Retta - Life, Music, Writing, Life

The creation of music isn't just for those in Los Angeles, New York or other major cities. However there are very talented songwriters and performers from coast to coast and border to border. Retta is one of these.

Chazaq Magazine says "BMI songwriter, soulful voice, unconventional stye. She's the whole package all in one." A Christian woman with a talent for writing by herself or with others there has been early inspirations from some big names in music.

Melvin Franklin of the Temptations says "Incredibly gifted with the voice of an angel. As soon as I heard her, I knew I had to sing with her." "Ain't Misbehavin" star Nell Carter continues "This girl is amazing! She sings from the heart and her lyrics are straight from the heart."

This is indeed the truth with personal stories such as "Grandma's Bag of Tricks." So who is Retta? And where is she coming from?

Where does she get ideas? As with most writers it's all around. "Life inspires me. Life is lyrics, waiting to be written." There's inspiration everywhere. "I've even been known to get an idea from someone's MySpace status message" she laughs.

We all have influences and people who have inspired us. Retta says "As an artist Cyndi Lauper influences my style a lot. She wasn't afraid to be different or stand out. A newer influence for me is Plumb. She has this incredible talent of singing about the 'elephant' in the room." Reality in music, in writing and in daily life is something people can relate to.

When people relate to it it's easy to take it to heart. Who would Retta write with if there was an open session to choose. A grin. "I don't know that I'd be able to choose just one I'd love to write with Carly Simon Dolly Parton Elton John, Annie Lennox, Bobby Gentry, Brad Paisley."

A pause for thought "I like the 'old school' writers most because those are the people I grew up listening to or those that write lyrics from the heart."

Sometimes even growing up being surrounded in the entertainment industry it's an honor to be approached by those we look up to. Retta tells of an evening at karaoke that brought up a memory.

"One night my husband & I were in a karaoke club in my home town & shortly after I had sang, Melvin Franklin of the Temptations came to our table, told me I had the voice of an angel & asked if I would honor him by singing a duet with him. Honor him? WOW."

What are songs she wished she'd written? "'Glory Baby' by Watermark, 'Homesick' by Mercy Me, 'Held' by Natalie Grant, 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack, or 'Anyway' by Martina McBride." They're songs that hold personal meaning. Life.

Songwriters paint a musical picture of life. Look for personal life woven into music from Retta. Music is life. Life is music.