1) How old were you when you first performed in front of an audience (beyond your family) and what did you play/sing?
My fifth grade graduation , I had a solo from the song “For you I will” by Monica.
2) What would you want to be if you weren’t a musician?
I would be a psychologist.
3) You are a musician, is there another art in which you’d like to be accomplished?
I enjoy so many forms of art , if I could refine a skill it would be painting.
4) What quality do you like least about yourself?
I am an artist and I am an only child . therefore I am moody – but I suppose that makes me good at my job.
5) What is your favorite non-musical pastime?
Cooking, I absolutely love to cook , and I love watching friends and family enjoy what I make.
6) If you were about to have your last meal what would it be?
Wow. Tough one. A small croc of Mac and Cheese (done correctly), plantain chips, Foie Gras & French toast from Le Express On Park Ave paired with a Laphroaig 18 on one big Rock , water with lemon, and 2 – warm crisp on the edges gooey in the center chocolate chip cookies.
7) What non-living musician has inspired you most?
Nina Simone. I appreciated her honesty and could truly hear her emotions through her music. I like to say I could hear the face she was making when she sang. I also once danced with someone during rainstorm to her version of the song “I loves you Porgy” – it was surreal like a scene from a movie, so that pretty much sealed the deal for me.
Plus One – When did you know you wanted a career as a musician?
On my 26th birthday. We have a very good friend of my family’s – an artist named Johnny Cobbs – I went to him when I was 21 and said- “John I’m so confused I don’t know what path is right for me , I don’t know what my passion is..” He answered “When you’re 26 , you’ll know.” And sure enough on my 26th birthday I ended up at a small jazz club in China Town, friends of mine were on stage and invited me up to sing. I hit the stage with an Etta James tune and it was like a light bulb went off. While I was on stage I literally had the thought ” oh ok this is what I’m supposed to be doing.” That started the process.