SING, SING A SONG

by
Maryann Miller

Anyone who knows Shannon Monk knows she loves to sing. I first heard her sing at a church service and I was so taken with the quality of her voice, I lost track of the service itself. That was not something I ever shared with the pastor, however.

I also know that Shannon loves to promote other singers, and she and her husband, Mike, often host house concerts to offer touring artists another venue to perform. She is also a huge fan of Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne and Kate Hearne, and considers them the stars of the Winnsboro music scene. But now she can add her own name to that list of stars.

Shannon made her professional singing debut in Winnsboro on a recent Friday night at The Winnsboro Bakery & Cafe to a sold-out audience. "Of course, more than half the audience was made up of my church family," Shannon said, acknowledging First United Methodist Church of Winnsboro. "And let me tell you, there is nothing like singing for a room full of family."

No matter how people knew about the jazz concert or why they came, nobody was disappointed with the entertainment that night. Some people even got up and danced where space allowed, including Barbara Hums (L) and Barb Richert, the ladies who started the Bakery.

If Shannon was nervous, it didn't show that night. She seemed very much at ease as she breezed through a number of jazz favorites and classics that included "Sentimental Journey" and "My Funny Valentine." She has a real gift for singing from her soul, and she didn't hold back, infusing each song with that something extra.

Accompanying Shannon that night were George Gagliardi on keyboard and guitar, and Rick Murray on drums. She related that it was rather serendipitous the way the concert came about. "A couple of months ago Jeff Heath (owner of the Bakery) was at an open mic night at Crossroads where I sang a song or two, and he made some comment that sounded like he might be interested in booking me to sing at the Bakery. I immediately thought of George and called him to see if he was available and still interested in working together and thankfully he was," Shannon said.

"The cherry on top was getting Rick Murray to play the drums with us," she continued. "He is a very sensitive musician and his percussion was always right there in the pocket. Just right for the mood of whatever song we were doing. I was glad to rock out on a couple of songs -- "Livin’ in the USA" and "Route 66" -- so the audience could get a taste of what an amazing rock 'n roll drummer he is, too."

Rick is the owner of ciboVino Italian restaurant in Winnsboro, and most people knew he could make a mean Neopolitano style pizza and to-die-for Veal Piccata, his musical talents were not that well known. That could change however, as the audience loved his performance.

Shannon has a background in professional theatre, having worked in Dallas and Austin.. She was the front of house coordinator at the Dallas Theater Center and later at the Zachary Scott Theater in Austin, and she said that though her roles at those theaters were administrative, she was fortunate to know and observe some very talented folks. "I learned a great deal from those experiences."

While their paths never crossed before meeting at Crossroads a few years ago, George also has a long history with theatre in Dallas, as well as Los Angeles. In Dallas, he collaborated with Rodney Dobbs to write "Dues and Don’t's of Dating" which featured George's music and Rodney's book. Since then, the duo have collaborated on other shows including "The Cloak Trilogy", a spoof of a 1940’s radio hero featured in "Cloak and Dagger", "Spy in a Mini-Skirt", and the latest, "Stars and Spies Forever".

In addition to writing and performing, George likes to teach, especially young people. He offers classes for aspiring musicians through Young Audiences of North Texas, a part of the Big Thought organization. "I love to find and nurture young talent," he said.

He also said that he had a great time making music with Shannon and Rick. "It was my kind of music and the crowd's response was very encouraging. I look forward to a return visit. Shannon obviously has a genuine passion for the songs she sings and it shows. As for Rick, a real pro and a much fun to work with."

He concluded by saying that he may have found himself a new favorite place to visit. "Thanks, Winnsboro."

To prepare for the performance, Shannon said they mapped out the concert first -- picking the songs and putting them in an order. "Then I got busy getting the lyrics and melodies down, she said. "And George worked playing in the keys that were comfortable for me. George has an amazing knowledge of music and a wonderful musical sensibility too, which is great as far as arrangements go and flying by the seat of your pants! I have been known to go off course and he is right there - always paying close attention.

"We didn't have a lot of rehearsals together until the last few days before the show," she finished. "Then it was two and a half days of pretty intense rehearsing."

Shannon and her husband, Mike, are well known in the Winnsboro area. Mike is a general contractor and builds beautiful custom homes -- Monk's Custom Homes. They both contribute a lot to the community through involvement in various organizations such as the Scouts, the Child Advocacy Center and others. Both are transplants to Winnsboro, having grown up in the Dallas area, where they first met at Richardson High School in the theatre department.

Their lives took them in different directions for a while. Shannon attended several community colleges with really not a lot of direction or conviction. "I think much of the conflict came from the fact that my father was paying for my education with the caveat that I study business and get a degree in business administration," she said. "Life as a square peg trying to fit into a round hole just did not suit me. Once I landed my first job working in live theater, I had a pretty good idea that I was on the right track."

After working in Austin for a while, Shannon planned a move to Alpine, Texas, when, as she put it, "Michael Monk looked me up and brought me out to east Texas. We joke about the phone call and the U-Haul that brought me here. I knew for sure that I was on the right track then!

"So with marriage and family eminent," she concluded "I decided to look up God and build a relationship with him and that has been the greatest of my blessings. Our two boys have completed the picture and brought immeasurable joy to our lives." (L-R: James and Nick)

Regarding the response to her first concert, Shannon said she was deeply humbled and touched.

She and George and Rick had so much fun, they have already planned another event. "We’ve booked another evening of jazz at the Bakery for Thursday night September the 24th. This time from 7-9," she said. "It will be a real supper club type of event. Tickets are $25 and that covers the concert, dinner and dessert."

They are also developing a Christmas show called “It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas” and are currently seeking a venue to do that.