Growing up,  Dad had always told me that like the American Flag, our National Anthem should be treated with respect...so the first time I performed it at age 16, I kept it the same as written.  I remember thinking "Whew...I nailed it."  The next time I was nervous, and I flubbed the words.  It was a horrible stab into my teenage confidence.  Since that day, I have sung the Star Spangled Banner hundreds of times, but I still have anxiety about messing up the words before each performance!

 I did my first Red Wings game at 18.  I was scared to death, but it was thrilling to be a part of a nationally recognized sporting event.  Pretty soon, I got calls to sing at grand openings, and political events.  

While struggling to pay rent, working two jobs and going to college, I heard about auditions for the Detroit Tigers.  There was no way I could afford to get into a studio to record an audition tape, so my classmate Pat Brennan and I developed a plan.  Late one day after classes ended, I set up my little tape recorder in the men's bathroom of the fine arts building.  Pat stood outside the door to keep watch.  The urinals and tile walls created the nice echo effect that I needed.  It worked...that was my very first demo.  They hired me the following season...1987.  I have since been singing for the club longer than any other performer.

Wow.  I have shared so many wonderful moments with my family and friends at the ballparks over the years.  When I was working in Dearborn in my early twenties, I would often sing at the afternoon games during my  lunchbreak.  At Tiger Stadium I had seat #1 in the first row in front of home plate right where the net ended.  My girlfriends and I had many nights of fun checking out the cute ball players warming up.   Jeff and I attended games all throughout our dating years.  Now, we bring the kids.  I once did a game at nine months pregnant, and delivered Daniel 2 days later....then I carried him out onto the field with me the next time I sang.   Thank God he stayed asleep!  When he was 2, I told him to watch for me to wink at him on the big screen.   That stuck....I'm still winking at the end of each song!  My kids have grown up being able to hang out on the field before the games with their mom.    I've shared peanuts, hot dogs, beers, and lots of laughs with friends at the ballpark.  I wouldn't trade those moments for the world.  My old friend Pat Brennan now runs sound at Comerica Park!  I so appreciate the long relationship I share with this team and the fine people who are associated with it.

Another great experience I had was singing for the Detroit Rockers Soccer team for two years as their only soloist.  Those guys were very sweet to me.   I've also sung for the Toledo Storm Hockey team, the Toledo Mudhens Baseball Club, and the Mid American Conference tournaments.  I am constantly doing anthems for services, events and openings, and  I still sing it the way it was written.  I believe Dad was right.