Earliest influence: Judy Garland. Then Aretha Franklin and everything Motown. Jocelyn Nixon inspired me because she was out playing blues in bars and turned me onto Bonnie Raitt in '71 (?). Love Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Ray Davies, Tom Waits (my favorite songwriter), Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Ani DiFranco, Lene Lovich, The Clash, Stevie Wonder, Janis Joplin, Mark Knopfler, Wendy Waldman, Bert Jansch, Ferron, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, The Kinks, Beatles....many more.
I'm sure I was also influenced by friends who blew me away in performance: Raw Sugar, Jano Brindisi, Dar Williams, Artis the Spoonman...and by other great live performances I was lucky enough to see: Jimi Hendrix, Melanie (the historic Carngie Hall show), Bruce Hornsby, Laura Nyro, The Kinks, Ferron, The Who, Allan Stivell....
...and of course by friends who wrote songs when I still thought only special songwriter type people did that: Carol Robinson, Bill Hamilton, Eddie Dillelo...
...and the support of my "baby" brother, Richard, who encouraged me to play for him, even before I was good at tuning my guitar!
Born on the road to Vaudeville parents, I lived in every state except Maine, Alaska and Hawaii before moving to NYC at age 7. As a child I wanted to grow up to be Judy Garland. But after a while decided that if I could just sing back up for Aretha Franlin just once, I could die happy.
I escaped NYC to the West coast where I did solo work, was half of the muiscal duo Girls Who Wear Glasses and part of Westwind Travelin' Vaudeville and the New Old Time Chautauqua.
In the present day, I'm living in New England, newly empty-nested and am ready to get back out with more frequency into the music scene again.
I have 3 albums and a 4th in the making and have been on several compilations and collaborations.
For more details and quotes go to my web site.
I am exhausted reading your posted plans for sunday .. let me rest for a second .. hah! If you make it til the end of the night .. lets plan on meeting at Hi Hat for Mary Ann .. that should be fun!
Hi Jan ... I was so happy to see you pop in beside me last night! Always good to see you .. always enjoy our 'talks' : ) Have a great gig tonight. Talk soon
Hey my friend Jan Luby!! Great job with the show tonight!! Thanks so much for having me .. I had a blast! I love sharing the stage with you and Mary Ann!! : ) lets do it again.... Joanne
Jan, thanks so very much for inviting me. It was such a pleasure to meet you and hear you and I look forward to us sharing the stage again and getting to have more conversations. Your so very sweet!
Jan - i loved your performance saturday night! Your music, poetry and movement work together perfectly--to make one powerful show--from a multi-talented, superb artist with a big heart. I look forward to the next time!
A wonderful show last night, Jan. I always love hearing your songs. Stay tuned for pics and vids...got some nice ones for yourspace. See you again soon!
