Dee Dee Phelps

 We’re still flying high after the success of our concert on June 22^nd.  The show sold out, with some overflow purchasing standing room only tickets. Enthusiastic and geared up, the audience supported us on every song. We opened with “Thou Shalt Not Steal”. Then I told a story about the first time Dick St. John and I ever sang on a stage.

We followed that with “Young and In Love” and then a rousing version of the Gary Bonds song, “New Orleans”. The instrumental featured our hot guitar, piano and sax players. The audience was jamming.

I spoke about the City of New Orleans and how more contemporary music styles came out of there than any other city in the United States. Then I told the history of the folk song, “All My Trials”. The lights lowered and, sitting on stools, Michael and I sang the ballad.

Giving tribute to Neil Diamond, we sang “I’m a Believer”, then the Everly Brothers version of “Let It Be Me”, followed by “Tell Me”.

I told how our first record happened to be recorded and we sang “The Mountain’s High”, followed by the Boyce and Hart song, recorded by the Monkees, “I Want to Be Free”.

After an up-tempo version of “Mocking Bird”, Michael introduced the band. We ended with a rock and roll medley that had the audience singing along and dancing in their seats. The medley songs were “Do You Want to Dance” and “Dancing in the Streets”.

For an encore, we slowed the tempo down with “Turn Around” and ended with Twist and Shout. My three adult children, one daughter-in-law and my husband surprised me by coming on stage. They presented me with bouquets of flowers. It was a sweet and touching tribute.

After the show we held a reception in the foyer and gave some live interviews. The evening was exhilarating and very special.

Right now the video crew is putting together a three minute clip of highlights from the show that we’ll be posting on the website and YouTube.

I’m so grateful to the musicians that joined us, Johnny Kito on synthesizer (musical director for the Mama’s and Papa’s and Gary Bonds European tour), Ben Davis on keyboards, Bray Ghiglia on electric and acoustic guitars and sax, Edward “Pookie” Dixon on drums (he toured with Billy Preston), Adam Clements on bass and Robby Martinez conducting and playing flute on “Turn Around”. There would have been no show without them!

I especially want to thank Michael Dunn for his amazing talent and help with the show. I’m fortunate to be singing with him.

Last Sunday evening, the love and support from the audience warmed my heart and we look forward to sharing the gift of song with audiences in the future.