Sorry 'bout that slip of the pinky finger just now...

Reading this thread has brought back memories of earlier performances of mine. In fourth grade (1964) I was a Confederate soldier in the school variety show, singing "Goober Peas." Then in 7th grade I won first place in the junior high talent show with an act that would probably get a kid detention today: I sang "Little Brown Jug" (with the same for a prop) and after each verse I took a swig from it and acted drunker and drunker until I staggered offstage at the end. That wasn't politically incorrect back then.

I've noticed a theme appearing in some of the posts: teachers who, because of harsh criticism of a child's singing, kept said person from opening his/her mouth for decades, believing that they couldn't sing. What an awful thing for a teacher to do. Everyone has a voice and should use it, and it's shameful that a teacher would so casually stunt the growth of a student in such a way.

It's heartening to hear that folks have overcome such powerful early conditioning. Just think how many more there are out there who haven't.

JB