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If there's a place to sing, Tanya Green will find it

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published March 21, 2007

Tanya LaReese Green collects Princess Diana dolls and all things Betty Boop, but the woman draped in gold necklaces and appropriately nicknamed "Mrs. T" is most passionate about her singing.

The hospice nurse has sung at weddings and funerals, karaoke bars and clubs. She even managed to snag a backup gig with American Idol star Clay Aiken. Then in January, she paid Largo-based Paradise Acres Recording Studios nearly $10,000 to produce a CD of her compositions.

In an unusual promotion of her talent, she'll perform at her neighborhood association's fundraiser - a combination garage sale, doggie parade and picnic - on March 31, which just happens to be her birthday. You can even hear a clip of Green singing on Bayou Highlands' Web site at www.bayouhighlands.com. A posting urges residents to "Support a Neighbor, Fund a Dream."

"She came to one of our neighborhood meetings and sang for us and it was beautiful," said Mary Darling, president of Bayou Highlands, near Lake Maggiore.

This week, Green, 36, talked to Neighborhood Times about her aspirations.

When did you begin singing?

I was singing since I was 4, in my daddy's church. My brothers and sisters used to have a little group. My maiden name was Jackson and we had the Jackson Five Gospel Singers.

What's the focus of your lyrics?

What I've been through in my life. My mother died when I was 2. My father, when I was 20. I write about everyday life. I don't care if you're black, white, gay, straight, God can see you through. It's not preaching. I tell people not to put off anything until tomorrow. Tomorrow isn't promised to us. Make sure you tell everybody you love them before you walk out the door, hang up the telephone. I'm basically writing about what's going on in this world.

What kind of music will people hear on your debut CD?

My album consists of every kind of music. It's all gospel. Every song has a different kind of feel, beat. It has reggae, rhythm and blues, some soul, even some rock in it, but everything is pointing toward God.

What advice would you give to others struggling to achieve their dreams?

I wrote a song on my album, Hold Onto Your Dreams. If you believe in something that you can do, don't let anyone take that from you.

If you're successful, what do you hope to do next?

I want to change a lot of people's lives. I want to be an inspiration to everybody. I'm 36 years old and I've been trying to pursue my career for almost 18 to 19 years and I never gave up on it, but now it is coming true. I want to give back to the people that support me. I want to help my neighborhood association, whatever they need. They put me on their Web site, they believed in me.

If you go

The fundraiser

What: Bayou Highlands Neighborhood Association Fun Day

Where: Lake Maggiore Boulevard and Sixth Street S.

When: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 31. Tanya LaReese Green will perform between 8 a.m. and noon.

Cost: Free. Donations for food.

On the Web: To hear Green, visit www.tanyalareese.com, www.myspace.com/tanyalareese or www.bayouhighlands.com.

[Last modified March 20, 2007, 22:17:04]