I held the old-fashioned microphone close to my red-painted lips and crooned the words to BB King’s “The Thrill is Gone.” The spotlight shined on me and the small band behind me on the stage. It wasn’t blinding, but I let it blur my vision of the audience so I could lose myself in the song. When the guitar solo started, my hips began to move with a mind of their own, and after a minute, my whole body was swaying and twisting with the sultry tune.
We finished the song, and I couldn’t stop the huge grin from splitting my face when the audience clapped with gusto, whistles and good-natured catcalls ringing out above the thunder.
My skin tingled in the oddest way, and I squinted through the light, my eyes sweeping around, wondering about the cause. I almost felt as though someone was watching me, which was ridiculous, considering I was on stage performing for an audience. But it was different…more intense. And my body was reacting in a way I’d never felt before.
I shook my head and tried to dispel the strange thoughts and feelings, refocusing on my show. My set consisted of old classics and some modern covers, but at the end, after I’d sung “When You’re Down and Out,” a tribute to my favorite blues singer, Bessie Smith, I ended with an original composition.
The tingling sensation had only intensified throughout the show, but I attributed it to nerves. I’d never performed one of my compositions, and it meant sharing something very personal with a room full of strangers. Still, I’d promised myself that I’d finally step out of my comfort zone with my next job.
I’d been performing at The Diamond on the weekends since I was eighteen. I’d signed a two-year contract and then signed an extension for another three. It had just ended, and while Frank Stratton had been incredibly good to me, it wasn’t where I planned to be long term. I wasn’t sure where I saw myself in regard to my career. I’d never had the desire to sign with a label or go on tour. My family was here. I loved it here. Las Vegas was home.
One thing I did know, it was where I wanted to settle down and raise my family. And though I hadn’t admitted it out loud, the possibility of having a husband and kids was the reason I wanted to find a mostly permanent arrangement at a hotel. It was a perfect scenario and would allow me to achieve both of my dreams of making a living as a singer and having a family of my own.
However, my well-meaning parents thought I should see the world. “Experience life.” They encouraged me to at least take a job in another state or country to make sure I didn’t miss out on anything because I’d never tried it. Eventually, I gave in. For years, venue after venue had contacted me with offers. However, I refused to let any of them buy out my contract with The Diamond. I wasn’t going to do that to the man who’d taken a chance on a kid.
Suddenly, I was in a position to actually entertain these offers. I had trouble deciding where I wanted to go—probably because I didn’t really want to leave in the first place—so I’d kept my options open until I’d sold my house and was ready to pick up and move.
I’d narrowed it down to a casino in Monte Carlo, a well-known blues club in New York City, and signing a contract with the record label who represented people like Griffith Thorne—a rock singer who’d recently settled in Las Vegas. He actually had a job I coveted. Drew Lennox had come to me with offers over the years, but I’d turned him down like all the rest.
Timing being what it was, it hadn’t occurred to me that Drew might have an opening at the same time I was ready to make a change. Then he appeared in my dressing room after my last performance and pretty much begged me to do a stint at the Lennox.
Somehow, I managed to keep the screaming and jumping contained inside my brain. I almost spilled the beans that I would be ecstatic to perform at the Lennox, especially long term. But I wasn’t stupid, so I calmly explained my other offers and was flabbergasted when he basically informed me that I could have whatever I wanted.
I was ecstatic to be able to stay in Las Vegas and perform. But that didn’t mean I hadn’t taken my parents' advice to heart. I promised myself that I would take some risks, particularly when it came to my music, so that’s how I ended up on the stage in the Lennox’s blues club, Smoke and Rhythm, singing a song I’d written.