Barbara Reed

Like all life long musicians it seems that I never really decided to become a musician, but that the decision was natural, and therefore automatic. I simply had to do it. We had a baby grand when I was a toddler and I'd crawl up on the bench and make what I thought was wonderful music for hours at a time. I'm pretty sure that singing was the medium through which I pictured myself communicating musically, and that too seemed to be automatic. That's not to say that there weren't lessons and studies along the way, but only that I felt as if these things were stepping stones to that fabulous world of making beautiful sounds. I went to Berklee because I wanted to learn how to turn those sounds inside my head into something I could share with others. Years later, I look back and realize I've had a lifetime of performing as vocalist and/or pianist throughout the U.S. and Japan, recorded two CDs of original songs plus several for other artists, and still get excited when I've got a nice jazz gig coming up!

Fast forward another decade after Berklee, and with all of life's experiences and changes, I found myself wanting to stretch the writing chops a bit, so I began to write a Suspense-Thriller novel series based in the music business. I wasn't setting out to correct the common image of musicians as flakes, druggies, or self- serving egomaniacs, but I discovered when I started developing the Liz Hanlon Series, that my characters were addressing just that. Times have changed over the years, and today's musicians—and all creatives—must be savvy and adaptable if they're going to survive, and balance personal lives with their music. So while the series starts out with Liz being a jazz singer-songwriter, you know what's going to happen...she get a deal if only she'd make a few musical concessions! On the other hand, she's got to be true to herself.... So far, the first two books in the series are out...to be continued!

Music: https://www.Reverbnation.com/BarbaraReed • Under “Featured Songs, click on “All Music.”

Live Video with a combo of jazz/blues/pop http://www.youtube.com/v/nNQukdZuCxI?version=3&autohide=1

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