This was an article I wrote for JVH Media Group for their online music magazine. If only I could take my own advice, eh? At least I sound like I know what I'm talking about. "Can't Buy Me Talent" by Elizabeth Grimes It was a simpler time for the music industry back in the 1940s and 1950s. Crooners like Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Elvis had to have one thing. Talent. A voice that dazzled in every setting, and a stage presence that entranced the audience were the only necessary ingredients needed to create a star. I guess that’s why they call it “the good old days.” Not that today’s artists don’t have talent and stage presence. Some of them surely must. But have you ever wondered why your favorite singer sounds amazing on the album yet so different when you fork out the 200 bucks for concert tickets? I can think of a few reasons: vocal stacking (for added power), vocal auto-tune (it’s exactly what it sounds like – automatically tuning the v...

In the mail today, I finally received the DVD for a performance I did last month at Clark Studio Theatre in Lincoln Center. It was a benefit concert for the World Mission Foundation , which raises money to prevent and treat AIDS/HIV. The benefit, which was directed by Kevin Marin, was a success, raising $2,500 for the Foundation. I was asked to play a mix of well-known and original selections. One piece I particularly enjoyed learning and playing was "Beir Mir Bist Du Shoen," originally recorded by the Andrews Sisters. Surprisingly, I had never heard the song before, but since then I've added it to the "favorite" category in my repertoire. For this performance, I was surprisingly composed for how nervous I was. Normally, when I am that nervous, I have trouble getting any sound to come out at all. Someone told me that if I can control my breath and voice after 30 seconds of intense cardio, I could control it when I'm extremely nervous. I think they were ri...

I’ve never put so much as a quarter into a slot machine or purchased a lottery ticket. Once I played poker with skittles. I try my best to plan ahead, be prepared, and make informed decisions. But soon, I’ll make one of the biggest gambles of my life. There are no guarantees, just nail biting, forehead perspiration, and silent prayer. I’m about to dive, head first into creating an album with Modern Vintage Recordings . It’s a total investment of time, heart, soul, and money. And while I have full confidence in the creative team that will help give life to my songs, I know that nothing is a sure thing. It is said that only about one in twenty independent artists who finance their own album, distribution, and publicity will gain enough momentum to have a successful music career when it’s all said and done. I do not like these odds. But when my dad told me without hesitation that I was one in a million, I began to think that maybe it could happen. After all, doors have opened thus far, l...

Yesterday, my husband was hard at work like I'd never seen him before. A few years ago, I bought him a painting easel to fuel his creativity, however it has rarely been used since. But yesterday, he sat on his wooden, swivel stool for hours, creating in silence. I wanted to look over his shoulder. I wanted to ask him how it was going. I wanted to know what he was painting. But I stopped myself short, understanding how those seemingly harmless actions can hinder someone who is "on a roll." Late into the evening, he finally lifted the small, square canvas from the 3-legged easel and reluctantly handed it to me. "I painted this for you. You can name it," he said simply, unenthused, and waiting nervously for my reaction. I immediately smiled with admiration at the array of blended colors and texture. It was a true piece of art. A star so full of beaming light, it couldn't be contained by just one snap shot. Even the largest telescope in the world couldn...

The other day, I drove my parents and little sister to La Guardia airport after their week long visit to the Big Apple. It was 4:30 in the morning and we were all exhausted. We rode mostly in silence through the dark, deserted streets of New Jersey, Manhattan, and Queens. The only noise came from the radio that was at half volume playing Madonna’s “Ray of Light,” a popular 90s song that reminded me of my high school days. I suddenly thought of the one person who wasn’t there, my older sister Regina. The early car ride, dark morning, and song took me directly back to Regina and I's high school paper route. I laugh to myself every time I think about those days. I scarcely remember doing it. I suppose because I was in such a sleepy stuper most of the time. I do remember that music though. The good thing about being in a car at 4 in the morning, is radio stations don’t play commercials. So at least we got uninterrupted Alanis Morsette, Backstreet Boys, and Ace of Base. There was one ...

What I love most about this short video is not the fact that my two nephews, who I love more than life, are adorably banging on the piano with no rhyme or reason, although that is super cute. I watched it over and over and saw the same thing clearer each time. Zach can scarcely contain the pure, exuberant joy and happiness that uncontrollably overflows from his tiny, butterball body. He’s happy because he’s sitting next to his big brother who he loves and wants to be just like. He’s happy because his big brother is smiling and playing with him. He’s happy because he is in his Papaw and Granny’s house, a safe and comfortable place in his small world. And I believe he is happy because he is creating the funny sound that’s coming from that big, brown box. All is right in his world right now. And although I am not there in person to applaud after the boys’ musical masterpiece is complete, I'm happy to at least witness those moments of total joy in the lives of the 2 little boys I l...