|
Hey Folks - Are You Ready for October 7?
by Dominic "Mickey" Benecasa, Producer, Daytona Blues Festival
Hello Sybil!
Anyone who lives along Florida's Space Coast and loves the Blues knows Sybil Gage . This talented and charming diva has joined the all-star Daytona Blues Festival lineup to sing the National Anthem and emcee the event all three days.
| | For those of you who haven't heard Sybil perform, she is an award-winning, singer-songwriter, Blues and Jazz artist, New Orleans-born and raised. Her love and pride for her musical and cultural roots is evident in every part of her performance. Hats, Boas, and lots of Spirit abound.
She has been compared to Maria Muldaur, Eartha Kitt, and other musical greats. Sybil performs the music of Blu Lu, Danny Barker, Sippie Wallace, Oscar Brown Jr., Bessie, Billie, Satchmo, and her own original songs. She has opened for John Waite and Zydeco Queen Rosie Ledet.
As a working musician, Sybil tours in support of her special music, playing frequent gigs in New York and annually in The Max's Kansas City Reunion. Sybil's devoted following call themselves "Sybilized".
Sybil plays every Tuesday night at Heidi's Jazz Club in Cocoa Beach where she has been in residence since 2009. Space Coast Living Magazine named her the Best Musician in Brevard County in 2008. She has been invited back to the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival for the fourth time. |
Her latest CD, "NOLA Calling" reached #1 on the UVUMI Internet chart. It was also nominated for Best Self Produced CD by the International Blues Challenge, Memphis 2011. Sybil is the recipient of three ASCAP awards for Excellence in Performance and Songwriting, 2008-2010.
Sybil's first CD, "Red," sold over 6,000 copies. Her "Sybil Gage's Stormy Monday Show" is heard around the world at www.1300WMEL.com.
The Story of Jack and Julian
In this issue we have another great story about the Halifax Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) . This time we are spotlighting not one but two NICU graduates, a special two-for-one package.
Appropriate to our Festival, their parents, Andrea and Jeremy, are a local successful acoustic music duo performing as "The Jeremy and Andrea Mix," a.k.a. "The JAM." Throughout their time as expectant parents, and continuing after the birth of their twin boys, The JAM kept right on playing. While their newborns were being cared for in the NICU, their peace of mind allowed them to continue playing the local live music venues as they developed a new following of doctors and nurses.
Andrea remembers, "Joy was doubled when we found out that we were expecting twins! As we learned more about the whole process it also doubled our worries, but the serial ultrasounds at Halifax Health OB Diagnostics were educating and reassuring because the nurses addressed their special needs."
Jack and Julian, to everyone's delight, arrived at 36 weeks gestation and very healthy. Their births were normal, with Julian born last, jumping out feet-first into Dr. John Meyer's skillful hands (and adding a few gray hairs to his head!)
|
Jack and Julian | The boys spent 14 (Jack) and 21 (Julian) days in the Halifax NICU, while mom and dad played special gigs in the hospital, singing to their babies and the NICU nurses, who quickly became groupies.
"The NICU provided us with such a solid foundation of 'know-how,' Andrea remembers. "Everything from swaddling, burping, changing, to one of the most important things with twins -- scheduling. We were so grateful to have the NICU nurses by our side, not only sharing their knowledge, but being such a positive force in what can be a very worrisome time for parents."
Andrea remains successful at breastfeeding even with her busy schedule, attributing this to the positive support she received in the NICU and from Ellen, Halifax's Lactation Consultant. The boys turned four months old on September 21 and already weigh 14 to 15 pounds each. They're already starting their own coo-crooning, so the duo is quickly becoming a quartet. Their extended Festival family hopes to see them all at the Festival and hear more about their story and music!
Support the Daytona Blues Festival
With your support, this festival will grow every year! Click here to download a printable flyer for the Daytona Blues Festival. We encourage you to spread the news to all blues fans! We thank you for your help in supporting this festival, which will in turn help support these important causes.
Until next month (October 7 - 8 - 9!), keep singing those Blues!
Dominic "Mickey" Benecasa
Producer, Annual Daytona Blues Festival
|
