During middle and high school I was concertmaster. I studied with Anna Tringas in Pensacola, Florida. During my junior and senior years, I was the youngest member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. It was during this time that the great Arthur Fiedler, of the Boston Pops Orchestra, came and conducted the Huntsville Symphony. At this time I studied with Dr. Marx Pales.

    After high school, I attended Texas Tech University studying the classics under the esteemed Dr. James Barber. He is still my hero. At that time I was a member of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra.

    On the weekends, I started playing in bands and even got to sit in with some professional bands such as the origional Bob Will’s Texas Playboys in Turkey, Texas.  After that, “Take it away Leon” McAuliff personally flew me in his twin engine Beechcraft airplane to Kerrville Texas to perform again with the band. By this time I was winning many fiddling contests.

    I had the opportunity to sit in with the band, Asleep at the Wheel, and country legend, Merle Haggard wanted to hire me on the spot after I jammed with his band back stage. I declined the invitation, opting to finish my degree.

1980 -1986

    Upon graduation, I immediately started touring with my own band across our great nation. I opened shows for B.J. Thomas (Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head) and Donna Fargo (I’m The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA). I also backed up such artists as Ferlin Huskey (On The Wings Of A Snow White Dove), Susan Raye (L.A. International Airport), Charlie Pride (Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone), Sammi Smith (Help Me Make It Through The Night), Tex Williams (Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette), Freddy Hart (Easy Lovin’), Hank Thompson (Six Pack To Go) and Hee Haw’s Hagar Twins.

    It was during this time, in the early 1980’s that I received the RAMA (Reno Area’s Music Awards) Best Country Female Vocalist of the year.

    Playing more than one instrument has always come easy to me. Besides every style on the violin/fiddle, I doubled on piano, guitar, mandolin, trumpet, flute, and played the cello solo in the song Live & Let Die.