Vicki Randle Inspiration

Summer Solstice arrived June 20th at 7:09 PM EST and already giving NYC some serious summer heat. I was performing on the uptown 1 platform at Columbus Circle, and the unmistakable vocalist and percussionist Vicki Randle (of the Kevin Eubanks group on Jay Leno) passed by me with a grin. 

In town performing with Mavis Staples at the Beacon Theatre with Bonnie Raitt, Vicki and I chatted about inspirations and the first time we met many years ago in Key West when I opened for Laura Nyro and Vicki was in the band.

What Inspires Vicki?  "…what just happened…..just the sound, its the complex beautiful sound of music that creates something inside you, it makes an emotion in me…"

a little 1980's history in Key West

Helga Davis WNYC + WQXR radio host

Helga Davis WNYC + WQXR radio host of "Overnight Music," passed by my LIRR gig and recognized me from my appearance at the 1st WNYC Battle of The Boroughs.  She was a judge and I was representing Manhattan.  I was surprised to see how fresh my performance that night was still in her mind.  Made this subway performer smile. 

What inspires Helga?  "Beauty and music."

here's a link to my Battle of The Boroughs performance of my song "Comin' Back To Me"

What's MY Inspiration? by NYCsubwayGirl

I created this short of my experience performing in the underground of NYC. Here are the things I see, the people I meet and the moments that turn my music in collaboration with commuters into it's own version of public art. And why I created the Inspiration Project.

 

Inspirations from people I meet, spontaneous jams with other artists. Life, humanity and human connection. Filmed throughout NYC subway and train stations.

words and music Cathy Grier singerfish publishing SESAC

Question Of Desire, Keep You Out, Cool Trick, Jungle,

with Bobby News Guy and featuring Inspired commuters: -Leonie- Graybar -Jeremy- Graybar-woman- Grand Central mezzo-Ruth- Columbus circle-Michael- Shuttle-Guy- Grand Central mezzo-Sonia German student- Shuttle-Richard- Col cir-Qainat- Shuttle-Jorge- Col Cir-Myah -Union SQ-Cathy- SI ferry terminal-Mustafa- LIRR and musicians, Break dancers, Poet Myah, Cathy sings duet Amacing Grace, Josjua bucket drummer,Justin sings duet-You've Got A Friend-Carole King, Ray saxaphone and Don The Shoe Dude.

Janine Inspiration Falun Dafa

I met Janine in Graybar corridor of Grand Central Station with Trisha, they are both in the US from Australia to share and practice the work of Falun Dafa.  After chatting with Janine I realized that I happened to pass them one evening in Madison Square Park as they sat with others in a circle practicing this spiritual discipline of meditation, it was a lovely peaceful experience to witness.

What inspires Janine?  "Falun Dafa…to tell people about Falun Dafa because it helps people to cultivate their hearts, come back to their true selves and beautiful thing about it, is to think of others… to be truthful and to have kindness, compassion and tolerance."

 

Jim Abbott Inspiration

 

While performing in Times Square against a backdrop of gorgeous colorful mosaics, who should walk by but Jim Abbott.  He's an amazing musical director, soulful, has great timing and the ability to put together a group that sounds as if they've been together for years. cohesive, emotional and well, musical.  He also works in a lot of Broadway shows. NYC would dim without him.

What inspires Jim? "artists ...like you,.. people that do it for the love of it."

Myah subway poet Union Square

I've been pouring through many of my archives of clips and discovered this gem that I never edited.  

I met Myah one afternoon in the Union Square subway station, we chatted about how God and poetry inspire her.  She's also a basketball player, the combination of poetry and sports really inspired me. I asked if she would recite a poem and she took the mic and haltingly recited her poem "Misunderstood."  Make no mistake she truly owned that moment.  These are the beautiful things that happen underground that I love to share. 

Jeremy Inspiration Grand Central station

 

I met Jeremy as he was working at the Civic Duty footwear kiosk in Grand Central's Graybar corridor where I had been singing. Civic Duty is socially responsible product, made from Tyvek a recyclable material. The imprint of the shoe sole reads 'conspire to inspire'.  Imagine leaving that mark on a beach….. They have a mission to support charitable organizations by creating a personalized shoe and donating all proceeds.

What inspires Jeremy?

"Love to see other people that are vibrant and that are inspired themselves…it's contagious"

 

 

Steven Weinrub Inspired creator of Civic Duty footwear

I met Steven Weinrub in the Graybar corridor of Grand Central Station where I was performing, his eye catching footwear was on display in one of the kiosks set up along the corridor. 

Steven calls himself the Chief Inspiration Officer of Civic Duty so of course I had to ask what inspires him.

So what Inspires Steven?  "Color"

Civic Duty is socially responsible product, made from Tyvek a recyclable material. The imprint of the shoe sole reads 'conspire to inspire'.  Imagine leaving that mark on a beach….. They have a mission to support charitable organizations by creating a personalized shoe and donating all proceeds.

Leonie guest artist Grand Central Station

I met Leonie while playing at Grand Central Graybar corridor.  I noticed Leonie looking at my guitar and asked if she played. I encouraged her to have a go and the gutsy woman that she is, played 'Closer I Am To Fine,' by the Indigo Girls. Leonie works for the UN in Darfur, Sudan doing landmine clearance).

What Inspires Leonie?  "A word free of land mines and kids at play having fun."

What Inspires Carol who used to also work in Darfur?  Her friend Carol added her inspiration too: the work that Leonie does. I second that!

What's Your Inspiration?

Nancy VanReece Road to Carnegie Hall

Nancy VanReece Social Media Strategist and Website Manager of Nashville Symphony. 

Nancy came to NYC with the Nashville Symphony for the Spring For Music Festival at Carnegie Hall. She had contacted me months earlier to help with an unconventional social media campaign for a classical music organization, to film New Yorkers and ask them about the Symphony and get some tips on what to do while in town. Clearly a new kind of marketing and a lot of fun for me.  I got comments from a dog walker, Don the shoe dude, a violinist, and a fun group in Grand Central Station, not to mention poodles.  New Yorkers are always eager to help. It was cool to see her social media strategy noticed by who else…The Media!

When Nancy arrived in town for the concert, I took her around to some of my favorite spots. She gave me her "Inspiration" in front of the iconic LOVE sculpture (Robert Indiana) before we headed off to MoMa with Symphony publicist Laurie Davis.

What Inspires Nancy?  "People"

Richard Green Inspiration

Richard stopped by my Columbus Circle gig while he was in town for work. It was a nice surprise. He and I are in a Blues Band in Columbia County, NY (about 2 hours North of NYC), we perform mostly for non-profit organization fund raisers.  Richard is an amazing guitarist and great spirit. We have a lot of fun making people dance.

What inspires Richard?  "Using music as a tool for community."

What's Your Inspiration?

Richard filmed me singing my song Question Of Desire, here's the clip

Thula Sizwe Inspired the commuters

While performing at SI ferry terminal, a group arrived with some gorgeous large African drums, colorful shirts and warm glowing smiles. They came over and performed a song for people awaiting the 3:30 ferry. Little by little the crowds drew closer until they filled the area in front of the group. This clip is an excerpt and I could only film from my vantage point (I still had my guitar on and was frozen in my feet with amazement).

I later learned the group Thula Sizwe was in America thanks to a wonderful organization Bridges Of Peace and Hope.

Enjoy.

What's Your Inspiration?

Bridges of Peace and Hope is an international network of teachers, students, and friends collaborating on creative, arts in education projects that promote respect, understanding, and communication. You can like them on facebook

Jack O'Brien Inspired

I met Jack O'Brien in Grand Central terminal one afternoon, we chatted and he shared he had written a song entitled "Birds Of A Feather," inspired by his daughter's engagement. He later contacted me and asked if I would sing and record it for him. So I did. He returned to Grand Central with his son JC to film me singing it live. I found the whole experience moving and well, Inspirational too.

What's you inspiration?

 

Adham Fisher Subway Record attempt

Adham connected with me from England as he was preparing a trip to NYC to attempt to break the record of visiting all 468 NYCSubway stops in the least amount of time. In 2009, two New Yorkers, Matthew Ferrisi and Chris Solarz, set the Guinness record for covering the city’s 468 subway stations in 22 hours 52 minutes.

We met during the annual Divas Underground performance at Union Square to discuss his plan. I found a pocket map someone gave me some time ago and we have a funny chat about the size of the maps the MTA provides. Good Luck Adham.

 read about it in NY Times CityRoom blog

Adham wrote to me: I went to all stations in 23 hours, 11 minutes, 24 seconds. It wasn't the record he had hoped for, but has left for Toronto where he'll attempt to break the record there. Good Luck Adham.

Samantha Margulies Diva Underground

Samantha Margulies Music Under New York performer (Opera, Broadway + Pop singer).

I chatted with Samantha during the 2011 Divas Underground (annual full day lineup of women performers from the MUNY program) at Union Square station.

What Inspires Samantha?  "Freedom that the subway allows."

check out the New York Magazine article with Samantha featured 

  • the 2012 Divas Underground will be held Thursday March 29 from 12pm-7pm at Union Square 14th street just above N/R platforms

Jessie guest performer Grand Central

Jessie and her father Mike stopped by Graybar corridor to listen, we chatted about guitars and then I asked if one of them played the guitar, come to find out Jessie is the guitarist and I prodded her to play. Under the amazing limestone vaulted ceiling in the Graybar corridor in the Grand Central terminal she sang "Hallelujah." The best free concert hall in NYC.

What Inspires Jessie? "channel and feel emotion...every day life…..pour into voice and music."

What Inspires Michael?

I met Michael at Grand Central subway station, he listened for a while and then we engaged in conversation about the experience of spontaneous moments like passing a subway musician and taking the time to stop. What Inspires Michael? "Humanity of what this experience was inspired by your music at this particular moment, the human connection with you and your music absolutely lovely. Totally unexpected, I have risen with my heart and my sense of being multifold."

What's Your Inspiration?

Brian Hill + Neil Bartram Inspired

Friends playwright Brian Hill and composer Neil Bartram walked past me just after getting off a train in Grand Central Station. It's always fun to catch up with people I know. I took the opportunity to ask the question "What' Inspires You?" "Human connection."

What's Your Inspiration?