Early influences were family gatherings with grandmother "Mary Jane" singing and playing piano with all of us around her singing harmony. She composed jigs and sang songs she heard workers on the farm singing. Her sister and brother both sang grand opera in NYC. Later, I listened to my parents' great records by The Mills Brothers, Ink Spots, Spike Jones, big bands, Mario Lanza, Yma Sumac, Blossom Dearie,etc. I heard grand opera, classical, rock and roll, boogie woogie, blues, with all the great singers.
Harmony was important to me, as I typically sang what was missing, rather than the melody. I figured the melody was already taken care of. I started formal piano lessons when I was 5 yrs old at Converse College. I still go to the piano as a source when searching for a guitar chord. My first "crush" on a song was "Moonlight Sonata" which I picked out by ear on the piano. My teacher didn't want me learning these popular pieces.
"Cousin Bud" had a radio show playing blue grass/country music that I listened to occasionally, so I had heard a little bluegrass music, but when I was 19 years old, I sat with friends on the porch who were playing bluegrass on a Martin guitar and banjo-"How Mt Girls Can Love", "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet", etc, and I was hooked - the intensity of the sounds without being filtered through the radio did it. I was pretty faithful to Don Reno and Red Smiley; Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs; and The Stanley Brothers. The harmony fascinated me and felt like a part of my heritage. I adopted Ralph Stanley's part then branched out from there... I guess Carter and Ralph and the Clinch Mt. Boys were my favorite band.
My exposure to country music came from John Starling (Seldom Scene). Some of my favorite singers were Hank Snow, Don Williams, George Jones and Melba Montgomery, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Louvin Bros, Merle Haggard, and Yes-Chet Atkins. I always loved his voice as well as his guitar style. In the 70s, I sang with Emmylou Harris when we met in DC, and enjoyed recording with her after she was signed by Warner Bros. I enjoyed listening to Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Nelson and Linda Ronstadt during that period as well. At that point I was still very shy about singing lead, but did sing with Emmylou's band members for a bit when she left for California. My conversion from strictly harmony to lead singing really happened after I met Peter Cooper in the mid 90s, as he sort of put me on the spot and encouraged me to sing out more. We sang together to promote his book, " Hub City Music Makers" and later, he produced my first solo album in Nashville.
Neye Benziyor?
"Charm, elegance, whippoorwills and Magnolia dewdrops: These are the things that come to mind when I hear Fayssoux sing."-Rodney Crowell.
.......You can find out by ordering my cd "Early" from CD Baby, I Tunes, Amazon.com, Red Beet Records. Please e-mail me if you can't accomplish this, or if they are out of stock! I am listed as "Fayssoux" on I Tunes. Thanks! Fx
FAYSSOUX
Early
(Red Beet
Fayssoux, Early (Red Beet).
REVIEW
The regal, elegant voice of Fayssoux McLean drips with a graceful ease that comes only with experience. In her case, that includes singing with Emmylou Harris for many years and a first marriage to the Seldom Scene's John Starling. Somehow this is the first album with her name at the top. Produced by fellow Spartanburg, South Carolina, expatriate Peter Cooper, it lands somewhere between folk, country-rock and bluegrass on traditional tunes and songs from Fayssoux and her contemporaries, including Rodney Crowell (a Burritos-style "California Earthquake") and David Ezell (the gently swinging "I Know How It Feels To Love"). Guests include Emmylou, Ricky Skaggs, Lloyd Green, Jen Gunderman, David Ball and Joy Lynn White, but Fayssoux and her regular accompanist Brandon Turner are more enhanced than overwhelmed by the assistance.
-Kevin Oliver, No Depression
Fayssoux, thanks for the invite. You've touched on a variety of music with the three songs you have posted!!! Geetings to Spartenburg, close to where mother grew up in the 20's and 30's and where i spent many a summer vacation, thanks again, be well
Christmas is coming soon. Are you looking for a Christmas present and would like to help handicapped children? Than please request the list of donations in kind from HelpCharity, www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity , by sending me an e-mail at Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de . Many donations in kind are autographed.
If you don't have the chance to request the list of donations in kind, please add HelpCharity to your Top Friends!
Thanks for helping me to support handicapped children!
Christian
Founder of HelpCharity Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 (0) 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 (0) 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Internet: www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity Internet: www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Hey Fayssoux, I sent my Album "Prayers of a wayward son" off to New Orleans this morning for mastering! slowly but surely we are getting ready to get it out there!!!
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
YOU GET A FREE BEAT JUST FOR COMING TO THE SITE!!!
CrackBeatz.com has deals you won’t find anywhere else… we even have a promotional lease offer going on soon that will give you 10 BEATS FOR 20 DOLLARS!!!
Also, here's two coupon codes that you can have for UNLIMITED USE:
Lease 2 beats get 1 free: buy2get1free Lease 5 beats get 5 free: buy5get5free
