"In each artists journey there are mentors
and guides who shape our artistic vision, and who shape our
dreams...
REM WALL was someone remembered and cherished
from childhood! "The Green Valley Jamboree," played, locally
every Saturday night, for over 34 years, and we were raised on
Rem's classic Country music! One of my very first television
appearances was on his show, singing, "The Green Grass Of Home!"
He was kind and always a gentleman, and always willing to help
out anyone he could! It was pure joy to have him work with
Renaissance Enterprises the last 5 years of his life and see the
smiling faces that would light up when Rem would perform at a
care facility, how lucky we were to have him!!
From my earliest memory, besides JUDY
COLLINS, JOAN BAEZ was an influence, teaching me that you can
blend entertainment with human rights and concern for others
without being 'preachy' or straying too far from the purpose of
music shared with, and performed for others enjoyment and
enlightenment! Joan is a leader in this effort, and if it wasn't
for her beautiful, poetic music, and stunningly beautiful
melodies and lyrics, I probably wouldn't be a performer today.
Purely "selfish," fun music, bored me, although there's
absolutely nothing wrong with fun, in fact, we need more fun in
today's world, but we also need thought, spirit, hope, and
enlightenment, thank you JOAN (and JUDY) for that!
Speaking of JOAN'S....it was JOAN BAEZ SR.,
who sent me the first book in my DAN PAULOS collection, "He's
Put The Whole World In Her Hands," a wonderful volume of paper
cutting art, set to the great words of MOTHER TERESA. His
delicate work, and her words hit me strong, when I opened Joan's
package that day, ten years ago! Since that time, Dan and I have
become fast friends and have exchanged many a creative idea,
(and more than a little gossip about our famous friends), and he
is a fine example of an artist who is always willing and
unselfish in helping further the artistic and spiritual careers
of his friends, a rare approach, and a rare human being!
LEO BUSCAGLIA sent one of our first grant
approvals for the mission of RENAISSANCE ENTERPRISES, through
his 'Felice Foundation.' And remained, till his untimely death,
a strong supporter, and believer in our vision and my music. Leo
taught us all the value of living to the fullest and being who
we are to the fullest, he is missed and irreplaceable!
RITA MACNEIL is someone I discovered 6 years
ago, and who's own story is one of encouragement and inspiration
to anyone who investigates it. Rita's music and voice are unique
and inspiring and original. It is no wonder she has won so many
awards in the Canadian Country music field and is a hit on her
CBC weekly variety show! She is as gentle and encouraging in
person as her music radiates hope and vibrancy-don't miss an
opportunity to see Rita live!! You'll never forget it!
NANA MOUSKOURI is another icon. With a vast
repertoire and an enormously successful recording and performing
career that spans four decades, hundreds of concerts each year
and over 200 albums, she is one of a kind! Her voice is strong,
yet delicate, and sensitive as she wraps those golden notes
around some of the best loved songs of our era, totally making
each and everyone her own. Nana is as caring a person and human
being as her music conveys and she continues to tour and inspire
around the world with PBS specials, by representing UNICEF,
giving live concerts and making recordings, don't miss her is
she comes your way!!!
In l975 MIMI FARINA started BREAD & ROSES, in
the San Francisco Bay area. They perform over 400 enrichment
programs per year, in Bay Area nursing homes, hospitals, AIDS
clinics, and every imaginable facility and are an inspiring
organization to the founding of RENAISSANCE ENTERPRISES, in
l987. MIMI is JOAN BAEZ' youngest sibling, but also is an
accomplished folk singer in her own right and a leader in using
the arts for the betterment of the institutionalized population
and an inspiration to me!! God bless her for her light and her
dedicated spirit!