I am a girlie-girl, who loves all things glamorous. I’m a movieholic, AND…. I love to sing!
While most of my peers in the early 70’s were listening to R&B radio, I was tuning in to the Easy Listening station to the sounds of Carole King, Janis Ian, Olivia Newton-John and Barbra Streisand, who were my absolute favorites at the time. My parents for a while were a little concerned that I had no interest in any other kind of music. I was after all a Black girl living on the South Side of Chicago. Not even the Jackson 5 swayed me back then! Having recognized that I could at least hold a tune, one summer day in 1974, my mom taught me how to sing via Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” She would always play the local R&B station and would hurry to come get me every time she heard it come on so I could practice it, guiding me through it. By the time summer of 1975 rolled around, I was loving the music of Earth Wind and Fire, the Honeycombs, the Emotions and the incomparable Natalie Cole. The first time I heard “This Will Be”, something went through me. THEN… I HAD to have the records so I could play them and sing along any time I wanted, as much as I wanted. So I saved up my allowance so I could purchase the 45’s and albums of my favorite singers. (I know I am totally dating myself with the whole 45’s and albums thing. Some who are reading this are asking: “What’s a 45?” Lol!!!) Albums back then were only $6.98, sometimes $5.98 on sale, and most times they only featured 8 songs. The first albums I ever bought was Earth Wing & Fire’s “Gratitude”, and Natalie Cole’s “Inseparable.” I couldn’t wait to get home to tear off the cellophane wrapping to see if the inside sleeves had the lyrics printed on it so I could start learning all the words. Behind the closed door of my bedroom, I played them over and over and over and… ok you get the point, until I had committed the words to memory, singing along at top volume, totally driving my parents crazy. Those Natalie high notes just about did me and my parents in! Because I hadn’t quite found my voice yet. I didn’t know I wasn’t a Soprano and should stop immediately trying to belt out the Barbara and Natalie songs. I also was drawn to theater at the time, and became obsessed with the soundtrack to the Broadway play “The Wiz.” It was the 3rd album I ever purchased. And at age 13 I sang “Home” as my first solo performance at The Doris Jordan Dance Recital, of which I was also a student and participant, held at Chicago’s Aire Crown Theater. I don’t remember being nervous or scared. I just remember after finishing my acapella rendition of the song, receiving the accolades, I totally fell in love. After that, I sang everywhere, all the time. They couldn’t shut me up! I sang at school, while I did chores. I got on everybody’s nerves at home. Every night… “Turn the record player off Ingrid and go to bed!” My mother would yell through the closed door. Then it got worse. One day in 1976, I heard this beautiful, full, warm, melodious voice singing the Sylystic’s “Betcha By Golly Wow.” It was Phyllis Hyman. She became my idol. I’d found my voice. Her vocal range was the same as mine. But not only that, she was gorgeous, with a commanding stage presence. I didn’t just want to sound like her, I wanted to be her. Sigh… Here’s the link to a previous tribute post to Phyllis Hyman.
Fast forward to now, as I reflect on my childhood realization of passion and desire, I could cite very valid, justifiable reasons why I never attained those youthful, grandiose dreams of singing in theater and in concerts professionally. But I won’t go into that here. I do address it in my soon-to-be-released book. I’ve tried to move on from my singing dreams but I always get pulled back in, performing for special showcases and engagements, with bands and without from time to time. I’ve self-released two cds, the Contemporary Christian “Forever” in 2001, and the 2011 “Back 2 Classic”. A compilation of classic jazz standards made famous by the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington, that was birthed out of an immense desire to bring back the iconic grace, style, poise and elegance of the 1940’s pop music era. This project pays homage to some of the greatest writers, musicians and singers of our time. And now as I write this, visions of picking up and starting again are dancing in my head. But how old is too old to pursue your dreams? There are lots of Instagram motivational posts that suggests you’re never too old. I don’t really want to be a part of the music business, I just want to perform the songs I love on my own terms. This life is mine to choose how I want to live so whether some think 55 is too old or not… here I go. Stay tuned!
