Trails & Rails

Paula Strong

(photo by Gary McClintock)

No, this is not Paula's horse. Former Bow Willow partner, Vickie Cottle, let Paula borrow her horse for the picture. Having a horse of her own was just one of those childhood dreams - Somehow the Palomino her uncle was always promising to bring just never showed up at the door! Then, as a teenager on a trail ride in Colorado, she became so intrigued with the just-a-bit older wrangler, that she decided, right then and there, that she should marry a cowboy when she grew up. That didn't happen either. But what did happen, through a most circuitous route, was that she and her music partners discovered the joys of singing cowboy songs. This after already having a love for train songs. Turns out these two song subjects really do go well together!  Perhaps this is the best of all possible worlds after all.

 

                                   (photo by Lillian Thurston)

Paula’s taste in music has always been eclectic. Growing up in a musical family meant
constant exposure to Big Band sounds from the record player at home, as well as
never-questioned participation in school bands and choirs.

It led to her solo “debut” at age six, singing “White Christmas”
in the community holiday program,
while snowflakes floated down from nets her Dad had rigged up among the lights.
(As grownups now, we would say that that would be a hard act to follow!)

It meant stepping in to harmonize “Don’t Fence Me In” and other tunes with her Dad at
the Richardson’s Springs resort when she was in the 6th grade.

In high school it meant singing tenor in community Messiah productions
(there are never enough tenors in small towns - )
or playing clarinet in the Messiah orchestra
(apparently there are not enough clarinet players either - ).

It meant many trips to the Dorothy Chandler in LA for the great musicals of the day -
with peanut butter sandwiches for dinner in the car
and a quick change to dress-up clothes in a gas station bathroom beforehand

Becoming organist for the little church in Cuyama Valley let her have
the challenging experience of having both hands and feet doing their own
independent moves - which has unexpectantly paid off in the last few years.
.
And all those hundreds of hours of dancing to swing and rock and roll !

Then college - with a music minor to compliment an Elementary Ed major.

While teaching, being a mom, and going back to school to become a registered nurse,
hours at the piano kept the music alive and her sanity intact -

When she discovered the folk music community in San Diego, took up guitar
and started learning song words, it had all come full circle.

In addition, all that dance and organ experience (those independent hands and feet)
came to her assistance when she started playing drums for
the Brass, Key and Wind Swing Band, and the Polka Dots Accordion Band.
For Paula, playing drums is just like dancing in place. What fun!

What good fortune to have a life filled with music -
an avenue to express great joy - and great sadness -
and a wonderful way to connect with people and the universe.