"I want to be a voice for those who don't have one"
Those words hung in the air as my parents were driving me to yet another competition, singing event, national anthem appearance, local Texas Opry's, Honky Tonks - you name it, we went to them all. I saw my Daddy's head turn to my Mom's for he had just asked out loud to the van "Mary Sarah WHY do you want to be a singer?" Their response to my answer was as unexpected as my answer was to their question. We pulled to the side of the road and my Dad said a prayer along the lines of "God, if this is you and your vision, we will do Your Will. Thy Will be done. Amen." Before every performance my Daddy and Mama would pray with me "Lord, sing through this little one with the voice of an angel. May all who are here here Heaven's sounds and may You get the Glory, Amen." The words of Dr. Seuss's great book "Oh the places you'll go" echo always in my mind as I remember my Daddy reading it to me at bedtime "Kid, You'll MOVE MOUNTAINS...."
BACKGROUND
I was a baby who screamed a lot and my Daddy tells people that is how I developed my set of pipes the first 6 months of my life. I would sing my homework and sing all the time. At 8 years old, my Dad, who was a musician growing up and loved music, had me sing "Amazing Grace" at our church and I got a standing ovation, he realized I had a gift to sing with a natural vibrato so off to lessons I went! Since that day in the van as my family went from place to place, as I sang for audiences of 5 to 85,000, we have always know together that the gift that I've been blessed with isn't for me, it's really for others. When I was 12 I landed a national tour with KidzBop for what was booked as an 80 city tour that was cut back to 40 over a six month period. I had to leave school, with my Mom as my chaperone, and my older siblings had to stay home with my Daddy funding the family's earnings as we played for audience in the Midwest and East Coast. I was part of a 5 kid ensemble that Razor and Tie put together to promote their highly successful albums of popular songs remixed and sung by kids for kids with appropriate lyrics when needed. I was chosen for my all american girl looks, voice and dancing ability in that order. It was a life changing experience. I will never forget the moment that i stepped out for a solo on the song "Move Along" by the All American Rejects, and stepped into the spotlight to solo my part as the band dropped away. As i opened my mouth and the music came out of me "Even when you hope is gone, move along, move along..." the crowd began to scream out and yell as you could feel the energy in the auditorium and the kids began to shriek to a crescendo - I KNEW this was what I was destined to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to change the world with music and I fully believe that one voice, one song can truly change people, nations and the world. I believe that music is the sound of Heaven and there full harmony is happening all the time and that we here can experience a little of it in a moment like that.
My gifts and talents were recognized early and I was signed at age 11 to http://osbrinkagency.com as a child actress, singer and dancer with the idea of becoming a "Disney Kid". We found out quickly that the environment in California was not what we as a family wanted to be a part of so we focused on my singing and performing back home in Texas. This lead to me being honored to sing the National Anthem for the Houston Astros, Texans, Dynamo, NHRA and upcoming for the annual NRA convention upcoming in May 2013. I have truly been blessed and the journey has been incredible. I am also blessed to be singing with 12 of the greatest living legends in country music on an upcoming CD of duets to be released this summer.
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE
My parents have always taught us kids that "Hard Work Beats Talent, if Talent Won't Work Hard" and surprisingly as the baby of the family I have listened to these words. It was and is easy to just rely on the gift that God put inside of me, but to really really accomplish what I want to, continual rehearsal and practice is required and expected. I practice 3 hours a day on vocal, guitar and phrasing to be ready to record and for live shows. But after all, I'm still a kid (17) and working my career like a job has been challenging with distractions in the way like school, BOYS and BOYS (LOL). But whenever I get a little out of balance, my friends and family are there to remind me of the goal. Dream Big, or Go Home! Staying focused is a team effort that my family and I remind each other of all the time.
HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT WON'T WORK HARD!
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
My brother Christopher, was born at 24 week and was 1.5 lbs when he came into this world. He always had physical challenges that was a big focus of our family for so many years. At age 14 he developed type 1 diabetes and one year later received a liver transplant to replace his failing liver that was a result of the life saving methods used when he was a premie. Our family fought, prayed and stood with him always as he walked through these challenges, ultimately, pulling us together and close in spite of all the adversity. Today he is becoming a successful real estate executive on his own and we are so proud of him! I will always support JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research) and Transplantation charities that are life saving and so important to families. Our family is closer, better, tighter, stronger and just in every way more blessed having walked through these challenges together when many others would have fallen apart. The greatest lesson we have all learned it "Love Never Fails". It NEVER fails, never gives up, never quits, never stops forgiving, never holds a grudge....Love is the answer!
All in all, life's a journey that begins with the first step, but to really really LIVE life you have to dream, believe and scream like no one is watching. But eventually they will! Remember your personal faith will get you through hard times and never forget it in the good times too! We are all physical and spiritual beings :) And remember that LOVE NEVER FAILS! :)
God Bless you!