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LL: When did you know you could sing?

KR: As I mentioned, I didn’t really like my voice until I heard it in the voices of some amazing Blues
divas. Even then, I still wasn’t comfortable using it in front of other people until after my mom

passed away. Mind you, I didn’t mind SINGING in front of people. I just never used my own voice. I
didn’t start taking the advice my dad gave me when I was 13, until I lost my mother. I started to live
in the songs she used to play when I was a kid, and I remembered the feeling I felt in those honest
voices! I started to use my honest voice too and it felt like freedom! That’s when I knew I could
sing…the moment I felt comfortable in my own voice.

LL: Did you study music/vocals?

KR: I did take 2 weeks of piano lessons when I was 7 years old and 1 year of classical voice lessons
in college (Believe it or not, at one time I could deliver a decent aria!), but other than that I got most
of my training in the church choir.

LL: “Cry Out” is your first album on
Gulf Coast Records. How did you
come to sign with them?

KR: Well, from what I hear I owe it to
Albert Castiglia! They tell me that

Albert talked me up to Mike and Guy
and on his recommendation, they
checked out my stuff and liked what
they heard and saw. I am so grateful to
Albert for believing in me. He has
seriously been like a big brother to me

in his industry and God knows I love
him like one!

LL: Let’s talk about “Cry Out”. Can
you tell us about your concept and
vision for this album?

KR: I just really hope to encourage the
listener to be an active participant in life. Of course, there are foot stompin’ good time songs, sassy
hard drivin’ tunes and sweet and sultry lovers’ grooves too, but the general message is that there is
strength in unity. I’m hoping to spark courage in the face of adversity, oppression and tribulations.
It is about breaking the silence in order to inspire hope, peace, and self-confidence for those lacking

it, humility for those who could use it and positive change for all of us.

LL: Cry Out is a collaboration between yourself and producer/guitarist/arranger Mike Zito.
Please tell us about that process.

KR: It was such a fun experience! I wrote the lyrics and melodies for the songs and sent Mike voice

files from my phone. He composed around those files before we took the music to the studio and