The Bower Blog

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I am fortunate enough to have met 4 great grandparents.  My baba and deeda fled the Ukraine/Austria when they were in their early teens and settled in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  My great-grandmother tended a one acre garden up until the time she was 90.  Good stock, those Eastern Europeans!  My great-grandmother on my dad's side, lived in a teeny little town outside of Shelburne called Hornings Mills.  Blink and you may miss it.  She had a grand old Victorian with a huge meadow in the backyard.  The home was heated by a wood stove and we would have hot stones placed at the bottom of the bed to keep us warm in the winter.  Quilts were made by hand from old suits or thread-bare pyjamas and blankets.  I still have two of them.  I remember when I was about four, standing in the backyard of my granny's home and saying "one day, I'm going to have a place like this".  I loved everything about the home-the folk art, the antiques and the ambience.

Fast forward to today....so I'm a real estate agent with a love of homes, particularly older ones.  I have a deep appreciation of art and singing-all these gifts I received from great-grandparents, grandparents and my parents. I studied clothing design when I was in my early 20's.  In my teens, I did some back up singing with bands (sorry dad, yes I did go to bars when I was 17-may you rest in peace!) While I was studying, I got part time work at a real estate office where I met my son's dad. We established a flourishing real estate business and still do some work together to this day. 

My point in all of this is, when we are young it is usually hard to determine which direction we may go.  My thinking is always follow your passion.  A number of years ago there was an article in one of the newspapers suggesting that whatever part of the newspaper you grabbed first, was where your passion lies.  I've always grabbed Arts and Entertainment, Travel, Life Section.  And yes, they are what makes this heart sing!

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

NEWCHOIR-A Premiere Rock Choir

I was never happier than to have been accepted to be part of the Newchoir Rock Choir!  We started our rehearsals in early September and the concert is December 10, 2011.  I'm lucky enough to have been chosen for two ensemble solo parts, "Son of a Preacher Man", a sexy, gospel type rendition with, gulp, choreography (which I freely admit, I am horrible with) and a duel between men and women of "Stuck in the Middle With you" (girls) and "500 Miles (guys).  It's a romping good time!  When I first saw Newchoir, it was this past May.  I cried at some of the songs, simply because I knew from my friend Brenda that rehearsals were weekly and all 140 or so people are amateurs who just love to sing.  I had to join! 

Anyone wishing tickets can either call me or go to the website:  www.Newchoir.ca and order directly.  Tickets are $20.00 and they sell out quickly.

My entire family is going!  Can't wait!

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

Gladys Knight and One Pip

Boy, what a show!  After all these years, I get to see my uber hero, Glady Knight in person!  The thing I've always noticed about her, even when she was a judge on American Idol, is that she is forever gracious.  Every time she presented a song, she said, "we made this little song, and you liked it!"  It was a trip down memory lane. "Heard it through the Grapevine", "You're the best thing that every happened to me", "Really got to use, my Imagination" and of course, the finale of the show, "Midnight Train to Georgia."  All from a little company starting with "M" (her words, not mine). MOTOWN.

My soul side soared watching Gladys-it was only 1 1/2 hours but the best time I've had watching music in years.  Funny too.  If she comes again, don't miss her.

Cheryl Bower

www.CherylBower.com

RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.

Canada Loves KC and the Sunshine Band

SOLD OUT! That's what happens when KC and his band come to Orillia and rock us back to the 1970's.  His mantra?  "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? If you're young and don't know who I am, I am your mom's NSYNC hero from the 70's".

You know, this is my second time seeing KC at Rama.  If you've never been to this venue, it's an intimate easy to see stage production.  I prefer it to ACC or other larger forums.  KC & The Sunshine Band is still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced onto the music scene 36 years ago. Harry Wayne Casey – KC, for short – developed a unique fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove, giving us an impressive string of hits like Get Down Tonight, That’s The Way (I Like It) and Shake Your Booty.  He also included "Brick House" some Michael Jackson tunes and more, plus included a solo by his sidekick and backup vocalist, Maria De Crescenzo (Oh Solo Mio) which literally brought me to tears.  She studied opera before backing KC-unbelievable.

There is something magical about their show; the band has a blast; you can see it.  The horns rocking, the bassist grooving in the audience.  KC is 58 years old now (hence the "what the hell happened?")  He is an aging disco star that is balding and growing a bit of a paunch but he's smart enough to know that he needs young people around him to keep up the energy and also help with his voice.  I know myself as a singer that even 5 years ago, I could hit notes that are not reachable now.  He is gracious, humble and he loves Canada (his comment? if the world did things like Canada does, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in..)

Thank you for coming to our country, KC. That's the way, uh huh, uh huh we like it!  You made this Toronto girl very happy last night!  Next week, Gladys Knight and the Pips!

Jersey Boys

I have been working hard the past two months and as a treat, I went to see the stage production of Jersey Boys last night.  What a lot of fun and talent....oye!  The show is based on the life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  I believe most of the story was accurate and what I didn't know was how many hits these guys had.  Hits like, Sherry Baby, Oh, What a Night, to name a few.  I love watching talented singers and the lead guys were terrific; in particular, the lead singer was pitch perfect on those high notes Frankie Valli made so famous.  I've never done this before, but I am going to buy two more tickets and see it again.  If you get a chance, treat yourself to a fun night out.

The Reverend Al Green

Tonight I had the priviledge of seeing my fave guy, Al Green.  Now Al was the heart-throb of every woman in the 70's.  Who can forget "Love and Happiness", "Let's Stay Together", "How Can you mend A Broken Heart" and more?  His soulful sound, his sexy vibe....makes me weak in the knees just thinking about how romantic his music was.  I remember my first boyfriend and I breaking up and me holing up in a room playing and replaying "How Can you Mend a Broken Heart?" and anything written by the band BREAD.  Yikes.  My sister came in once and said, "How are you ever going to get over that guy if you keep listening to that stuff?"

About 3 years ago, Rob and I saw Al Green at Roy Thompson Hall.  He was making a comeback and his voice was a little raw but he was charming and his signature "throwing of the long stem roses" was the same.   The rose throwing made you forget that he was aging (he's 62 now) and consequently his voice wasn't what it was.  I'm not sure how Al Green got his groove back, but boy oh boy....his voice is back.  I wouldn't say it's the same as the albums-our vocals change as we grow older, often becoming deeper but his production was slick, fun and tight.  I swear up and down there is an old black soul living in my body because even the gospel songs had me swooning.  Al, you're back, Toronto L O V E S you; it was a sold out show, everyone was singing, dancing and knew every word to every song. We can't wait until the Reverend comes back.