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GR: I have never had an issue with being taken seriously, but I have struggled within an industry
dominated by men, with standards that differ for female artists versus their male counterparts. If

you are a female artist and are not young, sexy, and beautiful, it is more difficult to market yourself.
I see many male artists getting national attention who would not make it with those same
looks/image etc if they were female. But I am a positive person and believe that if you follow your
passion, do not compromise, and stay true to yourself, you can do anything. Keep going and let your
light shine through.

ND: When did you become a professional
musician?

GR: When I was 15 years old, I had a boyfriend
who played guitar in a local band. A

talent/booking agent was coming out to listen to
them. My boyfriend invited me to sing a couple
of songs with the band for this audition. After
the audition, the agent pulled me aside, stated he
had no interest in the band, but wanted to use
me in an already established band in the area.
That started it.

ND: Can you tell me a couple of high points of
your musical career?

GR: My first performance with a band at age 15

would be one of those high points. Here I was
standing on stage performing in front of a room
full of people who loved us. That energy from
the crowd really hooked me into moving forward
with music as a career. Next would be when I
was about 19 years old. I frequently went to a
club called Sandy’s Jazz and Blues Revival in Beverly, Massachusetts. Some great acts came to play

there. I had attended their weekly jam sessions and the owner, Sandford Berman, really liked my
voice. When I showed up one night to see Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, I was taken backstage to
meet them and got to sit down and sing a song with them. That was a thrill. Fast forward to the
present and a major high point is seeing my original music being streamed, purchased, downloaded,
and charting.

ND: Do any blues performers stand out for you?

GR: Wow, so many. BB King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Joe
Bonamassa, Koko Taylor, Warren Haynes, Janiva Magness, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Ruthie Foster
are the ones who stand out to me. Why? Because there is passion in their voices, in their music.
There are many blues artists who have the “chops”, but not the soul.

ND: You work as a solo artist, or with a band - do you have any particular preference?

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