PenelopeTorribio - Musician in St. George UT

SEEKING

Vocalist, Vocalist - Bass, Vocalist - Baritone, Vocalist - Tenor, Vocalist - Soprano, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Other Percussion, Violin, Trumpet, Saxophone, Keyboard, Piano, Background Singer, Harmonica, Flute, Other, Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, Vocalist - Alto, Trombone, Bagpipes, Upright bass, Cello, Accordion, Ukulele, DJ, Electronic Music, Clarinet, Harp.

ABOUT

I moved from Los Angeles to St. George. It took me a year to get gigs in S. Utah. I believe we can improve the role of musicians in this area by gathering together, sharing our music, and discuss new ways of connecting the public with music. Here is my story: I began twenty-five years ago when I bought a guitar for ten dollars at a swap meet and a beginning guitar book. When I wasn't ready to go to the next song in the book, I began writing songs. Almost immediately, I was invited to perform in universities, festivals, and writer's groups. Along the way I met, Otis Roy, the Pomona Blue Yodeler. Otis was a Jimmie Rogers impersonator. He became a great admirer when he was a kid working in the cotton field 10 to 12 hours a day. Otis's life became easier as he sang while he picked cotton. Otis Roy knew all of Jimmie's songs and many stories from the depression era. He needed someone to play guitar. I provided a simple rhythm background. We performed together for five years, at festivals, events, clubs, universities, and many cable televison shows. I sang my own songs and even added an imitation of the famous country comedian, Minnie Pearl. I hate to boast, but both Otis and I won first place at the Los Angeles Country Fair for our imitations. Through Otis, I met many musicians who knew and loved Jimmie Rogers. We would meet at Holt's Electric to jam. We pushed out the cars that Bill Holt was working on up to 16 musicians would share our music. It was so fun. I asked Babe Sims, Lee Dacas, Carl Walden and of course Otis Roy if they would tell their stories on a documentary. I called it, "Now That's Country." I am so happy I did because now these musicians are in blues heaven, but we can still hear their voices. In the late 80's I met Bob Shreves. He helped me form a country band that played (and got paid) in S. Cal clubs such as the Palomino, the Crazy Horse, and The Cowboy and a hundred tiny clubs. We opened for many noted country musicians such as George Strait and Jerry Lee Lewis. The band was called "Penelope and a LIttle Bit of Gold." Somewhere along the line, I became vocalist of the year for the California country music association.

Then pay to play came into the music scene. Many clubs stopped paying for bands, turning to young bands or karaoke. I went solo again playing at events and functions. At this time I made several original albums: "A Little Bit of Gold," "Watch Out I'm Singing the Blues" "Family Man" and "Headed for a Good Time." A lousy (I was encouraged to use this word by Grammarly) contract took me away from country music for ten years. I turned to writing and performing children's musicals. I made many children's albums: including, The Rain is Coming, rainforest songs; Dinosaur Dance, how not to become extinct; Under the Blue Blue Sea, ocean ecology, Out in Outer Space, space ecology; The Grass is Green, a farm animal; Sing the Calendar Songs and Guardians of the Earth, songs for toddlers and babies.

Between my country and children's songs, I have performed all over throughout the Western States and many places in the world. I have had lot of fun. I so look forward to meeting and hearing the local musicians in Southern Utah, and I am hoping that we can start an organization. I forgot to mention that the San Gabriel Valley Music Association was responsible for my beginning as a country singer.