By James Gledhill

Eight female singer/songwriter/musicians from Placerville have been working on an ambitious music project that will culminate in a live concert on Fall Equinox, Saturday, Sept. 22 in Camino.

The project, entitled “My Songs, My Soul Sisters,” is the brainchild of Sandi McCrossin and features 13 new original songs, with seven artists each performing a song written specifically for them and McCrossin performing five songs. The final song is an ensemble piece entitled “Not A Thing is Broken Now.”

Included in the lineup for the concert are McCrossin, Aundrea Schindler, Deb Smith, Lorna D. Troy, Cheryll Kent, Tamra Godey, Sheri Hoeger and Lucy D’Mot, plus a few supporting musicians.

“These women are special people and talented musicians and singers. I have come to know each of them to varying degrees, and I wanted to give them a song to perform that was a reflection of their style, substance and sass,” she added.

McCrossin has been on a creative streak for the past year, releasing her first full-length solo album this past February shortly after contributing two tracks to the “Songs of the Gold Country” recording project in 2017.

“What can I say, I needed to find a vehicle to release this truckload of songs in my head and get them out into the universe,” McCrossin said. “I picked this group of female artists specifically because their personalities and voices will feed these songs. They live their lives out loud with fearless vulnerability, and they mean what they say. Ultimately, we’re all same but we speak and with different voices.”

Diverse artists comprise the project

The seven female singer/songwriters that McCrossin has chosen to collaborate with on the “My Songs, My Soul Sisters” project share a common love of music and life here in El Dorado County, but have travelled diverse paths to arrive at this point.

Aundrea Schindler resides in El Dorado and spent part of her childhood in San Francisco, where she was deeply influenced by the vibrant arts scene that surrounded her. An avid photographer and global pen pal for years, she appreciates artistic expression in all its forms, and loves to sing with her band, The Audities.

“Performing allows me to understand emotions to songs that I may not have noticed while practicing,” she said.

It was easy for Schindler to sign on for this venture. “For all of the years I’ve known Sandi, we have always had a bond that is special and cosmic,” she said.

“I am thrilled to be performing her song ‘Summer Moon’ for this project, and I love that it is an all-female lineup because there is so much local artistic talent that deserves recognition,” she added.

Deb Smith, of Coloma, returned recently to the area and to performing her music after years of living in the Northwest. She started her journey as a musician as a teenager.

“I was in love with the music of the 60s and got my first guitar and James Taylor songbook when I was fifteen,” she said.

She became an accomplished and renowned musician in the region years ago, and in 2017 she restarted her live performances in venues throughout Gold Country. “Performing to me is something that requires passion, preparation, and talent. I can’t imagine my life without it”, she said.

“Only Heart” is the song she is bringing to life for McCrossin.

“Sandi’s songs vividly portray so many experiences and feelings that I have lived through and so many dreams for the future. I’m thrilled to be included in this group,” she added.

Lorna D. Troy has lived in the Placerville area for four years. She’s excited about performing the song “Zephyr” and the opportunity to work with this group of female musicians.

“There is nothing like the buzz that comes from sharing music with people in a live setting,” she said.

“And this project is even more special because of the bonds of sisterhood that are being made and maintained.”

Troy’s interest in music dates back to her childhood, were she listened to a lot of music from The Beatles, The Mamas and the Papas, Peter Paul and Mary and Simon and Garfunkel.

“My mother shared her favorites with me when I was very young, and in doing so also introduced me to sweet harmony,” Troy said.

She also developed a love of literature in her formative years.

“I remember getting my first library card as soon as I was able to write my own name in cursive and being so proud to be able to borrow my own books. I love to curl up with a good book and lose myself in another world for a while,” she said.

Cheryll Kent, a well-known local music legend, was happy to join on for this special music project with a song from McCrossin called “Words You Didn’t Have to Say.”

“Sandi is a prolific song writer and I am honored that she thought of me for this particular song because of the style of music I do,” she said.

Kent was raised in Camino and resides in Placerville.

“It seems I have been singing my whole life. I sang for my grandma and five aunts at age 6 after my mom bribed me with an ice cream cone,” she said.

She’ll be celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary with her husband Fred, and playing music has been a constant throughout their relationship.

“Performing music for me is pure joy for a number of reasons, foremost that I get to play with my favorite bass player (Fred),” she said.

Tamra Godey of Fairplay is a graphic artist, former chef and mother of five children. She says that playing music to a live audience gives her a chance to do her favorite things, tell stories and sing.

“My mother used to encourage my brothers and I to sing when we were kids, it really helped me overcome communications challenges as a painfully shy kid,” she said.

Godey also loves a good fairy tale.

“I collect hundred year old folk and fairy tales books and enjoy tracking them back to their earliest forms,” Godey said.

She is performing McCrossin’s song “Too Hot to Handle” for the project. “Sandi sometimes shares her strawberries with me, and they’re delicious like her songs, so I figured I should sing one of her delicious songs,” she added playfully.

Sheri Hoeger, a visual artist and musician from Garden Valley, remembers the joy of filling the family car with music on road trips.

“Some of my earliest memories are singing with my sisters, especially on family vacations with all six of us kids packed into the car,” Hoeger said.

She is performing the song “Firefly” from McCrossin, and is excited to be on the project.

“I love the concept of many voices singing Sandi’s songs. She has a special ability of writing from the heart in a variety of styles and matched the songs with the singers perfectly,” Hoeger said. “Aside from the joy of artistic expression, it gives me the opportunity to collaborate with other female musicians.”

Lucy D’Mot of Pollock Pines started piano lessons at the age of eight and loved it.

“My parents wisely chose a a retired college music professor whose lessons included advanced music theory,” she said. “To this day, vocal arranging remains my single favorite musical activity.”

She’s using those skills to help arrange McCrossin’s song “Somethin’ Bout This Melody,” which she will perform.

“I’m drawn to Sandi’s brilliant song writing, and the wonderful and talented friends I get to hang out with,” D’Mot said.

When she’s not doing music, D’Mot enjoys hiking with her dog Abby, travelling and photography.

“But primarily, since I was blessed with music as a gift, I feel obligated to perform publicly, hopefully as a service to others,” she said. “And I try to have my Christian faith oversee all of my interests and activities and glorify my Creator.”

McCrossin will be performing five of her own songs including “Story of a Life,” “Words on a Line,” “Love’s A Climb,” “Miles Are Only Miles” and “Stupid Love.” She said she is very grateful to have such broad, enthusiastic support for this ambitious music project.

“It has been my good fortune to share music and laughter with a group of amazing women recently. Their voices give life to the songs they sing. Their unique styles and talents led me to write for their voices. I wanted to share what I hear with their friends and family,” she said.

As to her motivations for doing this special concert, she spoke without hesitation.

“A warm, willing audience to share my music with is my bliss. When we can bring a tear or a smile through song, give them a reason to dance or sing along, I think that brings us closer together”.

The event is being hosted by Evelyn Witter and Craig Morton of Morty’s Grill in Camino. “We are proud to provide a nice music venue for our local residents and to support our talented singer/songwriters,” they said.

The concert will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Morty’s Grill in Camino.

For tickets, visit McCrossin Music on Facebook or email [email protected]