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.
Sounds Like
"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
Just checking back with you to remind you that Powerplayed is really interested in showcasing your videos. I know I reached out some time ago but haven’t seen an upload from you as of yet. Powerplayed.com offers a free membership, free upload and gives you a platform to expose your talent to a quarter of a million people. Also, by uploading your video you are automatically entered in the running to be a part of our Friday “Independents Day” e-blast, dedicated to indie artists that exposes your work to a lengthy list of music industry execs.
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Please submit your artist news and events to CountryHome Forum to help your artists to get well known better in Europe. If you do not have the time to submit your artist news and events by yourself, please send it me to: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de and I will submit them by myself to CountryHome Forum.
I know that many artists from North America don't have their music videos uploaded to German video websites. The most popular websites are MyVideo.de and ClipFish.de. That means your European audience does not have the chance to find them.
I understand that most of you don't speak German and are not able to upload videos because of the language barrier. If you would like me to upload your videos to the German video websites, please let me know.
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Christian
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FX, The octagon snare is a 'practice-pad' - my practice pad set allows me to play 2-4 hours everyday without disturbing the city council or anyone else.
6 cymbals overkill? I think it depends on style and type of music being played - Do you know what a closed hi-hat is? A separate remote hit-hat (usually on the opposite side from the regular hi-hat) is something I use. I want that 'closed' hi-hat effect and still use the regular hi-hat with my foot. That makes 6 cymbals for Woody - Zildjians: 20" med ride, 16" med crash, 15" thin crash, 10" splash, 14" regular hi-hat and, Sabian B8's closed hi-hat - WHOOOO.
Thank you for the comment FX
Best regards and continued success, as always.... W
Why of course it's Kewl. I am doin' just fine FX, just trying to keep Kewl myself, heat index hitting 111 the other day. Otherwise we is just dandy thanks for askin'.
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
You've got some great music and a great page here! Thanks for your friendship, and welcome aboard the Redline ship. Looking forward to sharing the journey ahead with you. Take Care, and thanks again. Peace,
Online Now!
I am doin' just fine FX, just trying to keep Kewl myself, heat index hitting 111 the other day. Otherwise we is just dandy thanks for askin'.
