Page 86 - July ONLINE VERSION

ZGP INTERVIEW
LIGHT, LIFE, & LEGACY
The Late Chuck McGill, Katie McGill, Emily McGill & Paula Bridges McGill
By Tammy Yosich
It was an honor and a plea-
sure to sit down with these
three remarkable women:
Paula Bridges McGill, Katie,
and Emily McGill. The power
behind their music and their
life is unmistakably guided by
their faith and strength in the
Lord.
Without question, we would
discuss Chuck McGill: a bril-
liant musician, loving husband
of nearly 36 years, and a de-
voted father. His legacy con-
tinues to be a beacon of light,
glowing and guiding each lady
daily.
“Let your light so shine
before men, that they
may see your good
works, and glorify your
Father which is in
heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 KJV
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ioned a milk crate for her. Emily was so little, and ing and was a voice major in college. She can sing
ZGP: Starting with you Paula, when did music begin for you?
Paula: Music started for me when I was nine years old, my parents moved back
to Camden, Tennessee from Chicago, Illinois where I was born. My grand-
parents started me singing gospel. My grandfather played guitar and I banged
around a little on piano. We would go around to churches in the Camden area
and sing, that is where it started for me.
Emily: I guess music started for us when we were born because our parents
met in the band in 1980-81 and so we were kind of born into it.
Katie: I can’t think of a start date because it has just always been something our
family has done.
ZGP: When did you all start singing together?
Emily: Oh my gosh, when we could start talking and just got adopted into the
family band.
Paula: We did the Caravan of Stars show for eleven years and the girls were
young, they sang backup with all the stars.
ZGP: When were you first in front of an audience?
Paula: Nine years old, belting out gospel since they didn’t have microphones.
I was raised Catholic and when I returned to Camden, I began attending a
Pentecostal church, it was a bit of a switch. But I loved that Pentecostal church
because you could just get up there and wail, foot tap and worship. The first
Emily sang a solo at church it was a Martina McBride’s tune titled “Anyway.”
She was too short to reach the podium, so her father – Chuck McGill – fash-
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she moved that milkcrate over and received a
standing ovation right away.
Katie: I don’t really remember the first time I was
on stage. But I remember being with Mom, and
she would take me to Macy’s in the mall to the
make-up counter. Mom knew all the women that
worked there. I was two-years old, and she would
put me up on those counters and I would sing, for a
tip I would receive those free gifts they would give
customers. Those sessions at Macy’s were my first
‘stage’ experience however, my official performance
would be during the Carl Perkins Child Abuse
Telethons.
Paula: The ladies at Macy’s just loved Katie and
would ask her to sing every time we visited. One
day they asked but Katie was not interested in
singing, she was around 3 years old. However, when
offered a rubber ducky, Katie quickly changed her
mind. The tune she decided to sing may not have
been what I or her Macy’s audience was expecting.
“I searched the world over, thought I found true
love you found another, and you were gone,” a Buck
Owens tune titled, “Pfft You Were Gone.” After-
wards she let me know that if I sang I could get a
rubber duck too.
ZGP: Paula, you played with the legend-
ary Carl Perkins, correct?
Paula: Yes, I didn’t actually play in his band, but we
performed some duets on the Exchange Club Carl
Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse
Telethon. Our band backed him when he would
play some of his live shows here in Jackson. Carl
was a dear friend of ours and a great guy.
ZGP: Katie, who are some of your musi-
cal influences?
Katie: I have always loved to hear Bonnie Raitt
sing. I really loved listening to music with my dad,
(Chuck McGill), such as Lowell George, lead singer
of Little Feat. George has a lot of really cool horn
parts in his songs. If you saw one of my playlists, it
is all across the board. I really love Etta James and
Adele.
Paula: Katie also has had five years of classial train-
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in different languages as well.
Katie: My favorite part of classical music was the
acting involved. When you are singing in different
languages, you must physically manifest what that
song means in order for people to understand. The
most exciting part of singing in all those different
styles is what you can physically put into a song. If
you can make your spirit feel what the song and the
melody mean, that is what is going to make every-
one else feel what you are delivering.
Paula: Yeah, you get more of the feel of the song.
Katie and Emily grew up in musical theatre: Emily
played “Dorothy” in the Wizard of OZ and “Mor-
ticia” in The Addams Family. Katie played “Tracy”
in Hairspray. This is just a few roles the girls have
played. They are great actresses, just ask their mam-
ma.
ZGP: Emily, who are some of your musi-
cal influences?
Emily: I really love 70’s music. Linda Ronstadt is
probably the biggest artist I listen to. I also like
John Denver with that organ vibe. I always tell Ray
(Barnette) put more organ on the track, I just love
that sound. As far as a newer artist, I love Kacey
Musgraves.
Paula: Oh, my goodness, I love Bonnie Raitt and
Stevie Nicks. I just like it all–I love gospel and just
all kinds of music. There are a few exceptions but
for the most part, I just love music.
ZGP: We touched some about music and
its powerful connectivity, do you believe
there is a connection between music and
the soul? Does it have the power to trans-
form us into better people?
Katie: Oh yes, I think that is why music therapy has
become such a prominent thing. People are starting
to realize that music is connective. Worship music
is a way that we can connect to God on a whole
different level. Music touches the soul in a way
that allows it to spill out into the world, communi-
cate within you and to others.
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