ENJOY LIFE MAGAZINE

 Pamela Hart

Published November 15, 2008 Written by Lakesha Woods

Pamela Hart was raised in a household that was very musical. Pamela says, "My household in my early life was very musical. My mother was very musical, if she wasn't singing while she was working she was playing music. She played Coltrane and  Miles Davis but she loved the vocalist so she played Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington. She recalls being 5 years old and learning Nancy Wilson's "I had a Ball". Pamela says once her mother heard her singing the song she encouraged her to sing whenever company would come around. She says that her talent was really developed by mimicking great singers. However, it wasn't until long after her teen years and school days that she realized singing would be her life. She rediscovered the burring desire for music after she moved to Austin, Texas at the age of 25. It was in Austin that she took an interest in a band and she wanted to work with them. Before hand many thoughts of pursuing the dream came and went but Pamela expresses that her urning to become a singer eventually out weighed years of contemplating and she was finally lead to her answer the called to Jazz. I asked Pamela if she considered Jazz as a way of life.  Pamela said, It takes a certain intelligence to listen to jazz and it takes a person who get it. Jazz it chooses you". "With Jazz its a chemistry you plan on the music being correct but you can't plan on some breaks happening or jiving with somebody. You have to be willing to expose yourself so people can see who you are trying to be.

Her impact has been great on the city of Austin. So great that she carries an enormous title which follows her and has yet to be taken. She's known as "Austin's First Lady of Jazz". Pamela, is gracious about having such an honor but she didn't hesitate to give her self just a few kudos. She's opened for contemporary artist such as Kirk Whalum, and Nancy Wilson whom she sang a duet with in 2000. Pamela giggles and gets a little giddy at the mention of Ms. Wilson's name. She said, "Nancy Wilson is one of my favorite jazz singers and when I was on stage with her I felt like I was five years old all over again". Pamela went on to say that the experience was one that she will never forget and that Ms. Wilson made her feel very comfortable on the stage.

Amazing as she is as a Jazz singer she's also an amazing inspiration to aspiring women in the music industry. She inspires others to follow their dreams and to hone their crafts through an organization that call Women in Jazz.  Pamela Hart established the Women in Jazz Project and along with her husband Kevin Hart they have been sponsoring the Women in Jazz Project since 1994. Each year, the producers of Women in Jazz conduct workshops that teach aspiring vocalist on how to master practical performance techniques. The workshops are very intimate and the class size is normally about the size of a grade school teacher's class (about 30 people).

I asked Pamela what would she like Enjoy Life Readers and her fans to know and she said, "I want them to know that I'm coming their way. It took years to get over some fears about getting out but I want them to know that Jazz is alive and well. I want them to hear how Pam Hart delivers".

Visit Pamela Hart online at:

www.PamelaHart.com

www.Myspace.com/PamelaHart

www.CDBaby.com/CD/PamelaHart