My singing journey began in West Berlin, Germany.  While working for the US Army as a civilian, I was invited to play the part of Addapearle, the Good Witch of the North in the play “The Wiz”. After great success, the director suggested that I take private lessons since I had a “lovely singing voice”.  I asked around the black community and found the irrepressible Sylvia Yorke, “Strawberry Woman” in the opera, “Porgy & Bess” playing at the Theatre Des Westens in West Berlin.  During our first lesson, she stated emphatically, you can be a soloist!” Our collaboration lasted several years until the Berlin Wall came down and everybody had to go home!

Once in New York City, Sylvia referred me to the renowned, African American opera singer of German leide (songs), Louis Smart of Louis Smart Productions.  With him I learned profound opera technique but I was secretly yearning to sing jazz.  After several years with Louis and singing what gigs I could on the cabaret scene, Mom died and I was unable to sing for 3 years. 

One day while sitting in my office at school, I found an article about Marjorie Eliot, the great jazz pianist/actress. I had taken an acting class with her several years before and I wondered if she would remember me.  She did and she invited me to a jazz rehearsal for her parlor concerts in her apartment.  And a dream came true!  She mentored me for 7 years while I performed jazz concerts in her apartment with some of the most fabulous jazz musicians around NYC. 

Sedric Shukroon, a fellow musician and a wonderful saxophone player I met at Marjorie’s, gave me a list of musicians since I was about to go out on my own as a singer for the first time in my life.  Now I had to go out and find a location, hire musicians, pay them, pick songs, rehearse, etc.  The first musician I contacted, Paul Beaudry, bass player I found playing at The International House right in my neighborhood!  We sat and talked.  He gave me the “run down” on how to produce my CD, how to hire musicians, etc.  

Two years later I met Evan Ginsburg who invited me to perform on Fridays at a great little spot called Gizzi’s in the West Village.  Now I would have to hire the musicians, pick out songs and arrange everything but I was ready!  The gigs went well and thus began my quest to get myself financially together to produce this CD. 

I went back to school and got my money together and sought out the talented and kind Paul Beaudry, bass player once again.  He arranged and played on most of my favorite songs on my CD here. His musical guidance and support during this process has been invaluable to me and he never even complained once.   

I picked these songs because they speak to the lyrical and melodic beauty of the kinds of songs that I remember hearing as a child.   

During the summer of 2016, at my family’s Native American Naming Ceremony, Cousin Donna (speaking English) and Cousin Harry (speaking  Algoguin native language) simultaneously gave me my American Indian name, “Bluebird”, whose meaning is “a messenger of great spirit”.  

I hope you enjoy all of these inspirational and beautifully arranged songs as much as I do!   

Recent Interview with Frankie Sticks

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