Hi everyone!
Are you ready for the next open mic coming up this FRIDAY??!!
I know I am excited and can barely wait to see you all at the Spotlight! I want to tickle you all with an interview with our Featured Musical Director for the Month, Tracy Stark!
Most of you may already know this about Tracy but for those of you who don't, here are some facts for you: Tracy Stark is a pianist/Arranger/Conductor/ Singer Songwriter. She is a 9-time MAC Award winner, in the categories of Music Director, Song of the Year, and Piano Bar Entertainer. She is also a Bistro Award winner for Musical Direction, and winner of Cabaret Hotline’s Songwriter of the Year Award. Tracy has worked with Sarah Dash (Labelle), Randy Jones (Village People), Lesley Gore, Phoebe Snow, Karen Black, Barb Jungr, Brenda Braxton, Eric Millegan (Bones), Tonya Pinkins, and hundreds of other rock, jazz, and broadway vocalists. She stays busy creating and music directing 75-100 different shows per year.She released her 3rd CD of original music, Shades of Beautiful, in 2016, on the boutique Miranda Music label, exquisitely produced by Richard Barone, with world class guest vocalists, including Lillias White, Nona Hendryx, Ann Hampton Callaway, Lesley Gore, Jane Monheit, Janis Siegel, Karen Black, Barb Jungr, and other great artists.
Here are some interesting questions I asked Tracy for this interview:
1) Can you share with us an interesting fact that most people don’t know about you?
In another life, I was a licensed massage therapist for a couple of years.
I enjoyed that job, and it was a successful endeavor, but it soon became obvious that I would not have the time or energy to pursue that path any longer.
2) Over your years of music, do you have a particularly interesting story that you'd like to share with the readers?
A while back, I had planned to travel through Europe. I bought a 3 month Eurail pass, I had my backpack, and I was ready to go!
I went to Scandinavia first, and had planned to travel South from there.
On my first night in Norway, I went to a club where they had an open jam session going on.
I told the band leader I was a piano player from America, and I asked if I could get up and play with the band.
They seemed to enjoy playing with me, and they just let me stay up on stage, and play with the band for a whole set.
When I got off the stage, an agent came up to me, and said, "I can have you working by this weekend, if you don't mind being paid under the table..."
That was the beginning of over 3 years of touring through Europe, which was also the time when I met my husband.
3) What motivates your creativity and passion for life?
My collection of inspirations grows, as I gain more life experience.
Of course, I am always inspired by working with great collaborators, especially when they are also thoughtful, wise, caring human beings, which tends to be the case, more often than not. Although lately, it seems just having a good night's sleep, and waking up pain-free, is a gigantic inspiration to me!
What inspires your music?
Life, love, anger, injustice, survival, etc.
Name three things that never fail(s) to put a smile on your face!
Hearing my husband playing music
My fuzzy children
Being in a deep state of musical abandonment, and feeling I've lost track of time and space.
4) Share with us what you have in the pipeline for us to be on the lookout for!
•Wed, July 19th - Peggy Eason at The Beechman, 7 PM
• Fri, July 21st - Spotlight on You Open Mic!
•Sat, July 22nd - UNEXPECTED TRIO, with Meg Flather, Rosemary Loar, and Tracy Stark,
Mama's 7 PM
•FRI, Aug 4th - Shades of Beautiful: The Tracy Stark Songbook - at the O'Neill Theater Center, with Tonya Pinkins, Lennie Watts, Gretchen Reinhagen, Karen Mack, Jason Morris, and Me!
Now that is quite an inspiring interview don't you think? Are you all tickled for more?? Mark your calendars for Tracy's upcoming events and join us this Friday at the SPOTLIGHT!!!