"Mickey" with Jay and Lou, as The Smart Brothers, along with my other son Matt as "chief driver/roadie/merchhelp guy", took to the road in a 36 foot RV in spring 2008. Two sets of brot...
Posted by on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:15:00 GMT

House Concerts

Whew.. they take some work and $, but they are worth every penny and every bit of energy. When we bought our home in 1999, I knew the family room would be Dan's "Super Bowl" room, but the large living...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:45:00 GMT

Goodness...Our US "debt".. holy cow

I was telling a friend of mine about how I was watching the CSPAN Book channel a few days ago and the gent on there was talking about the US economy. He was saying that our attention is being diverted...
Posted by on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:10:00 GMT

My Week in New York!

OH my gosh. I LOVE New York!. Although Mike came home from NY after being there a couple of months, I knew I'd get back there eventually. So I just went for a week.. by myself...
Posted by on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:30:00 GMT

Hidee Hidee Hidee Hidee Ho!...New York!

My son Mike has been in New York for almost 6 weeks now. For a die-hard California guy, he was amazed he fell under NY's spell the very first day. He got to live in the Village for fi...
Posted by on Sat, 04 Nov 2006 08:18:00 GMT

Loquacious yet sleepy

This is dangerous.. telling me I can ramble on about whatever.. I have so many opinions and ideas and inventions and ... . Now all I need is about 10 more hours in each dayo. Luck...
Posted by on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:25:00 GMT