Drayman -

I just saw your post..My bad..[another hip hop lingo that I love]..

Let me first ask this question...when you wrote

"If you're a storyteller, man, you got to love singing the blues.."

does 'man' in that sentence mean that you think that I am a male??

I ask: "Why does everybody here ASSUME that I'm a male?"
I answer: "Cause they haven't seen me that's why"

I assure you that this confusion about whether I am male or female has never happened to me in real life. {though I consider this Internet discussion forum to be a part of my REAL life..}

Because it's happened a number of times here, I started signing my name [actually my name and not a handle] Ms. Azizi, as the added 'Ms' would let people know that I'm a FEMALE.

Maybe I should sign Sista Azizi instead. Would that help?

It's really no biggie but I think people should know that there's alot of female Mudcatters around who have a thing or two to say.

-and to that, all the sista Mudcatters shouted "Amen!"

Anyway, Drayman- and I assume you are a man since your name ends with that word ;O))

I lied...I do sing in public. I intergrate songs into my children's stories and I lead the audience in a call & response way.. But that's the extent of my public singing...

And BTW, I never said my voice was HORRIBLE. It's suitable for its purpose and I rather like it...

Also, I also have been known to pick up a sekere to accompany the djembe drummer who does the African storytelling presentations with me...

But that's the extent of my "instrumentationality" ability...

Not that I wouldn't LOVE to be a guitar player or a drummer or a saxophonist or a trumpet player-well I married one of those and that didn't turn out so well...

ANYWAY.. I'll pass on learning any instruments and concentrate on enjoying the music second hand...

Sorry, and this doesn't mean that I don't appreciate your interest in helping me "get this" music...I feel the good intentions and sincerity in your words..

But I still pass on that experience-at least for now...

Thanks anyway,
Sista Azizi, who would prefer just to sign "Azizi"