My first memory of music came at seven months old. The same age that I began to walk. Memories of my Mom changing my diaper or dressing me on my bassinet. A nearby big clunky late 40’s style radio playing the tunes of the era and Mom singing along to me. Sometimes, later on in my life, listening to the AM Radio, I’d be singing along to songs (popular in the early 50s) that I didn't remember learning. Then I’d realize those were the songs my Mom sang to me. The songs carved into my memory because she sang them to me so often. I remember songs like, “You are my sunshine”..., “This little light of mine”...., and “Irish Lullaby”. Music is a joy to my Mother. She enjoys singing, plays piano. In her younger years, looked like Elizabeth Taylor and she is aging gracefully. One evening, when I was 3 years old, my Grandma and Grandpa Bell took me with them to one of their local haunts, The Moose Lodge , in Steubenville, Ohio (the steel mill, coal mines and railroad town where I was born). This particular night there was a spaghetti dinner, live music, dancing and lots of folks who knew each other. The tables were all connected together on end to make rows of one very long table after another in front of the stage, leaving space for the dance area in front, closest to the stage. The band started to play soon after almost everyone finished their food. Even though I was only 3, I was sitting on a very cold fold-up chair, not a high chair. My Grandma had dressed me in a (she thought) cute frou-frou dress that was short, so when I sat down I could feel the chill of the chair on my exposed legs. My height was just right to barely suck the noodles off my plate or sometimes I grabbed it by the handful. I had on a big bib so Grandma just laughed and wiped me off a lot as I squirmed around on my seat wanting to get up.The band started playing a revved up version of ‘The Good Ship Lollipop’ and I knew the words because I watched movies that my mentor, Shirley Temple sang it in. Anyway, I slipped off my chair, and being just the right height, I walked under all the tables in front of me and headed straight for the stage! Without hesitation I climbed up there and stood beside the lead singer, rocking back and forth singing away with my bib on covered with spaghetti. Everyone started laughing and applauding so the singer handed me the microphone, “ On the good ship lollipop”, I sang my heart out. Right at the very moment I started to sing out to all those people

I was hooked! It was my first stage performance, I loved the singing, the music, the people and their reactions. I felt I would burst. I sat down on the edge of the stage after that song and just watched the band up close until my grandma came to get me off the stage. I didn’t want to leave. I always loved music. Family members say it was hard to keep me still. Especially to early Elvis, Shirley Temple, Wizard of Oz and The Mouseketeers. I’d rock on my feet, bend my elbows up and shake my hands real fast while bopping my head along to the beat too! Besides trying tap dancing, hearing piano music or music teachers at school, I didn’t get the opportunity to be around live music for awhile. At movie theaters there were often musicians singing live at the beginning of the movie or before the feature picture show started. Until we moved to Florida at age 9, I often watched music performed on television or listened to the radio. I tried tap dancing but it didn’t work out because there weren’t many teachers to choose from in our small town. The one dance teacher that was around was mean and would yell and smack at me when I made a mistake. Not too good for my learning. After being abused in class one day I left crying and my Mom asked why. I told her, “The dance instructor had yelled at me and smacked my leg. ”There was a red mark so my Mother went inside and told off the teacher. It felt good that my Mom stood up for me. Dad moved us all to Tampa, Florida in the late 50’s. I was nine at the time and I have 3 siblings, two sisters and a brother. I ‘m the oldest.

The move was a career and health move for my Dad. He has eczema and needed to be in warmer weather, plus there were good job opportunities. I used to spend hours in my tween and early teen years listening to music on the transistor radio or TV learning the words and the music to all the vocal and instrument parts in my head. I remember when the Beatles were first on TV and I took pictures of them right off the TV screen. I’d listen to and sing along with my parents records too. When my folks would get together with friends to play cards we kids would gather in another part of the house and listen to records or the radio, sometimes TV. Then we’d sing and act out to the songs as if we were on stage. My Dad had a guitar and was busy trying to learn ‘Little Brown Jug’ for long periods at a time in his bedroom. I would watch through his open door with curious eyes of an 11 year old. I had seen the guitar being played by musicians but didn’t have the chance to touch one. So, one day after my Father spent some time practicing and getting frustrated, he put the guitar down on his bed and went out to the kitchen. I walked into his room, sat on the bed and reached for the guitar. It felt a bit awkward because it was a large body acoustic, but I grabbed hold of it like my Dad had done. I could hear the song in my head and my fingers started to play the notes to ‘Little Brown Jug’ just like I heard on the practice record my Dad used. After I played a while my Father walked into the room and grabbed the guitar out of my hands and said very sternly “Don’t ever touch my guitar again!” Later I figured out he was upset with himself not me. His reaction weighed heavily on me for sometime. It showed up in my life by giving me trouble with memorizing music and words, specifically while playing the guitar. More on that later.

When I started Junior High School, I got my first introduction to reading music and playing an instrument. The first day in band they asked us what instrument we all wanted to play. I chose the drums. However, my Father wouldn’t hear of it. I was informed that if I wanted to play an instrument it would be a clarinet. Since I REALLY wanted to learn music I gave in to the lack of choice. Band was one of my favorite subjects. I tried out and got the positions of Student Director for our concert series, and Drum Major of the Marching Band. To obtain these positions, I had to, among other things, learn the scale on all the instruments and certain drum rhythms. From this experience I gained a growing curiosity, respect and challenge for each instrument. In my perfect world treasure chest there are, among other things, a variety of instruments. My Mom allowed me to start baby sitting at age 13 and this became my way to buy the music I wanted. It was also the year I got my first stereo and my own transistor AM radio. I was in music heaven. Often times, I would be in my room for hours, windows wide open to nature, singing along with all my records as if my life depended on it. Summers were filled with surfing and beach parties on Tampa Bay put on by the local Am radio stations. There would be live music, DJs and contests. Contests to see who could lay on a gigantic block of ice the longest, the limbo, and dance contests. The winner would win a record. I never entered that contest, I was too busy surfing or jamming with other musicians. Music was much more important to me at this time of my life compared to boys or girls. I made friends in my neighborhood with older teens because they had similar taste in music. More sophisticated. I had outgrown teenie bopper and gone into Beatnik, Folk, Folk Rock and Rock. I’d pretend to go to bed and a while later I’d slip out of my window and go hang out in Beatnik Clubs with my friends. Even though I wasn’t really doing anything wrong, I can’t imagine young kids doing this now.

Some of my life lessons were hard, maybe things would have been easier if I’d had someone in my family I felt I could really talk to but, I was talked at. At the beatnik clubs we would sing, play guitar and bongos for hours. I learned that people really do have conversations sharing their thoughts and different point of views freely. After these evenings I’d sneak back into my bedroom via my open window. The music around this time in clubs opened my mind to an enormous selection of music and messages. This lasted until the summer before I began high school. I was excited about attending a brand new high school to begin my sophomore year. My friends and I talked about it the whole summer after ninth grade. I thought it would be a whole new world of possibilities. We, the first students who would occupy the school, had even been involved in the design plans for the school. Then came the big news that my family was moving to Pompano Beach, Florida. Another job opportunity for my Dad. A huge let down for my hopes and dreams. I was heart broken about not being able to make this new start in a new high school with all my friends. There was also the music connection, my family didn’t know about, with my beatnik and rock friends that I would miss too. So, we went to Pompano Beach. I got involved in the school band at first. Then I met other teens who played music in folk and rock bands. The kind of music I loved. They also surfed and went to dances on Saturday night at the teen center. This was all new to me. My parents were strict and I couldn’t go on a “date” until I was 16. I always had early curfews too. I had already become more aware of choices available in this big world. I voiced my opinion frequently and the Women’s Movement gave me even more strength. My parents weren’t the type to let me explore much of the world that interested me. I remember many times growing up when I would show interest in something that they thought wasn’t right and they would tell me, “That’s bad or don’t pay attention to that.” They weren’t pro Women’s Movement either! Music, surfing and hanging out with my friends filled my mind . It was starting to become clear to me that I was girl crazy and not boy crazy!? There were times as early as ages 3 and 9 that stick out in my mind about childhood experiences with friends around the sameage exploring our sexuality. Always to the dismay of my parents who seemed to have the ability to catch glimpses of our curiosity at the strangest times. Then my parents would punish me by making me go to bed without supper, but not before telling me sternly about the evils and sinfullness of such activities. But, in my high school teen years I had sexual encounters of the brief petting kind with girls and a few boys. Testing the waters so to speak. In my teen years I fantasied about being a boy so my best friend would love me as I loved her. But I learned to love being and living authentically in my woman’s body. I always liked the water better on the feminine side. Anyway, that’s a whole other story.

Up until I turned 13 my parents told me I could be anything I wanted to be. When I became what I wanted and how I felt I have always been, they didn’t and don’t like it. The more aware I became the more intense my parents were. Don’t get me wrong, we used to have fun, go on neat vacations and Sunday drives. We all enjoyed getting out and about. Although I was pretty much a ‘good’ girl, Mom and Dad didn’t know that. They accused me of doing things I wasn’t. A strange way of finding out about things that are ‘tabu’! My Dad seemed to freak out at this time of my life. He lost controll, a tyrant physically and mentally, with me as my Mother watched and cried in silence. It seems my Father didn’t know what to do with a strong minded young woman. In the years before he was fun and always told me I could be whatever I wanted, with the exception of playing the guitar. So I guess I believed him. At this point, I still looked up to him as if he were on a pedestal. Pedestals associated with people don’t appear to work out well from my point-of-view. My strength of mind and spirit led me to quit high school and run away to save myself at age 17. During this time in Florida a person could stay away from home at the age of 17, if they had a place to live and a job. So I hid while trying to find a job and a home. I lived out on the Seminole Indian Reservation Open Campground for a while and befriended the Chief’s son. He helped me get rides to town where I walked the streets for days until I got situated, found a home and a job. I was one of the first teen women hired in a gas station in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! When I walked up in my dress and heels asking the owner for a job he said, “Well honey you’ll either scare em’ or bring em’! ”It turned out I was an excellent draw for business and he was impressed that I could pump gas and do mechanical work as well. I didn’t wear the dress and heels to work! I loved taking apart sewing machine engines that my Dad brought home when I was younger. That was my first mechanical experience. Later I learned to fix my bicycles, motorcycles and cars. So I had experience with basic mechanics, changing tires and oil. Sixty dollars a month is what I paid for rent at my first place to live on my own and it was only eight blocks from Ft. Lauderdale Beach! My next goal was to finish high school. I enrolled in night school and was able to finish my senior year in a month and a half. I found night school easier because I could move at my own speed and not get bored. I got A’s and B’s. When they handed me my diploma it felt spectacular to know that I had completed something like this on my own and earned great grades. It built my self esteem. Boredom was the big reason I lost interest in regular high school. I also didn’t believe the history they taught. So many untruths. I got angry and would argue, spouting off proof from other information I had gathered. So I spent most of my time in the Deans office. Schools need to be teaching updated truths to keep the interest of their pupils.

Making custom leather sandals, vests, belts, watch bands, and all types of custom leather items was another job I had at The Bit O’ Sole Leather Shop on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. I met all kinds of artistic and musician types which led to many jams, love-ins ( always musicians playing, free to the public and often famous musicians) and parties full of music. Another of my jobs was artistic modeling at Ft. Lauderdale Art Institute. Through this job I met many artists and musicians. There was a large community of these folks in the Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale area in the late 60’s. Singing, playing music anywhere, anytime happened often. Love-ins and concerts on the beach or in parks would spontaneously start and people would gather. I usually managed to get up close and personal with the musicians (some well known), often jamming with them. Right after I graduated on the week of my 18th birthday week, I was hitchhiking and a young truck company owner picked me up. We were talking and ended up sharing birthday information. Before he dropped me off he pulled into a shopping area and ran into a store real quick. When he came out he was holding an acoustic nylon string guitar which he presented to me saying “Happy Birthday”! That was my first guitar!!! A stranger gave me my first guitar and I was flabbergasted! I can’t remember his name. I used to keep diaries even then but, a robbery occurred while I was in England and, sadly I lost all that information. Shortly after this I started what would be nearly a seven year on and off, hitchhiking journey.

I modeled for art schools, colleges and universities, playing music, learning photography, singing with so many fabulous, lovely people, hippies of the 1960’s and 1970’s throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Mexico. One of my stops was in Austin, Texas. There I met some scientific/mathematician friends who were into extreme experimental art, inventing, space and music. Wayout Art Shows too. We played some wild tunes at that time. They took me to a small club/bar one early evening for some cold beers and music. I did a wicked version of Janis Joplin’s song, “Piece of My Heart”. She was an idol then and always. Some weeks later at the same club, sipping on my first beer, through the door of the club walks none other than Janis Joplin with some of her boys carrying guitar cases. She was there working on a documentary about her life. They didn’t stay long. Janis sang a few tunes, guitars plugged into the music and from nowhere a drummer appeared whacking a set that was hiding in the shadows. I was in awesome land!! Then off they drifted into the late afternoon sunshine blazing through the doorway. Our paths would cross again later.

First I explored ‘The Mushroom Valley’ in Mexico for about a month. A community of musicians, artists, poets, writers, and photographers living in a bay of caves, tents, and sleeping on the beach. Days full of sun and blue warm gulf water, camping on beaches and in hillside caves with beautiful people and what I would call experimental music. Then a short return to Austin before hitching to California via a VW bus to Los Angeles and up to the Golden Gate of San Francisco. The three people in the VW had friends in San Francisco who lived in the Haight Asbury area in a big house. When we pulled up in front of their house the view was amazing. The house was painted in bright cartoon like colors. When we went in, the whole house was decorated with very colorful furniture. Lots of treasures and collections of Disney cartoon type decorations and memorabilia filled the home. What a place! They invited me to stay, offering food and an invitation to go with them to Winterland to hear some live music. I jumped at the chance to hear live music, with no idea what was in store during my first trip to Winterland. I knew there were some fabuwonderlous concerts there. We arrived at Winterland and followed our hosts in through the
backstage entrance. There was a large circle of hippies setting around laughing, talking and passing herbs. We all joined them. Sitting in the circle with us were ‘The Ace of Cups’ - an all women’s band, ‘The Jefferson Airplane’ and ‘The Grateful Dead’ among some other lesser known folks. I was stoked! We stayed all night watching everyone play music, dancing and partying backstage. Finally heading back to the house in the wee morning hours. I spent about a week before I headed back to Austin for a short rest.

After Austin, a brief stay in Houston where a friend-in-need, Terri G., contacted me telepathically in a dream and again sending me her phone number via Ouija Board asking me to call her. Freaky! So, I returned to Florida to help out my friend in distress. She had gotten pregnant, which at that time, was not socially acceptable. I offered to stay and be with her through her ordeal, whatever she chose to do. But, she chose to go back to her Mother’s in Missouri. She was a best friend who I had been in love with secretly since I met her in 10th grade. At a party one night we ripped a dollar bill in half and each one of us took half as a bonding. But that didn’t work, she was straight. In the flurry of my movement in 1969, I chanced upon the knowledge of Woodstock and the fact that it was going to be happening in a few days. A friend I met in Austin and had a crush on, Evelyn, and I traveled to visit my relatives in Yonkers, New York. My cousins told me about the festival and all the people who would be playing there. Needless to say, we were out-of-there the next day stretching thumbs out at a freeway entrance in Yonkers heading for an event that would be more enormous in our lives than we could imagine. A short while later an antique, convertible, red fire engine, driven by a long red-haired hippy dude, filled with other hippies waving and yelling peace to everyone, pulled over. Without hesitation we climbed up into the open seat behind the driver. Everyone bonded on the ride and we seemed to fall into the best situations for the conditions that ensued. Later I found out our driver/fire truck owner lived on a farm that was very near to the Woodstock site. One of his neighbors happened to be Bob Dylan, and he also knew some of the folks producing the event. My Guardian Angels were at work again! I believe they were around almost all the time watching over me. I’m not Christian. In my spirituality I pray to the Creator, Spirit, Goddess of All My Relations. I include my Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Guardians, Guides, Angels, Fairies, Friends and Pets who have passed from this life and I believe they are all part of the energy watching over me.

We had to park the truck on a side country road, off the freeway, to get to the stage site. The State Troopers had closed down the freeway around the Woodstock area to make it a parking lot! We arrived before the major rushes of people and walked right in with our escort. We all claimed a campsite behind the stage near the edge of a pond. Our access to the back of the stage and right up to the stage front was primo. Many of the performers including Janis Joplin, were lowered and taken up by helicopter from the back stage area because of the conditions and crowds. I stood below Janis and watched her spin in the harness as she was lowered from the helicopter , got her footing, smiled, said “Wow man!” and got on stage. My legs wouldn’t carry me out to the front of the stage fast enough! (That was my last close encounter of the Janis Joplin kind! Except that the man who mastered my CD, Songs From The Wild, his sweetie was friends with Janis Joplin. She was the woman who drove her car, the Porshe, home after Janis’ death. Odd how paths cross.) Every fiber of my being was charged by this community and musical event. I played music there with so many circles of people. Music was played 24/ 7 in the rain under hand held cover, and in tents. Even acoustic instruments were sacrificed to the rain and mud for the sake of the music. I had my first guitar with me, through it all, jamming. Each performer played on stage until they were played out, then they’d be washed by the audiences energy. The energy of the crowd was like ocean waves of energy rising and crashing down to a slight calm and then repeating again, on and on, for days.

Following Woodstock my fire truck driver friend took a small group of us back to the farm his family owned, next door to Bob Dylan. His Mom was very hospitable and offered us a cozy cover from the storm with great food, swimming pool, a place to sleep and showers as well. Couple of days later, I was introduced to a couple who were looking for someone to house sit for them in Dennisport, Rhode Island. Our energies connected and I ended up spending a month there, a block away from the ocean, flying kites and playing my guitar at all the local venues. When the house sitting ended I was off to Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada.

One beautiful September day in Toronto, with my guitar in hand, I headed for a nearby park. Beneath some trees I saw a bench looking out over the ocean that called to me, so I walked over, sat down, opened my guitar case for tips and started to play some songs. Some other park goers clustered to listen and toss tips. After playing for a short while, a man, who was approaching with a violin case, dressed in some loose khaki pants and an old sports jacket, came over and sat down next to me. He opened his violin case like he was late for a show and prepared to play without saying a word. Then just as quickly he began to play along to my guitar playing. More of a crowd gathered. We played and played along,
him with me, me with him, until we realized the sun was sinking. Then opening his coat pocket he reached in and pulled out an invitation to come to a concert by The Toronto Symphony that evening. We shared introductions. He was a violinist but also the ‘Conductor’! I had the honor of crossing paths with many famous and infamous people on my journeys.

Time to move again. I headed down south again to Austin, Texas for winter. I was curious about ‘cowboy music’ and I was missing friends. The style of ‘cowboy’ mixed rockabilly, rock, country, and 50’s rock. I still had my first guitar and took it with me everywhere. When I was on the road my guitar often became my pillow, a wall, a wind screen, (if I slept along the road somewhere) even something to lean on, besides a way to earn money or food, play music and meet lots of great people. Music helped me work through a lot of intense emotions. Hell it was part of my survival and my social connections. Music was how I decided where I would go next. Well, music and the location of Universities, Colleges, Art Schools and the weather. Early on I discovered that university towns and cities created open minded communities where music and art thrived. The audiences were of such a blend that boundaries were few and conversation abundant on a multitude of topics. These people enjoyed a musician, storyteller, model, singing familiar and new songs from the heart. Living on tips, gigs, and modeling kept me fed and able to travel as I desired. Crash pads were popular back then, so there was always a pretty cool place to hang out, sleep, eat and clean up. I was fortunate that I always found the best places and met some of the most exciting, compassionate, sharing, caring people that invited me into their homes. There were never any strings attached other than they liked me and my creativity. So, I didn’t really have the need to have my own place to live for quite a while, thus no rent expense. I shared food and house expenses or I would barter a chore, something agreeable to reciprocate generosities of the people who I stayed with. It was easy to just pick up and go to another place when I heard the music scene was happening. Wandering was a joy, my network of friends/fans grew.

Through my modeling connections I met photographers and film makers who reignited the light of interest in me for their mediums. I saw how beneficial this information would be to me within my music as well. Photography fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Very often when I was visiting my Grandma Bell I would spend hours looking through her ‘treasure chest’ at all the old pictures. A friend in Seattle called me while I was in Florida and invited me to come visit. He was one of the young scientist/mathematician men I met while in Austin. He was in Washington state getting his Ph.D.. He had a crush on me, which I didn’t realize at the time. Very early in my childhood I was aware that I was different than other girls but I never could understand how, exactly. The word lesbian was written on a fence that my Mom and I walked pass when I was about 6 or 7. I remember when I saw the word I knew deep down that it had meaning for me. My Mom noticed me looking at it. I was spelling it over and over in my head so I could find out what it meant later. Suddenly I realized she was saying to me, “That's a bad word!”. I knew, even then, she was wrong. Yes, I had crushes on girl friends all through my adolescent and teen years, but there was no information around me on the subject until I heard Laura Nyro sing ‘Emily’ . Then all the dots started to connect faster, information became available. Anyway my friend, Evan, asked me to come visit and I was curious about Seattle, so I went on a 7 day greyhound bus ride across the U.S.. Since I modeled for art classes I wasn't shy about artistic nude modeling. When I was in Seattle a connection introduced me to a photographer doing nudes. An artist was then going to use the photos of me to paint my image onto black velvet and hang them in Playboy Clubs. They liked my look. I went on a weekend sailing trip for the shoot through the islands off Seattle. So somewhere, in some Playboy Clubs, paintings of me hang on black velvet! (Or maybe they're in storage by now - haha!)

Modeling, the Women’s Movement and music scenes were a wonderful community in Seattle. The Pier area was bountiful in music venues. The university was a gold mine of people who enjoyed sharing information and creativity . I became extremely aware of my sexuality in an intellectual, emotional and political way while living there. It became obvious that my male friend had other intentions. It was the first time I had to tell an interested man that I was a lesbian. He was heart broken. I was relieved to have come out. The rain would not stop coming down in Seattle! In February I asked, “When will it stop raining The reply “About the middle of summer for maybe 6 weeks”. My friend, Richard, in Chicago phoned me. He's a gay fashion designer I met in Texas. A few weeks earlier I’d sent him a postcard letting him know about my ‘outing’. He called to check in and began to tell me all about the gay and lesbian community in Chicago.“As a matter of fact” he said, “I am at a really fabulous party now and there is a beautiful French/American woman here with me who wants to meet you. She is into modeling, music and photography too.” Between the two of them they enticed me to come, which wasn't very hard because it wasn't raining in Chicago. Less than a week later, I dressed up in my purple hip hugger bell bottoms, purple long fringe leather vest with a billowy long sleeved swoop neck light purple satin blouse. Various tones of purple that went together fantastically along with a pair of white go-go style boots! Very with it then. My hair was down almost to my waist, dark brown with auburn hints and natural curls. Some friends came over to drive me to the airport and bid me farewell. I was off to Chicago, guitar case in hand.

I got off the plane with a frenzy of people hustling about, heading for a floor below for their baggage. I walked over to the escalator to go down to that floor and noticed a crowd of a couple dozen or so colorful smiling people with signs saying ‘Welcome Sunny!’ I lit up like a big light bulb! I was so happy to see so many lesbians and gays who had come with my friend Richard ( and his French lesbian friend) to greet me. They all circled around me when the escalator reached their floor, offering hugs, cheers and welcomes out individually. What an experience! My own private OUT party! My friends swept me off my feet, into their car and we headed for a fantastic party featuring me singing, playing solo and with my new friends. (Don't worry listening to my music won't turn you into a lesbian! I don't think!) Chicago’s coffee shops, small clubs, parties, parks, the lake area, Old Town, and the steps of the Art Institute, became my work stages for the next 6 months. My journey was still calling to me, I wasn't ready to settle yet.

In late summer I rode off to Milwaukee on my first motorcycle, a Honda Scrambler, to be with a woman I had fallen for while on a visit there for a party. Milwaukee was another University town that also boasted a selection of venues too. Interest in my other creative skills started to expand. I enrolled in The Milwaukee Technical College for Photography and Design. My first major job was as a photographer's assistant/darkroom technician. I modeled on the side. Music took a bit of a back seat. I never stopped playing but I didn’t gig quite as often, mostly parties, small venues and jams.

About two years later I moved with a couple of friends down to Bloomington, Indiana. They had switched their enrollment from Milwaukee to the University of Bloomington and invited me to join them. Wisconsin’s cold, 50 degrees below zero with the wind chill factor, became too harsh for me to stay, so south we headed.The move to Bloomington kept me busy in photography and music. I became active in the radio station at the university. In those days it was easy to be active in the universities even if you weren't registered as a student. I didn’t realize at that time that I could have applied for grants, scholarships, etc. to go to colleges. I wasn't privy to that kind of knowledge or money on my own. For whatever reason then it just wasn't available. My parents had raised me to get married, so, they
didn’t give me the info I needed and southern schools followed the same principles at the time. I thought if you weren't in the upper middle class or didn’t have parents who would pay your way you couldn't go to the Universities. I often went with friends to classes I was interested in though. I DJ’d some shows with a friend and played guitar and sang at the college radio station during women's music programs. That was my first radio experience, we had a blast with no rules concerning what we played or talked about (except no vulgar language)! My guitar and I were busy most everyday at The Commons, small clubs,
etc. John Melancamp wasn't famous yet and he used to play at a small club there. I’d go see him, but never met him. I played music with lots of friends who were music majors. I developed more of an alternative lifestyle through herbs, natural foods, Women Against Rape, healing, meditation, the Women's Community, theater and music. Through the Women's Community a group of us produced a play by lesbian playwright, Evan Packston, a take off from West Side Story called The Heart of the Matter. A musical comedy. I was one of the leading characters, Tony Tough. It was a total success and sell-out at each curtain call.

In 1970 I went to the 1st Michigan Women's Music Festival. WOW!!! I was elated to see so many women there for the music and socializing. There were so many circles of music and naked women, it reminded me of Woodstock. I took pictures, played all kinds of tunes and slept very little. All night there were songs coming from so many voices and spirits. It was angelic. Although I lived in Bloomington for 7 plus years I traveled to Michigan, Florida, Tennessee and Ohio to perform at musical events. Oftentimes it
would be something I heard of at the last minute and I would be off to get open mic action.

1975 found me making plans to move to London with a girlfriend who was going for her MA at the university there. First we spent a few days in New York City in the heart of the artistic community of Soho. A friend lived there so we got right in the thick of it. Electric energy, lots of open mics. I didn’t sleep until I was on the LONG plane flight to London. The first thing I saw when our plane pulled up at the London Heathrow Airport was the brand new commercial jet that could fly from the US to London in a few hours. It seemed almost surreal.There has never been a time in my life yet to match how much time I spent playing music in London. The first day after I arrived and got situated with friends who were squatting in a 3 story house, I headed out for a walk over to a local park to stretch my legs, take in some sights and play my guitar. Just around the corner was a Greek Restaurant. As I was walking past it, the owner came out and yelled to me, “Do you play that guitar?” I walked over toward him and said, “Yes, I don't carry it around for nothing”, I chuckled. Through a laugh in his thick Greek accent he replied, “You come back tonight at 6 p.m. and you can play for food and tips”. Sounded good to me. I love Greek food. I had no idea what a party I was in for. At 6 o'clock I showed up. It was a small place with only about 12
tables. It was filling up when I came in. I started to play right away. I brought with me a collection of cover songs so people could choose some favorites. I developed this collection so I’d have a larger repertoire for people to choose from for requests. I wasn't playing as many originals then.The people who came and filled up the tables at first were pretty much there the whole night. A few new diners came throughout the evening but, apparently in this restaurant most folks made reservations and stayed until closing. The atmosphere was so friendly. Tips were gracious, food and drink samples were offered to me all night long. Luckily for me this became a regular twice a week venue. The folks loved having the music, they’d sing, tap fingers or their feet along. A few even danced in the bit of space available by their tables. Londoners love live music. Soon as they would see my guitar they would ask me to play. If I didn’t have my guitar and they found out I played and sang, they’d offer up someone else's guitar or ask me to sing acapella. I obliged, I loved it! I never found it so easy to play so much anywhere else. Friends would go up to pub owners and managers and tell them I play and sing. They would come right over and offer me the opportunity. Other than needing a break, I could have played most days for most of the day and evenings. Then after they heard me play they wanted me back again and again. What a thrill! It was humbling and empowering. I spent nearly a year doing this. Why did I leave?

I returned to the US because I couldn't get my passport extended anymore at the time. They wouldn’t give me a work pass. I desperately tried to get a work pass. I tried through The Carnaby Street Theatre in Trafalgar Square. I stood in a very long line to get an interview for a photographer position with them. They chose me out of that long line after seeing my portfolio. I started work immediately with the intent of going to get my work pass. They thought, and so did I, that I would be able to get the pass. They wanted to hire me because I was the best choice out of the photographers who had applied. On the
contrary, the United Kingdom was only giving out work passes to “professionals” like doctors, so, I had to leave the country.

Upon my return to the US, I was exhausted in an exhilarating way. I spent six months working in Bloomington to gather the funds I needed to get to San Francisco. My enthusiasm was bubbling about getting back to California. San Francisco changed a lot by 1976. I realized I craved the country side. So after six months of trying to find a small bit of quiet I left the Golden Gated city for the hills of Marin County. I met a woman from San Rafael, one evening while dancing at a club, ‘A Little More’ in San Francisco. We became sweethearts after a short time and moved in together. Living in Marin opened new doors for me in music, photography, starting my own photography and design business, writing features and short stories for local newspapers. Besides going to the Yosemite Women's Music Festival in the late 70’s my music energy was spent songwriting, entering contests, playing at parties, going to workshops, and clubs around the Bay Area. I frequented music camps like The Family Light Music Camps with Jan Tangen, taking lessons with some talented players and singing teachers. I started working with Joan Baez and Mimi Farina’s Bread & Roses Organization. I opened my own Photo/Design Studio where I specialized in Artists, Musicians and Entertainers.

I recorded my first studio recording in 1980, in Novato, California. It was my song ‘Wild Dykes On Bikes’, plus the ‘B’ side song ‘Money I Wanna Lot’. Mike Varney from the Dead Kennedy’s played lead guitar, Hilary Stench, and Doctor Hook helped produce it. It’s a wild and wonderful recording. KTIM was the first radio station in Marin to play it. Then it got picked up by the RKO Radio Network who set up an interview with me in San Francisco at one of their stations. After which, they sent the interview and my songs to air on their stations across the country. (I updated Wild Dykes On Bikes with my band, ‘bell the cat’ on my first CD, Songs From The Wild ). Soon after finishing the recording I found out it was Bill Graham’s birthday.

On a flook, I rode off to San Francisco on my 550cc Honda, with a birthday package for Bill. It included my newly recorded 2 song cassette, ‘Wild Dykes On Bikes’ and ‘Money, I Wanna Lot’ , a bottle of great wine and a PR gimmick to make him laugh and remember me. When I arrived at his office I walked up to the receptionist, with my motorcycle helmet still on my head. Later I realized she thought I was a motorcycle messenger delivery person because as soon as I said, “I have a package for Bill Graham”, she pointed me right to his office and said, “Go right In”. Everyone told me that I would never get ‘right in’! Glancing over, through his office door, I saw him sitting at his desk, so I walked over into his gleaming smile and said, “ Happy Birthday” as I put the wrapped gift package on his desk in front of him.“Thanks”, he said as he began to open it. I explained how I rode my motorcycle into the city specifically to bring him this gift along with two of my songs and PR info about who worked on the tape.“I’ll listen to it on my way home tonight”, he promised. “That’s how I like to listen to new artists, in my car.” he added.“The first song is Wild Dykes On Bikes”, I told him standing there in my motorcycle jacket, boots, and jeans, lifting my cycle helmut off freeing my long curly hair. Mr. Graham’s smile grew bigger as he uncovered and read my humorous PR gimmick. Then his phone rang, he looked up again and said with a chuckle, “I’ll get back to you”. A week later he had one of his associates call. He wanted to set up an audition with a full band. After trying for weeks to gather the right musicians, it was obvious that the timing wasn’t right. The guys who had recorded weren’t available unfortunately. Not much later Bill Graham died and I went off to college for Communications (TV, Radio, Photography, Video).

I formed several ‘all girl’ bands on and off for about the next ten years. (‘Sun Bell and The Untamed’ was one such band. My female lead guitarist, Annie Connelly, was nominated in the BAMM Awards for ‘best lead guitar’). We played Pride Festivals and small venues. I won some song writing awards (like Honorable Mention in the San Francisco BAMM Awards...), and wrote music prolifically. I also wrote poetry, short stories and feature stories, including photo essays about musicians and entertainers like Bonnie Hayes and The Wild Combo, The Starship, Bo Diddley and Huey Lewis. (I still use most of these skills today). While getting my degree I worked in radio, TV, video, writing, performing and playing music, writing music essays and doing the photography for them as well.

Shortly after I got my Associate of Arts Degree, I was hired at one of my dream jobs. At California State Parks as a Videographer/Producer/Photographer. In this job I used all the skills I had acquired over the years while producing videos for the parks. Just as I got really rolling producing award-winning programs I incurred a work injurywhich caused me to eventually retire on disability. After treatments, an operation and meds it became apparent I was unable to do my job with California State Parks anymore. This was a huge let down financially and physically. I was so used to financially and physically being able to go and do whatever I wanted when I wanted. My life change was drastic, a big nose dive into a more difficult place.There were a few hard years under some meds where the edge became too close. I felt like all my creativity was seeping from me with every pain pill I took. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to use any of my creative skills again. The nerve damage and other complications that occurred seemed as though it would interfere with playing music. My hands, fingers, arms, back, mind, vision, strength, memory, concentration, and abilities seemed to be uncontrollable. Picking up a guitar and not being able to make my fingers play was terrifying. I became even more depressed and anxious until suddenly I felt a big cosmic kick in the pants! Down so low, no where else to go. That was my situation before the kick in the butt from the Creator, Goddess, Spirit, whoever had the foot strong enough to deliver it, so I would feel it! My inner Goddess!

With funds I had received from my retirement settlement I began to make the journey where my medically unclouded vision really lived, the world of alternative healing. I spent every cent and it was worth it to get to the point I am at today, learning to live with my new self again within my creativity. Many friends in the healing fields volunteered or gifted their skills too. Getting to a place where I can live within my disability took a lot of exploration and commitment. I stopped taking some Western meds and renewed a major regiment of body care through meditation, nature, medicinal herbs, alternative healing, my music and creativity, water and sound therapy. I had to get into a place of loving my ‘new’ self enough to do what’s needed for physical upkeep, so creativity could survive.

As soon as the ability to think clearer came back I knew I could return to my art and music out in my new world. Often times when playing music I use the opportunity to writhe around on stage with the music as a way to deal with extreme pain bouts. It’s also a way to find comfortable positions within the crafting of the show. During this time, music jumped out in front of me and shook my spirit. Directing me toward a goal, a dream, to revive myself through music. I had dreams about how I was supposed to get my music out for the people to hear it! I chose Sonoma County as the place for this revival in my life to take place. I met Annie and her son, Steven, here too. She inspired me to find the best way to get my music to the people. Annie was a muse to some of my creativity. She gave me a major nudge to get going down the path of music at a time when uncertainty filled my vessel. I’ve written a few songs for her and I’m writing one for Steven too, in his favorite style of hard rock with an edge of metal. But, love doesn’t always have a happy ending...Revive literally! Sound therapy, peace through music reached me in very
deep crevices of my being. I had been aware of music being used this way for centuries yet the direct application to me was new. A former girlfriend, Debra turned me on to the use of Sound Therapy for healing. Now music as sound therapy is a whole other way music is in my life. At extreme moments of pain I have used music on a Sound Table to go in like little Pac Men and grab hold of the pain spasms and calm them to a level I could better manage. Managing my body is one of the secrets to my ability to continue with my music. Learning to not make promises my body can’t keep, planning ahead and reserving the energy needed for performances. As well as allowing time after to recoup and energize.

Once my vision was clear again, I looked my new self in the eyes and found my pride. Music began to fill my life again along with newfound love filling my heart. My writing, which never stopped, flourished even more with a deepening from my new experiences, a new recognition of the past and a dynamic pull into the future.Through a hypnosis gifting, with High Priestess, Jo Pettit, CHT, I dealt with a memory glitch that seems to have plagued me since the age of 11. It seems to have stemmed from the experience I mentioned earlier with my Father about playing his guitar without permission and him telling me to never touch it again. As soon I acknowledged that moment I’ve not had trouble with my memory in guitar playing and songwriting again. The more I clear the attic,so to speak, the more jamming with folks, open mics, parties, music festivals, and writing as though my life depends on it. It isn’t unusual for me to wake up in the middle of the night frantically writing down a song that is blasted into a dream demanding attention. Even artists who have passed from this life come into my dreams sometimes and channel song ideas. To me they are dream sessions. In the last one I sat with Janis Joplin composing a song. Upon waking, the song poured out of me like water on the paper. Sometimes I wake from sleep, grab paper and pen next to my bed, and just write in the dark. The next morning it’s surprisingly clear.

As a songwriter I am influenced by many mentors (see web site), my heritage of Native American - Cherokee, Celtic, Feminism - The Pankhurst Family, Suffragettes - my Goddess Spirituality, love and among many others the grand event of life itself!” My 12 year old cat, Ruby Emerald, passed some years ago. As I was giving her a burial my song ‘Untamed Heart’ came flooding into me, words and music, as if she had channeled them to me. I ran for my guitar and played it to her. The song became my way of acknowledging/honoring the “untamed” spirit in all living, in all my relations. August 2005 my cat of 15 years, Honeysuckle Rose, passed. I sang that song to her as well as a song I’m still penning for her. The process of music is sometimes very supernatural to me! Compositions come over me whenever they choose. When I jot some of it down, even a hook line, I can, most of the time remember the tune and the jist of what I am trying to say for years. Fortunately for me, this is how I build up a collection of never-ending topics to write about. Over the years the value of song writing on demand or scheduled has become obvious. Often I plan time to write. I’ll limit myself to a particular song or maybe work on numerous songs at once. This is good discipline. My spiritual practice is a positive mix of my varied heritage in Goddess/ Dianic Wiccan, Celtic, Native American- Cherokee, and feminist.

Music is integral in my spiritual life too. I sing to help heal, to calm those passing on for celebrations and special holidays and just because I love to. There are a lot of special celebrations and events that call for music. My spirituality and loved ones help keep me on track so I don’t get gobbled up and spit out in this industry/world. During one of the holiday celebrations, I met my current music associate, keyboard player, vocalist, who is also a music/vocal teacher and owner of Jan’s VoiceGarden, Jan Emerson. We jammed together during a women’s music evening at a mutual friend’s house sometime later. I mentioned that I wanted to start a band and Jan was interested and liked my music too. She mentioned she wasn’t writing songs at the time. I told her I had plenty of original songs all ready to go. A catchy band name was needed. I wanted a reference to my name in someway, relating to our combined energy, a reference to cats because we share the totem of ‘big cats’, and one that would relate to doing such a venture at this time in life. I looked in the dictionary under bell, my last name, and found ‘bell the cat’ which means: a daring action. The fit was purrfect!!

This new path is a ‘daring action’ in so many ways. Music, rebirthing, healing, a directed path, Jan and I becoming music associates, and ‘cause it’s never too late to reach for a big goal/ dream! On my web site there’s a short story I wrote about ‘bell the cat - a daring action’. You should read it sometime, it’s what we’re about. There’s another children’s story that was written a very, very long time ago about the phrase too, an Aesop’s Fable. Jan and I became the duo, ‘bell the cat’ a little over 3 1/2 years ago in 2003. We played and played and I kept writing. Jan and I wrote a song together too. Venues and fans wanted a demo recording of the music. Everyone said a demo usually has 3-4 songs on it. I kept thinking, “A project like this requires research, pricing, art, so much work”. It began to seem ridiculous to not do a full CD. I had the songs for one. About this time all the other ‘right people’ I needed to make this happen started showing up in my life. People who are all gifted in their craft, adding so much to the art, photography, and 14 tracks of music on Songs From The Wild. We started recording on Mother’s Day 2004 at Game Plan Productions with Producer, drummer, Terry Lee Knierim and got the finished and packaged CDs on February 22, 2005! A real labor of love. I am the executive producer, songwriter, rhythm guitar, percussions, harmonica, vocals; Jan is associate producer, keyboards and vocals. Tom Finch (Big Brother & The Holding Co./Tom Finch Band) played lead guitar, bass and some rhythm guitar, David Sydney Scott (Gator Beat) on sax, Pete Hale rhythm guitar, Barry Bison on bass/keys, Laurie Roth blowin' the flute. (More info on the talented line-up of players at www.sunbellmusic.com). Two fabulous women assisted in the creation of the CD cover, Arleen Olson, Photographer and ‘Bee’ Debra Burson, Computer Generated Characters of me and Jan.

The moment I received the CD shipment the action began for me as a Promoter. I didn’t have the funds to pay someone else for this so, I just changed hats quickly. No stone remains unturned. Relentlessly I connect with anyone who can help me get the music somewhere. Reviews, radio, internet, satellite, podcasts, venues, CD sales, the list goes on and on. Every time I get a lead through a group, an e-mail, a phone call, a venue or it falls out of the sky, I follow it! I try to be an aggressive promotor without stepping on toes or hurting feelings, but I am human. Usually I am bubbling with excitement, while learning on the job! Plus, I believe in my product and my songwriting abilities. I joined groups, like Indie Guitarists, that help with feedback, connections, links, suggestions from other musicians about travel, the biz, information about the industry, other musicians...what a valuable source. ‘bell the cat’ is listed in Indie Guitarists database. The internet gives a singer/songwriter the opportunity to scope out the whole world for options, links, connections to other musicians, venues, sales, publicity... the list is endless. It also makes it possible to reach out to places I haven’t been yet and get my music heard. Doors
open to publishers, music licensing, contests, and festivals (never realized there were sooo many!). I’m scouting for street teams, roadies, sponsors, management, and booking now. The internet can make it hard to know people because you aren’t face to face or voice to voice. At times e-mail can be taken the wrong way. Humans communicating through the unhuman element of the internet where few folks have the skill to show emotions without coming across misunderstood. I look at it as an opportunity to hone skills on internet communications.The results of all my efforts come back to me trickling and gaining
momentum. I keep sending out vibes to the universe to send the ‘right people’ in the industry who are best for the music, body, mind, soul of my creative musical efforts, to help reach those goals. I’m especially interested in success as a songwriter for radio, TV, film (music licensing), doing duets with mentors, purrformances at venues that will best serve the music and grow our fan base and sell lots of CDs and other talent recording my music. It’s very important that the music always be an enjoyment, challenging and something I look forward to sharing. I love purrforming even though my differently abled body can make it challenging. The live connection with the audience is thrilling and healing. I believe that age and disabilities should not determine someones creative ability or worth. Within the industry these topics are another story. We’ve a lot of work to do to raise conciousness there. There’s a unique market for music like mine. People really appreciate new music choices within ‘all’ age groups including ‘Baby Boomers’ and beyond!. The wonder of all this is still new.

‘Bell the cat’ is purring with excitement over the latest news and developments. Our first music video for ‘Untamed Heart’ is full of untamed hearts, a white tiger, fun, and us wild grrrrrrrls! The solo version of Songs From The Wild , with me on guitar, vocals and harmonica, is complete. E-mail for a copy of the CD and DVD of our music video that includes a :30 PR and interview. Production of the next CD has started, gigging in new venues, new interviews and reviews. Every week there are new places Songs From The Wild is being played internationally on radio, satellite, podcasts and internet. Now to sell out these smoldering ‘Songs From The Wild’ CDs! SunBell Music is donating ‘Untamed Heart’’ downloads to Big Cat Rescue.org. Visit their web site to donate to the preservation and educational efforts of Big Cats, www.bigcatrescue.org/bigcatmusic.htm. Jamie Veronica, of Big Cat Rescue, donated the footage of the white tiger, Zubu, for our ‘Untamed Heart’ music video.

The year started out with me as the featured player for January 2006 in GAY GUITARIST WORLDWIDE with interview by Robert Urban. (interview @ the web site) Having been pinned a prolific songwriter, I remain true to this always at work on my catalog of songs. I love challenging myself with topics, just picking something out of the paper, on TV or just from a phrase I heard used by someone. The world, universe, love, laughter, beliefs, life experiences, and people offer an endless supply of topics. Now take a moment and go to our web site to hear streaming audio, links to go vote for ‘bell the cat’, purchase a copy of Songs From The Wild or buy MP3s. Twist your mind with award winning, on the edge, powerful, blazing, colorful, sultry, smoldering BLUES, ROCK, ALTERNATIVE, OUT & PROUD, ADULT CONTEMPORARY, FOLK ROCK, SPECIALTY/HUMOR/TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, and POP musical stories. Celebrate and dance with ‘bell the cat’s’ Songs From The Wild CD. An eclectic mix of musical genre written by Sun Bell. Music that tweens, teens, baby boomers and beyond love. Become a friend at http://www.myspace.com/sunbellbellthecat.(more @ web site) Join 'bell the cat' Fan Club - 'White Tiger Den' at http://www.groups.yahoo.com/coogrrlPlease request your favorite song from our CD: Songs From The Wild at your favorite radio, internet or satelite station for 'bell the cat' to be heard. The unity between our friends and fans, as well as the music and the players make 'bell the cat's' journey a success.Thanks for your votes...See what voting does!
Sun Bell - 'bell the cat' is one of the 2006 "Music Project of the Year
- Award Editor's Choice Winners” @
http://www.Kweevak.com/rd_cdawards.php!
"2006 Outmusic Award Nominee" - CD - Songs From The Wild - OUTSTANDING
NEW RECORDING - BAND”!!! 'bell the cat' is in “Kweevak.com 2006:
Readers Survey Top-50” (over 3650 votes) - ' bell the cat’ ranked #30! Your
votes make a difference, please go to SunBellMusic.com for links to
radio, internet, podcasts and soon our music video and lots more.Surf on by our web site, sign our GUEST BOOK and get your copy of Songs
From The Wild!Peace through music ~ Sun Bell of ‘bell the cat’ www.sunbellmusic.com‘bell the cat’s’ Mission Statement:
‘bell the cat’ uses creative, artistic, expression to heal, journey,
share love, life experiences, laughter, awareness, compassion, fun and
peace through music.

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