April showers & Spring flowers…..

The Biltmore Estate 201

Spring! It always comes after the bleak of winter. Maybe that’s why so many of us love spring. We are so excited to see  the beauty that comes from the cold, dreary gray of winter….at least we are here in TN! Have you been in a “winter” season lately? Life not turning out in the way you had hoped? Please be encouraged that after the winter there is always a spring. Keep hanging in there….working and waiting; tilling the soil and planting the seed. Eventually there will be a harvest if you are consistent to keep watering that work or dream of yours. Maybe even that relationship of yours? There will be a harvest in time 🙂

This picture was taken 2 years ago when we visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. I don’t believe I have ever seen more beautiful tulips! And so many!! Such a lovely display of springtime flowers. At my writing of this post- it’s Easter time! So here’s a little tip for all of you coloring Easter eggs...put 1 tsp of baking soda in the water when you boil the eggs and they will always peel easily! Sounds crazy but tried and true!

I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend……and Happy Spring!!

 

 

 

 

Failure just another turn in the road to success…..

We’ve all felt like a failure from time to time. I mean life does not always work out the way we thought it would. I have to remind myself in those moments that failure is part of the plan to a better journey. What? Yeah…I just said that. Failure hurts. it feels so frustrating doesn’t it? It feels like a waste of time,effort and frequently resources that were slim to begin with. Interestingly, failure is frequently just a turn in the road to find a better way. A few years ago, I was approached by a management company to help grow my career as an independent artist. I was so excited! Finally, I was going to have someone helping me. Wearing all the hats in any business can be overwhelming. This was such a good thing…or so I thought! After 8 months, things were not working out so well. The booking agent this company had hired was promising tours but not actually booking dates for me and he was building his own company on the side. (can you say conflict of interest?) The photographer hired delivered less than stellar photos and the website designer locked me out of my current web site and never built one for me. Lots of headaches. Then….there was a big announcement that my management company was working with a group to put me on a national tour. These were industry vets who had worked with all the major labels in town. Finally something! So exciting! The big day for the national tour meeting arrived. My husband and I went into the meeting room with the tour company and the spokesperson for the management company said, ” Okay, before we get started, we need to announce that we are no longer going to manage any artists.”  I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. What? I thought we were meeting to discuss a national tour roll out? Then they basically introduced us to each other and said we could work out details of working together for a national tour amongst ourselves. The tour company was just as surprised as I was. We exchanged pleasantries as we all stood reeling from the info-bomb that was dropped into our laps. We moved on to a professional conversation about what a tour might look like and they would email me a calendar roll -out and the fee schedule. Then we left. What a disappointment. I felt like such a failure.  Why hadn’t I seen this coming?  There was lots of frustration but I had been trying to be gracious because they were a start up, independent company just like me. As a solo independent artist, I knew I was not going to be able to afford the fees associated with a National tour company. I quickly had to regroup and had the task of getting back my intellectual property  as well as some other legal matters. What a nightmare.

And yet….

It was in the following weeks and months that I realized how much strength I truly had. I had acquired a lot  of knowledge over the years as an Independent Recording Artist and wearing all the hats! I then hired someone to re-build my artist website and I was up and running again. It wasn’t easy and it took some time. But things that are worthwhile never see to come easily.  I managed to rebuild the momentum I  lost in that year with the management company, write songs for a new album and all while maintaining my roles as wife and mom too. It is through the struggle a butterfly has in leaving the cocoon that it gains strength in its wings to fly. I wrote a song about that. It’s called Fly. You can listen to it here. Now I understand even more fully that lesson. Is there an area of your life or business that you are struggling with or feeling like a failure right now?  What would happen if you viewed it as a turn in your road to success instead of a failure? What have you learned? Comment below. I’d love to encourage you in your journey to Fly……

100 leading Moms in business – would you vote for me?

  The news this week……is I’m in the running to be named one of start up nation’s 100 leading moms in business!

This is a great opportunity for me and I would so appreciate your vote. (no account set ups just click a button) You can vote once a day until April 30th to help me stay in the running. As most of you know, I started my entertainment business after I turned 40…after years of laying down my dream in order to be a stay at home mom. When I turned 40, however,  I just knew if I didn’t follow my heart I would regret it at the end of my life. You can read the mini version and vote at the link below. Thanks for helping me by voting and also sharing the link! It truly helps me in my business, by granting me exposure and publicity that is difficult to receive as an independent artist.

Vote for Debbie here!

My Spotlight Feature on Allies

This week….I’ve been enjoying a little time with my kids! Daughter is home from college on her break and my son was just in his high school’s musical-Anything Goes. We had a few snow/ice days off school so movies, games ,hot chocolate and cookie baking were added to the schedule! It’s just nice to have them home. I LOVE being a mom!

I was recently interviewed by Gail Adkins from Allies in Biz.

It is a very cool all female entrepreneurial group here in Middle TN. You can check out the interview here and then for those of you ladies who are entrepreneurs,browse around their site! I am a member and it’s an awesome group of women supporting & encouraging each other in their varied businesses. Even if you are not in TN they are forming an online group, so check them out!

Think Spring!!

Photos from the road- Chocolate & Shopping show!

   Last weekend I spent Saturday performing at the Chocolate & Shopping Show….I thought I’d post some pics for you to enjoy. Even Forest Gump stopped by for a visit!!  I think we all had a good time and yes those ladies are wearing MY CHOCOLATE shirt! SO fun…..

  

 

 

 

 

  SO thankful to ALL who stopped by my booth and said hello. I appreciate all your love & support!

XO Debbie

5 Minute Chocolate Fondue & the Chocolate song…

Just in time for Valentine’s day….This week’s reflection of Love & Life features  my song :  Chocolate is a girl’s best friend. I decided to teach you how to make a yummy dessert in less than 5 minutes…for that sweetheart or sweet tooth of yours!  ENJOY!

 

 

 

Reflections on Love & Life- An Interview about the new CD

REFLECTIONS on LOVE & LIFE…….

 

How would you describe your upcoming record?

 It’s romantic and fun. It celebrates marriage relationships and also being a  mid-life female.

How would you compare it to your last album?

Stylistically, it is similar. It’s soft jazz. This one is more danceable than the last one. The first was romantic mood or dinner music. You can samba, do the 2 step or waltz to this one. The last CD was all cover songs except one original.  This time, I wrote every song but still worked with the same jazz pianist for the arrangements. He’s brilliant.

 When did you start writing songs?

I’ve been writing songs since I was 12 years old. I didn’t do much with them. I didn’t know WHAT to do with them. Back then we didn’t have this global access via the Internet like we do now. My very first song was about an apple tree. LOL! Probably not much market there…

 How do you go about writing songs?

I don’t have a particular way, sometimes I get a melody first; sometimes I get a lyric. Chicken or the egg? It varies!

 What things inspire you to write?

My observations of life, my relationships and the world around me inspire me to make a statement. Everything I write is not biographical. Sometimes it is just a response to a story a friend shares that touches me deeply.

 What’s a favorite lyric from one of the songs on your CD?

“Live the life that we dreamed of instead of throwing that dream away” It’s from Kiss and Make up. Sometimes we hold and internalize resentment over the tiniest of things, especially we females. Self included. I’m learning to let those things go more quickly- life is much more pleasant!

What’s a song of yours that has really touched people?

How much I love you- penned for my husband and recorded on my first record has been very well received. Chocolate on this upcoming CD is a close 2nd !  It’s about women and chocolate -what’s not to love?

If you could co-write with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Bryan Adams- he has a way with melodic & emotional/ lyrical connection that makes me swoon.  He’s still touring and I think he’s a fabulous artist as well as songwriter. After that, it would be Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The Great American songbook is filled with their songs and they are always a piece of artistic beauty.

Creative way to say I Love You

All about Love!

It’s almost February! I can hardly believe the first month of 2014 is gone. Alas… time flies when you are busy and having fun! It’s that special time of year when we celebrate romantic love! Romantic jazz is a perfect way to set the mood…so….want a creative way to say I LOVE YOU this year?  Gentlemen…a creative marriage proposal? Send me with a singing telegram!

I enjoy celebrating life…dinner with family, friends. Going out of my way to make my loved ones feel special is a joy. I was truly honored when a dear friend asked me to make her husband’s birthday special by delivering a singing telegram.

Singing to Archie

Here I am singing at his 50th birthday dinner party! Boy was he surprised….

I do a limited amount of private performances each year. Recently, I’ve been receiving so many requests for singing telegrams  I thought I would offer them in February in honor of Valentine’s month. Limited times available for Valentine’s day so book today!

If you are out of state -singing telephone grams are also available. Or you can fly me to your piece of the world…just sayin’

For more info, pricing send an inquiry to debbie@debbiecunninghamjazz.com

Unexpected Angels…..

Christmas preparations have been keeping me busy and alas, I am a little behind in posting my blog. Enjoy!

Last year during the Christmas season, I had the privilege of singing with my family…yes, husband, daughter and son! We dressed as Angels and walked around our church reminding everyone that angels sang glad tidings of joy. Interestingly enough, some people smiled but most went about their conversations or bustled on their way to somewhere. The children, however, stopped what they were doing and ran to the doors to see and hear what was happening. Their faces were excited and eyes twinkling as this misfit band of “angels” strolled the corridors of the church and sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come all ye faithful, and Angels we have heard on high.”  Mostly, they seemed expectant that something exciting was happening! I was struck by the difference in response of adults vs children. Life is hard, we have seen that  with the horrible tragedies that have happened around the world and the economy, loss of jobs and houses continues to affect many. Even so, all the more reason we should take a moment and celebrate that which we DO have in this moment and run expectantly to see what is coming down the hall with the eyes of a child. Just something to ponder…I am hopeful for the future  even with all the struggles of this past year and delighted to celebrate the Christmas season with my family and friends!

Speaking of unexpected Angels… Below is a picture of Virginia Stubblefield. She was our winner of the November Thankfulness contest! Her daughter, Phyllis Nichols nominated her and she was delighted that she won! I am re-posting Phyllis’s entry as well.

May your holiday season be filled with love, laughter and most of all the peace of the season.

Merry Christmas from My house to yours….

-Debbie

OUR WINNING ENTRY FOR THANKFULNESS CONTEST!

Debbie,
I too am thankful for my mom. She’s one of the nicest women you’ll ever meet and she’s one of those people who doesn’t know a stranger. She’s the first one to make people feel welcome and make sure they know how much they are appreciated.
She’s always positive even when things aren’t going as planned. When I was growing my dad was in the Air Force and my mom always chose to make each move a positive step for our family. I think that’s why to this day, I kinda like moving!
She’s a force when it comes to organizing and she’s a great cook. To this day, she takes requests from anyone coming to visit to be sure she cooks their favorite meals. And believe me, no one is shy about telling her exactly what they want!
She’s a great person, and a great mom. I’m lucky to have her in my life still cooking for me when I visit!

And the Winner is…..

Congrats to Phyllis Nichols and her mom … the winners of our Thankfulness contest!  Phyllis and her mom will be receiving the Chocolate truffles and music Gift package!

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their stories. It was fun to hear who you were

thankful for and why. As a thanks to ALL of you,

please go to http://www.reverbnation.com/debbiecunningham

and download your free songs. Including  a Christmas classic-O Holy Night.