Well, probably not as exciting of a story as all of yours, but this is the deal. Took a few years of piano lessons starting when I was eight or so. I never got very good at it but I loved it and did learn to read music. I always loved to sing, but suffered severe stage fright when I tried to perform alone, so I would sing in choruses in school music productions of The Music Man, South Pacific etc. But, country music was always my very first love. I wanted to be the next Patsy Cline but, knew in my heart I'd never step foot on a stage alone. I started writing from the time I could hold a pencil. Mom says she rarely saw me without one. Wrote some freelance pieces for local publications when I was in my twenties. When I was in my thirties I returned to college. Did alot of writing there. I was told by several professors to never give up writing. Well, at the time, I was also raising seven children, with my husbands help of course, but it left very little time. So, unfortunately, it all got put aside for many years. Well, true story, in 1996 two of our sons put a band together (lead singer and one the drummer). Now they are fairly famous, at least in this part of the country. I watched them progress so much over the years, heard the stuff they were writing and putting on their cd and thought, hey, I'd like to do that before it's way too late. So, a few months ago I picked it up again. Now I write 6-8 hours a day and have finished dozens of songs, some that my sons will produce for their next cd. and some other lyrics that I have posted on these boards. I am a prime example that you are never too old to just get back in the race. It's not over until you say it's over unless someone higher up decides first. If that's the case, I'll take His call.

That's where I'm at,

Jan

http://www.soundclick.com/janicehopkins