Sylvia McConico

Hi Clairdee,

Wow! Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in South Carolina, I'm thrilled for you. You deserve that and more, your voice is like velvet being rubbed on a bruised heart.

Many Blessings,

Sylvia McConico
Speaker, Performance Artist,
Workshop Facilitator, Peace Activist
sylviamcconico.com

Machelle Spiteri

Thank you, Machelle. [The song Ms. Spiteri is referring to is Billy Strayhorn's "Something To Live For."]
—Clairdee

Dear Ms. Clairdee,

I had never heard your name until yesterday and yours, Ms. Clairdee, is a name I shall never forget. I had to join your website after hearing you for the first time yesterday at Filoli. To be honest, I did not know what Filoli was until I read the article in the San Francisco Chronicle several months ago. I thought Filoli was a place in Italy. I love to travel, so I read the article with interest.

I went to the Filoli website and discovered the various summer Jazz concerts and decided to attend the Marcus Shelby concert. This was my first time at Filoli and I loved the concert!

Everyone was great — but you, Ms. Clairdee, stole my heart with your opening song. That song brought tears to my eyes and I was trying to hide the tears from others at the table. (I came to this event by myself.) The song you sang reminded me so dearly of my husband, Rich, who passed away 10 years ago next month. I loved that song and I'm trying to find out the name of it. The words were so beautiful.

I had someone to love me but God had other plans for my husband. I never felt my husband so close to me as I did when you sang that song. Just writing this email makes me teary eyed. Please, I'd love to know the name of the song and thank you so much for singing such a beautiful song.

Thank you for making my heart so filled. I came home after the event and downloaded all of your albums. I love "While you were steppin out, someone else was steppin in." You are so funny.

Have a nice day.
Ms. Machelle Spiteri

Clairdee fans - The Next Generation

Hi Clairdee,

At 21 months, Owen is his grandparents' dream come true. This photo reflects his actual good temperament. According to his parents (whose names escape us for the moment), he does have his occasional other side, but we don't believe it. As grandparents, we don't have to.

This photo shows Owen just after finishing most of his lunch, the remainder having landed in his bib. He is in the act of learning how to say: "Now What!" while throwing his hands up in the air. Some might say, 'Why teach him an expression of exasperation?' We see it as an expression of exuberance; as in, 'What wonderful things will life show me next?'

Love,
Kent and Jill Lauder

Tom and Marge Kassis

Clairdee,

Hi and Wow!

But then, your concerts always have a whole bunch of WOW! in them. Oh my, Clairdee, we could have easily sat there and listened to you and your wonderful rhythm section for a couple more hours. It is truly a gift that you give to your audience.

I am sending you a picture of our little Ellie Mae. She is the last in a line of eight grandchildren.

Love,
Tom and Marge Kassis

David L. Rosenfeld

Hello,

I just got your CD, "MUSIC MOVES," after hearing about you from the John Levy book and the lushlife.com website. I was impressed with your singing style and the great quality in your voice. And after reading on the back of the CD the nice things Miss Nancy Wilson had to say I must say I agree. I have been a fan of Miss Wilson's for more years than I care to admit (40 or so) and since she is semi-retired I was looking for some music with the same quality. What a pleasure it was to hear your voice! Mr. Levy sure knows his girl (female) singers.

I noticed on the CD you seem to be having such a great time. Your laughter and the smile in your voice were infectious. I am looking for your "DESTINATION MOON" CD as I really want to hear your studio recordings now. It is a little hard to locate but I will find it somewhere. From all the reviews I have read it seems you have a great future ahead of you and may I wish you all the best.

Thank you for your time and I will sign up on your mailing list on your web site. I will also look forward to your next CD.

Take care,
David L. Rosenfeld

Joyce Kwon, UC Berkeley Graduate 2009!

Joyce received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music, with an emphasis on composition, as well as jazz and improvised music, from UC Berkeley on May 17, 2009. She was one of my students from 2005-2007. We celebrated her graduation over lunch in San Francisco. Yea, Joyce! Find out more about Joyce and listen to her compositions by clicking here. —Clairdee

Hello Clairdee!

I'm so glad for this opportunity to catch up with you. I am always thankful for you and having been in your class my first few semesters in college. You taught me a lot about professionalism, being prepared and polished. Thanks, Clairdee, for all that you've taught me, for your emails and thinking of me and for lunch today. You are truly a beautiful person all around and I'm so blessed to know you.

Love,
Joyce

Sean Tripi

I had a wonderful time as mentor to singer Geraldine Williams and guitarist Sean Tripi for the Community Housing Partnership's talent show. The gala event, "A Night with the Stars," was held on April 21, 2009 and Geraldine won 2nd place! See photos... —Clairdee

Clairdee,

The pictures are great. Geraldine and I really enjoyed and appreciated working with you and wish you all the success and happiness in your personal and professional life to come.

I listened to the samples you have up on your website. I really like the Christmas stuff. Take care.

—Sean

Yoshi's San Francisco - Christmas 2008

Norm Rosenblatt

Clairdee,

The Christmas concert was so wonderful. I'm so glad that Benjamin and I wormed our way in.

I was looking at the attributes that make your music so good — phrasing — yes, quality of tone — yes. But more than anything it's the expression. I hear much more than tunes and words, the real message behind the song.

Carmen McRae is one of my favorites, and I hear echoes of her in some of your songs.

My grandson, Benjamin, agrees. Have a great year!

Affectionately,
Norm Rosenblatt

Cynthia Grand-Clarke

Clairdee,

My husband and I attended your Christmas Eve show in SF. You are such a wonderful performer and special person, your love for your music and life flows like a river.

Thank you for a wonderful Christmas eve, I felt truly blessed to have shared my evening with you. We live in Central California would love to see you come our way some time.

Best wishes for the new year,

Cynthia Grand-Clarke
Santa Maria , CA

Artists comment on "Artists Playlists: Part 2"

Amina Figarova
Pianist, composer, educator

Hello Clairdee,

Thank you for including me on your Playlist. Your site is great and playlist very diverse. Great idea! I am on a short tour right now with guitar player Ratko Zjaca and bassist Miroslav Vitous. Very very interesting and all for the beauty of the music. Amazing.

Love,
Amina

Akira Tana
Percussionist, educator

Clairdee,

Thanks! Nice touch on your website to have this feature.

See you soon,
Akira

Paulette McWilliams
Vocalist, vocal coach

Clairdee,

You are truly a breath of fresh air!!! Thank you for including me on your site's Playlist. I am excited about each day and you are so much a part of my outlook!! I thank you for that.

Much love,
Paulette

www.paulettemcwilliams.com

Discoveries - October 2008

I was really excited to find out that our October 2008 Discoveries selection, Dr. P.M. Forni's Choosing Civility, was also featured on Oprah Winfrey's October 15th show. Dr. Forni's book is an easy, informative guide to "the twenty-five rules of considerate conduct." Seems Oprah and I were on the same page. (No pun intended.) — Clairdee

Susan Rancourt

Clairdee,

OK, all I have to say is that if someone you encounter can't 'feel' and respond to your beautiful spirit ... well, it's truly a sad state of affairs.

Your website is wonderful. Thanks for all that you share.

Warmest regards,
Susan

www.susanrancourt.com

"Reverend" Clairdee?

Thank you for the many comments about my gratifying and fun experience. I LOVE your stories and photos! Here is a sampling of your messages. —Clairdee

Wayne Saroyan

Clairdee,

Most of the people I know were convinced that my "ordination" was the seventh sign of the apocalypse, but I was nonetheless honored and deeply moved when my son Ian and his fiancee Rebecca asked me to serve as the officiant for their Oct. 15, 2008 wedding at a beautiful winery just north of Cincinnati. So I went online to the...

Read more...

Cleveland and Sandra Brown

Clairdee,

You are such a fabulous person to know and be proud of. I know that your sisters must be beaming and your mother dancing a jig in Heaven at the thought of you adding "Reverend" to your tall list of accomplishments in this lifetime — thus far. Don't stop!

We are so in love with you, your passion for music and your melodic, heavenly voice.

Love ya!
Sandra and Cleveland

P.S. Would you officiate for Cleveland and me when we renew our vows in September 2010? Yeah, I saw "one-time only." This may be the next best thing to ministry of music.

Rick Gilbert

Hey Clairdee,

How funny is this about you being a "minister." I have done two weddings, the most recent about 2 years ago. I decided to go all out and bought an actual robe. No one in the 300 people there knew I wasn't the real thing. It was a lot of fun for me and the groom (who I'd known all his life) and the bride. I'm not much interested in doing it again. It took a lot of work -- but still fun. I am a Universal Life Church minister. Ha!

You are welcome to borrow my robe and sash anytime.

Best to you,
Rick

Kellie Hickman Parks

Clairdee,

The wedding story is so touching. Glad to hear your great stories and how they are continuously contouring and shaping your music. GO ON "REVEREND!" AMEN.

I Love you and am continuously watching you on the move. Thanks for sharing. This was a day maker!

Kelli Hickman Parks

Montclair Jazz Festival

Thank you, Dr. Bob. —Clairdee

Dr. Bob Weisgerber's Concert Review

Some people are luckier than others. You were among the lucky ones if you caught the hour-long show by Clairdee and her group on Sunday, September 7th, in the Village of Montclair in the East Bay Hills. It took exactly one number to sweep the crowd into her magic act. Her voice soared, she swung to the lyrics, she clapped, danced and generally brought the heat up somewhere north of boiling. It was no-holds-barred jazz. The crowd ate it up — LOUD clapping and cheering after each number, and a full house STANDING O at the end.

Read more...

The Thomas Family

The story about the Thomas Family, featured in the August 2008 newsletter, continues to touch our subscribers. —Clairdee

Rita Sokolowski: A little update

Hello Clairdee,

I was reading your mailbag today and wanted share a very sad story, that I believe in the end will have a happy ending. After reading about the Thomas Family, I wrote you about my sister, Irene, and her new son, Ben, that you featured in your mailbag. Since that time ...

Read more...

Stoneman Towery: The Day The Music Started

Hi Clairdee,

I was reading your newsletter this morning and thought I might share one of my most recent blogs with you. Last week I was diagnosed with 'Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome' by the Veterans Administration. They believe I have had it ever since I was a child and that the Viet Nam war exacerbated it. So, for the first time last week I began the long process of recovery through weekly therapy sessions. Thanks so much for reading my story, "The Day the Music Started," and sharing it in your Mailbag.

On another note, I am vocal coaching and mentoring teens who are pursuing careers in R&B and Pop music. I was telling my student how you taught me to become one with the music and about proper microphone technique. One of her assignments for this year is to go see you perform!

Respect and eternal admiration,
Stoneman


The Day The Music Started

I can still remember that day so many years ago when it all started for me. My brother and I were in extreme distress as we tried to figure out a way to keep from getting a beating that evening by our legal guardian. It had become a daily nightmare. She would come home from work and demand that we take off all of our clothes. Then, the beatings would begin. Most times she used an extension cord, but there were those days that she used belts, sticks and switches from the tree. Now I wouldn’t dare try to say that my brother and I were angels or anything like that. We did things that normal 9 (him) and 5 (me) year old kids did. But most times we got beaten just because it was a part of her daily ritual. The beatings often lasted for what seemed like hours and she made sure that she aimed for our genitals as much as possible. Because of this I often peed blood and had welts all over my private parts.

Read the rest of the story in Stoneman's blog.

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