One night last week, I was at a fairly classy restaurant and cocktail lounge for a business dinner.  On my way back to the table from a trip to the men’s room, above all the background noise, I heard, “Hey Jim!!”

It was Rosie.

Rosie sang with my band for years, and I had not seen her for more years than I care to admit.  She was decked out in a very flattering black evening gown, and her smile and explosive energy was the same as it ever was.  She explained that she was singing in the restaurant that evening. It turns out that after the guys in my band went their separate ways – some continuing in the music business – some not, Rosie continued to sing, and she is still at it today.  Currently she is one-half of a duo called “Hourglass”, having kept the name of our band.

Rosie was and is a great person, a laugh riot, and one ass-kicking singer.  I don’t think I have ever bumped into a tune that Rosie could not nail.There are plenty of great singers around, but Rosie was special in that she knew how to work with a band and other singers.  Indeed, she can sing better with another person better than anyone I know.  She has a killer ear for harmony and an uncanny knack for quickly picking up on her partner’s phrasing of a lyric.  As a result, she can grab a harmony part and not let go.

Fortunately, you need not take my word for it, because you can go to her Duo’s website and hear for yourself.

Rosie is on her own in “Last Dance” and “I Will Survive”.  You can hear what I mean about her singing duets and harmony in “Unforgettable” and “The Way You Look Tonight”.

Quite simply, she sounds as good now as she did back then.It was great to see and hear her again.