The Ever Changing Music

I started singing at the age of three and music has become a big part of my life. Disney’s the Little Mermaid was my anthem when it came out and I memorized Ariel’s song “Part of Your World” after watching it on repeat and probably driving my parents crazy.

The next Disney song which enveloped my life was from the next big movie to come out which was Beauty and the Beast. So I memorized all the words and would sing the song “Belle” walking through town and reading. I actually got to see Paige O’Hara at Disney World and was awestruck.

I really fell in love with music when my uncle before he passed away when I was 7, would listen to Mariah Carey’s Song “Hero”. I could mimic her voice and the way she sang. I knew I wanted to sing as much as I could after that.

If you know me personally, you probably know my favorite movie is Wizard of Oz. I loved Dorothy growing up and my next anthem was “Over the Rainbow” sung by Judy Garland. That is a childhood memory I will never outgrow.

This led to me getting involved in musical theater in my teenage years with a local theater group called Hometown Productions. Some of the shows we did were “Sound of Music” and a Hometown Productions original musical “Command Performances” where I was cast as a lead for the first time. One of the songs I performed was Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle.” I felt I could do anything after that.

I went through my boy band phase with a friend of mine and I got to see my favorite Backstreet Boys and her favorite *NSYNC in concert. I had the Millenium album for the Backstreet Boys and memorized the songs.

During my dramatic stages of my teenage years I started listening to Evanescence. I could feel the power of the words and belt my heart out along with the music. “Bring Me to Life” and “Call Me When Your Sober” were my favorites.

When I was old enough to work I worked at Hollywood Video for a few years. We watched movies while working and my coworkers would ask me to sing the song from “ A Walk to Remember.” They would turn the song down and make sure they could hear me singing.

I went to New York with an Academically Talented Program and fell in love with the city. We watched the Blue Man Group and Phantom of the Opera which was so magical. I wanted to be Christine from Phantom. This made me start looking at the schools in New York for college.

I did go to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and lived in New York for three years. I had a $10,000 scholarship a year while attending. I learned a lot and found myself. One of the showcases I did was “I Need a Hero.”

I came back to Ohio and 2007 and broke up with my ex fiancé. I didn’t know what would happen to me after. When I had a MySpace I had Leona Lewis song “Better in Time” on my page for a little while until I realized I was happier having fun at the time.

I started dating my now husband in 2009 and was singing Karaoke at a bowling ring club called Jd Legends. I sang Alicia Keys “Fallin” and sang him Happy Birthday when we started dating on his birthday. I didn’t know then he would become my husband and father of my children.

Struggling to keep performing, I would sing at karaoke bars and won some contests. One song I was asked to sing a lot was Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy”.

After I married and was pregnant with my first daughter, I was chosen to sing the national anthem at our yearly managers conference for Sterling Jewelers in Florida’s Disney World. This was a big achievement for me.

I now have been working for Kay Jewelers for 18 years, married for going on 12 years in September and have been a mother for 10 years now with 2 beautiful girls. I am a worship leader of my church and have sang for weddings and funerals on the side. I sing for a domestic violence event now for an event called “Light the Night Purple” and like being apart of something greater. Here’s one of the songs we sing during Light the Night Purple.

Music is my inner monologue. Now you know a little more about me. Hope you enjoy this mixed tape!