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JORGE SANCHEZKathyJo Meier, a former gospel singer, is still trying to lift listeners' spirits with her powerful voice and emotive delivery.
Switching gears from gospel to blues is not as big a stretch as it seems, said KathyJo Meier, who is currently winning over local audiences as lead singer for KathyJo and the Bluzification Band.
"Gospel is a lot like blues," she said. "In both fields, we really try to lift everybody's spirits."
KathyJo (her professional name), sang in a gospel group for many years before becoming a full-time blues and jazz singer about three years ago.
"We did fairs, festivals, churches, private gigs," she said. "I preferred that music while our children grew. Now they're grown. I can play wherever I want to play," she said.
KathyJo and her husband, Clinton, have lived in Dunnellon since 1987.
After starting her jazz and blues career by performing gigs at local bars using recorded tracks, KathyJo made a quick and strong connection with audiences. Her spirited performances generated lots of positive responses from listeners.
After accepting an invitation to perform at the Leesburg Bikefest in 2001, she realized that the gig called for a live band, not recorded music.
"I was headlining the smaller of the two stages, and Molly Hatchet was the main act," she said. "I knew there was no way I could pull off that gig without a live band, so that's what started this project."
KathyJo, simply stated, has an amazing voice. It is both powerful and melodic. She learned to develop her singing style by listening to records.
"I never had a lesson. But I like to joke that I learned from the best vocal teachers in the world," she said. "I've always looked to other performers such as Linda Ronstadt, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone.
"They are from different genres, but I tried to pull whatever I could from what they were doing, such as trills, by singing with their records. I loved the feeling that I got," KathyJo said.
Fronting what she calls her "power trio" of Russell Bethea on lead guitar, "Mighty" Joe Tappeiner on drums and "Bone Daddy" Scott White on bass, KathyJo and the Bluzification Band churn out blues with a rock beat, sprinkled with jazz and gospel influences.
"We're not the same old tired blues," she said. "We try to turn it up a notch. We play blues and we boogie."
The band is working on a CD and has one song Reason to Cry, already recorded. They play it at their gigs as well.
Another performer who KathyJo is constantly compared to is the late Janis Joplin. She performs Joplin's Piece of My Heart.
"I think the comparison comes more from the emotion I put into the songs, rather than singing styles," she said. "If you can't go deep down inside yourself and bring out the emotion, then what are you doing it for?"
KathyJo and the Bluzification Band perform at the Bayport Inn, 4835 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill at 9 p.m. today and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Call (352) 596-1088.
- Jorge Sanchez can be reached at 860-7313 or sanchez@sptimes.com