This album came together because of the convergence of few defining experiences in my life. During the last 2 years, I watched my mother, Eunice Brennan, and best friend of 33 years, Garret Lambert (cover art), become sick and die. In that time, they both told me that hearing me sing and play gently for them was a source of comfort; and for Gary specifically, who suffered greatly, the only time he could sleep. This touched me greatly. Not long ago, one of my favorite people in the world, Dr. Elizabeth O'Keefe--who happened to be one of my bosses--was getting ready to have twins. She is the kind of person who makes you want to do something wonderful for her. She had lost her mother when she was just a teenager, and I found myself wanting to do something "motherly" for her. So I decided to make her a lullabies album. When I went in to record the album with the exquisitely sensitive guitar player, Tony Calabro, he joked before we started that this was just what HE needed as he had been struggling for some time with insomnia. After we finished, I invited him to "try it out." He did, and happily reported to me that it worked!; that he was asleep by the 4th song. Now, to many artists, having someone fall asleep to the sound of your music is discouraging news indeed; but to me, it was the highest praise. The idea that my singing could bring comfort/rest to those suffering was powerfully gratifying. I've always believed in doing work that serves others--and have always done so--and these experiences, quite unexpectedly, showed me how a pretty voice can do more than entertain; it can ease suffering. If that is all that I do with my voice in this lifetime, I will have given this gift its due. And so, given such a mission,...how can I keep from singing? :)
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