Grammy Surprise!

Again I am late. In my defense... the week this blog represents was a whirlwind. I had a travel show and SURPRISE... Russ was nominated for a Grammy. Who knew? We did not.

After a lot of panic and scrambling, we managed to get to both events.

Good times... Good times.

Then before you knew it...

Then they were playing Rick James in the arena!

How exciting that from now on, Russ will be "Grammy nominated Russell Graham!"

Much Love,

T

Showtime!

This... is why I have to focus and fall behind on my blogs sometimes.

What a great time! 

"Stone City Band won't you funk us on up..."

Yes. I believe they will. ;)

There are some amazing reviews that I will share as soon as I get the chance, but right now I have to fly because we're getting ready to do this again! 

Also... you will NOT BELIEVE what is coming up after that!!! Whew! Stay tuned y'all.

Love you!

T

Grateful

 It is still sinking in.  

I am officially in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. I HAVE A BUFFALO Y'ALL!!!

 https://www.bmhof.org

"Those people who believe in you - who support you, encourage you, motivate you, inspire you, who are there for you to come home to... are priceless. This is a reflection of all the love and support that I got here from you all and I am eternally grateful."

"It takes a village and I am Buffalo raised."

There will never be enough thank you's. I'll be working on expressions of gratitude forever. 

Thank you Nancy Parisi for capturing these moments in photographs!

Love and thanks to you all...

XO,

T

Rehearsal Vibes

 What a blast!

Joey, Sharon, Me, Shelley

Getting ready for the big event!

With Leon

Click here for Buffalo Music Hall of Fame

Can't wait! Now if I can just figure out how to thank five million people and share an inspirational message - in under five minutes. #itcantbedone

Grateful beyond measure...

Love,

T

Recoup

It took all week to recuperate. The little guy needed some more rest also. We finally made it though!

This week is about practice and getting back!

Next week is going to be epic!

Click here for the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame

Love,

T

Showtime

This is blog one of two, as I catch up. 

The week before last, I was sick AND had shows. As per current protocols, one had to be performed virtually. The event benefitting Ukraine through the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York was so important to me and the show organizers. I was very much looking forward to singing with a talented young Ukrainian friend of mine who is truly an inspiration. Thankfully, Russell was able to attend. He played keyboard and sang harmony along with a prerecorded video of me as I sang along with our rehearsal recording of the Ukrainian folk song. The event was a success and I am proud to have participated.

Click here for "Ukraine in Crisis" page on jewishfederations.org

Then I was off to San Fransisco with The Original Stone City Band later in the week. It was a beautiful sunny day and perfect for an outdoor concert in the park. I love the Stone City family and got to visit with relatives too while out on the West Coast!

It was a busy and completely exhausting week which required some recuperation.

Whew!

Love,

T

"Give It Up for Mr. Russell Graham"

 Madison Square Garden...

That's it. That's the blog.

Good week everyone! xo

Love,

T

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

The show was great! I always love rehearsals and being around the Stone City Band family. We rehearsed in Vegas before the Seattle show. I love this family. Randall and I had coordinated red tiger stripes (actually it may have been zebra).

Mark, Me, Randall

Me, Levi 

Danny, Me, Eddie

The traveling was a bit grueling. There were flight delays, flight changes, airport changes and long distance sprints to make it to new gates. When the show was over, I had the chance to sit and relax for a minute. Oscar and I made a few TikToks.

It wasn't until I finally packed up for the flight home and went to bed for the night that I realized my lion video had gone viral at a million views. When I woke up, it was over two million. Now, as I write this, it's at 4.8 million and counting. I'm going to have to do a follow up video. Also, who knew there was so much to learn about the mating habits of lions? LOL

The journey home was smooth until Chicago, where my final leg was delayed many times. When it went back as far as 7am the following morning and the airline was ready to send me to a hotel, I managed to race to another terminal to catch the last flight back to the NYC area. My luggage did not make it. That's alright. It should be delivered here to the house shortly and the COVID test was negative, so there's not that much to complain about in the grand scheme of things. Zachary was asleep with his favorite bear when I finally arrived back home. 

Here's wishing you a beautiful week. 

Love,

T

Renew!

I asked God for a sign. Then on Sunday, when church was live-streaming, the feed got "stuck" on repeat like a vinyl record on the word "renew." (Okaaaayyyyy...)

I was wondering if that event met the criteria for my request that the sign be "as clear as a bell" when, out of the blue, a text popped up from a friend of mine who is always using the word "renew." (OK again.)

I recently posted a series of videos on TikTok documenting a "vocal journey" in which I spent 30 days running outside while also doing vocal exercises. It was a lot to do exercises and also film, edit and post, so I only posted on TikTok. Consequently a lot of my friends did not see and I'd been considering renewing the journey by posting on other platforms. 

I decided to go ahead and do that. :)

Here's the original "Vocal Journey Explainer." I'll be reposting each of the thirty days. It's become a bit of a lifestyle. Glad to be able to share it with you all.

Love,

T

Looking Up

 

Remember that vocal journey I started back in October? I've been posting video snippets on TikTok, but maybe I should post them on IG and FB - even Twitter too. What do you think?

It started like this:

I've just put up day eighteen of the thirty-day journey, and another, deeper journey is unfolding. I'm reminded to be grateful and make time for precious moments. 

This week, I'll look up and appreciate the beauty all around.

Thank you all for being here!

Love and appreciate you.

Love,

T

Inspired Journey

So a thing happened and I may or may not have embarrassed myself in front of millions of people. 

See, what had happened was... I was asked to participate in a segment being filmed for an online channel with millions of subscribers, with a vocal coach who has millions of followers.

I am a professional singer. I've coached professionally and produced singers in high profile situations. I am hired to sing. I show up, sometimes last minute, tired or not, and nail it.

For this segment, I showed up. I sang. My voice cracked. It cracked a lot.

We had a lovely on-air chat before I sang one of my original songs from my album released about ten years ago. It was recorded before my son was born, before all the physical therapy, before the surgeries. I had decided the night before that I would sing "Everywhere," mainly because of its relevance to current world happenings.

I didn't preface the whole performance with how tired I was. Singers do that all the time. It sounds like an excuse to me. It doesn't matter how challenged my days are. It doesn't matter how stressed out I might be. It doesn't matter how sore my abs are from pulling off a pushup challenge duet with a body builder who came up on my TikTok feed. As a professional, you're there on time and you just do it. 

In keeping with that spirit and energy now... oh wait! Did I skip the part about the pink boxing gloves? Let me go back to the segment: The next thing I knew, I was wearing pink boxing gloves and going through a sort of vocal exercise boot camp, where I was running and jumping in place while holding my diaphragm and trying to repeat the voice warmup routine.

I sang my song again afterward, without all the cracks. :)

In keeping with the spirit and energy of a "no excuses" mindset, I decided to seriously step up my vocal exercises. It's important to understand that I work out a lot - six days a week usually. My schedule is completely packed as a performer AND full-time mom. I made a commitment to work on vocal exercises WHILE doing my workouts everyday. I began to record my vocal journey.

As I write this on day four, my voice is fatigued. I've decided to be on vocal rest until I see my doctor tomorrow. I will pick up right where I left off when I am cleared to use my voice again. Good health is an absolute must.

I'm planning to record a thirty day vocal journey. It's important to me to persevere and to hold myself accountable. Determination pays off and there is always something to learn and something to improve. These are new times and the world keeps changing. We all have got to grow and evolve. Also, my son watches every move I make. Teaching him by my example is crucial. 

It doesn't matter if I make mistakes. It will not be perfect. What's important here is the effort, the determination, the dedication. I need to make myself proud. 

Tremendous thanks to Cheryl Porter, Talent Recap, and Billy Blanks Jr. for everything, especially for inspiring this journey!

Click here for Talent Recap on YouTube

Click here for Cheryl Porter Vocal Coach on YouTube

Love,

T

Getting Comfortable?

What a great time I had with Rick James' Original Stone City Band this weekend! They always bring a smile. I absolutely love the whole SCB family. What an amazing group of beautiful and talented people! It's truly a Blessing to know them and an incredible honor to be with them on stage.

With Mark

With Lanise

With Oscar

There was a lot of driving for me this week, but we are finally home and looking forward to getting settled back in. Maybe I shouldn't speak too soon though, because look at this guy:

I believe it's a male "Halloween Pennant" dragonfly and it was waiting for me when I got back. 

"In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. The change that is often referred to has its source in mental and emotional maturity and understanding the deeper meaning of life." - Google

Fine. Bring it on! (Just as I was about to get comfortable.) Might as well have an adventure. 

Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

Love,

T

Grand Funk

I was in a grand funk. Russ was busy and school's out for summer. I have a mountain of tasks and I'm not going to lie - IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. I may have a panic attack just thinking about it. 

Full-on anxiety took hold for a couple of days and THEN, as if I wasn't busy enough, the phone rang. It was a gig. There was a last minute emergency and could I be 107 miles away by 6pm, fully glammed up - singing for someone's wedding? 

No. No I could not. I was on my way to the yard waste facility, with bags of mud, weeds, dirt, and potato bugs in the back of the car, along with Zachary. We were both a mess and attempting to clean up the driveway before we got some type of citation for junking up the neighborhood. Our bags of debris had been sitting so long in the rain that they broke, and we'd been shoveling their dusty remains in the sweltering heat. I also had no babysitter.

I hung up the phone, defeated. "I can't" are not words in my vocabulary, but there was just no way. There is a show next month with the same entertainment group, so I called the sitter to confirm that date. I thought maybe that would give me some kind of hope for the future.

Not only did the Angel who is my babysitter confirm next month's show date, but she was available that day as well and could come over anytime! WHAT??!! There was help??? I quickly called back for the job I had just turned down, "A sitter just fell from the sky. Do you still need someone?" Yes. Yes they did.

I can't even completely remember the whirlwind that followed, but I think I have never cleaned up so fast in my life. I was like a tornado, but I was straightening and organizing, putting away toys and papers, packing alcohol wipes, snacks, gloves, shoes, throat spray, electronics and a mic stand, all while cleaning up, curling my hair, letting the dog out, watching Zachary and doing my makeup.

I reviewed songs in the car on the way. The next thing you know, I was parking on a hill next to a cow and running toward an outdoor pavilion from which I could hear the sound of an amplified guitar. The bandleader met me by the driveway and told me not to rush and that all was well.

Life is better while the music is playing and I am doing what I do. There were fine and talented musicians, happy smiling people, and beautiful countryside views. 

I am here to tell you that the impossible can be done! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!!! Huge thanks to all the people who have stepped in to help when I've felt overwhelmed. Thinking back... there have been so many Earth Angels who carried me just when I thought I couldn't make it. When we can't do it on our own, we still CAN with a little help. My grand funk turned into some kind of wonderful.

It's a miracle to lose hope and find it again. May we see light just when we need it and be light when someone else needs - especially now in these days of extreme hardship for so many.

With Love and gratitude,

T

Wild Blue Yonder

 Is it Monday again? I've entered a whole new world.

I was that crazy lady spraying and wiping down everything I touched (even though I am fully vaccinated), but MAN was it good to be on stage once again!

And it was beyond beautiful to be with all these lovely people and fine talents!

With Mark

With Levi Ruffin, Nate Hughes

With Lanise Hughes

Lanise, Me, Nate, Cheri, Randall, Maxi, Tom, Eddie, Levi, Oscar

Two shows, three hotel rooms, and four planes later, I think I'm getting the hang of this new world of safety protocols. Hand sanitizer, wipes, spray and gloves are at the ready in various accessible pockets of my crossbody bag and I've got the use of public restrooms down to a science. 

SMH at how much of everything we took for granted, and how amazing it is that some of these kids coming up now will have never known a world before COVID.

May we all stay safe, healthy, happy and grateful.

Love you all, 

T

Thank you, Amen.

Well, I am alive. We all are.

Click here for carbon monoxide safety from The National Safety Council

I had been cleaning all day and preparing for a gig. The babysitter was coming at 6pm. It was probably 3:30-ish when I was starting to wrap things up and go pick up Zach. The house had a kind of sulphur smell that I thought was from me cleaning out the drains. I had windows open to vent and it was cold outside, so the heat was probably kicking in more than usual.

Then there was a beeping sound. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from at first. Russ was on the phone. When I said I thought it was coming from the basement, he said it could be the carbon monoxide detector. I went down to find what seemed like smoke. I couldn't see any source.

I hung up and called 911. ("The whole house smells like sulphur and the carbon monoxide alarm is going off.")

First they asked who was in the house (just me and the dogs), then they said to get the dogs and get out of the house. The Fire Department was on the way. I gazed up at the dining room as I opened the door. There was an eerie haze covering the lower half of the room. I didn't even take the time to grab my purse.

After they arrived, the captain confirmed dangerous levels of CO in the house. It was traced to a malfunctioning furnace. It was not safe to go inside. They cleared out the house and shut off the furnace and hot water heater.

There was no time to waste. I had to pick up Zach, get the dogs to a kennel, collect overnight clothes for me and Zach and get to the gig. The babysitter would have to come to the gig and stay at the hotel with Zach (hotel gig). The neighbors would keep an eye on things until the fire people managed to get the garage doors shut again, and they would also keep the babysitter warm at their house in the event she got there before I was back. Russ was calling family, the kennel, and furnace repair people from Abbey Road Studios in London. It was complete chaos - and way more than usual.

Even now, as I write this late Monday night, we are in a second hotel, the dogs still at the kennel. The new furnace comes tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, I can feel like I have some semblance of normalcy this coming week.

The gig was great. I made it on stage in the nick of time without nails or lipstick. Zachary and the babysitter were right behind me and they stayed for a few songs before he went up to bed. Everyone was very kind and I am especially grateful for the help and support of friends, neighbors and even complete strangers who went above and beyond to make our lives easier this week.

With Charlie, Gregory, Kristina #DancinMachine

Zach is having a fine adventure...

I asked for a sign and saw this.

Here's the thing. If the timing had been different... if that alarm would've gone off in the middle of the night, I would never have heard it. As crazy and as stressful as this has all been, I'm reminded that we are incredibly Blessed in ways we don't always even comprehend.

Grateful for that. Yes.

Also, for the record, we should all have carbon monoxide detectors on every level of our home. I'd like a system where they are all connected, so if one goes off they all will sound.

Love,
T

Jam-packed

There was a gig,

With Gregory, Kristina #DancinMachine

With Gregory, Rob, Kristina #DancingMachine

an airport,

a fashion fair,

and my very first purchase for the new website boutique!

With Rafael #AlfredLane

There were awesome friends and dueling pianos!

With Kim #TheTwinsDuelingPianos

There were casinos, good times and basketball watching with some of my favorite people!

With Nate and Lanise #OriginalStoneCityBand

There were signs,

and more - much more. Now maybe there can be some sleep (as soon as I get done with these emails).

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! xoxo

Love,
T