Melissa Greener - vocals and guitars
... and sometimes other friends
Influences
Joni, Shawn Colvin, Paul Simon, Neil, Ani, Nick Drake, Daniel Lanois, Richard Thomson, Emmylou, Robert Service, Dylan, Dylan Thomas, Wilco, Ricky-Lee, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, Townes, Ella Fitz, Sarah Vaughan, Billy Holiday, Tom Waits (the earliest stuff), Patty Griffin, Ron Sexsmith, Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins, Lucinda, Bruce Cockburn, Bill Cosby, Tom Lehrer, Steve and Stacey Earl, Hank Sr., Bach, Townes, Willie, Beach Boys, Steven Stills, Lyle Lovett, Suzanne Vega, all of the Wainwrights and McGarrigles, Def Leppard, Indigo Girls, Dolly Parton, Grateful Dead, Chrissy Hines, The Band, Gram Parsons, Iron & Wine, Patsy Cline, Rogers and Hammerstein and Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Berlin and all the Tin Pan Alley cats, Prince, Mozart, The Blues, Miles, Monk, Mingus, Illusions, Annie Hall, WDTE FM in Detroit, my mom and dad...
I've never won a song-writing competition, had a hit or even a cut. These days I'm more keen on writing songs. and playing them on my guitar. and singing them. for people all over the place. for money. for love. but mostly because I just have to.
I was born and reared in Detroit, Michigan on a dark, dreary winter wee morning. I left as soon as I could and have been driving around everywhere but, ever since. I've lived in various places around the world - Europe, Middle East, Far East, Canada, and now in Austin, Texas, USA (my favorite city in this nation).
I once climbed the second highest mountain in the Swiss Alps. I once trekked the second highest mountain range in the world in Slovakia. I once spent two weeks at the holiest mountain in Tibet. I once climbed the Sinai. I once rode my bicycle from Vancouver, British Columbia all the way to North Sydney, Nova Scotia. I once lived in a little village in China where porcelain was discovered 2000 years ago occurring naturally in the ground. I once sailed so far into the Mediterranean I couldn't see land. I once saw so many stars in an Egyptian desert I couldn't see the sky.
I have written from a very early age. First journaling. which turned into poetry. which turned into songs. My singing started even earlier. I'm told by my mother (who was a lounge singer at the Playboy Club in Detroit, and a classically trained operatic vocalist) that she would hear me through closed door, singing "like a soprano" when I was a very small girl. My mother was a ballerina. My dad is a hippie.
I was devastated when I learned that I was born too late to be a hippie. I pretended to be for a while (and owned it quite well I must say). I have been in recovery for the past few years. There are still traces of such modes and manors in my songs. I believe in "voodoo" - spiritual hooplah - the "feel good" stuff... yes, o.k. Self Help. I'll take all the help I can get. It's there in the songs too.
I tour all over the country playing 'listening rooms', house concerts, festivals, bars, clubs, theatres, sidewalks, parking lots, and subways. singing truths I've come to believe in. stretching some, in the name of art...
I'm currently recording my 2nd album which will be released when I accumulate a vast pile of dough.
Thanks for your tolerance, your interest in learning about me. Above that, thank you for taking the time to listen to a few songs.
Melissa, thanks so much for leaving the nice comment for us! I really like your songs and voice. Send me a note if you are going to be in NC and I'll try to make your show. Warm regards, Stephen
hey road warrior...did the van make it home..?...sorry i couldn't get together for breakfast on that Tuesday morn...but i was earning my nursing stripes that morning..When are coming back..?
Our Pleasure, Melissa ! ! We look forward to it too ! ! Hope you and all your many fans, friends and family will check out our Top Friend ... JON WOLFE ! ! AMAZING TALENT ! ! George and Lynne
Mother's Day Concert Charlie Roth & Melissa Greener May 11th, 2008 at 7:30 $10.00 suggested donation At Bo Diddley's Downtown location
Here is a Mother's day idea!! a songwriters in the round concert at Bo Diddley's downtown St. Cloud MN featuring the Bard of St. Cloud Charlie Roth www. myspace. com/charlieroth and an Austin Texas based roots Americana songwriter Melissa Greener who is touring through on her way from Duluth to Omaha www. myspace. com/melissagreener Melissa is a remarkable young talent who has climbed mountains in Tibet and rode her bike from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Your mother will love her or if you have to bring somebody else's mother.
Suggested donation is $10 and the concert starts at 7:30 pm come early and catch the great music of the Acoustic Project featuring Mike Thole from 5:00 till 7:00 pm
