On the Road Again...

3/18, 8:20am: Played the final show of the UK tour last night. It was Engelbert’s hometown of Leicester. As expected, he was embraced by the audience like a son returning home. We’ve added some new tunes to the show that have provided a nice taste of past and a bit of the current wave as well. Overall, there’s a nice musical variety that I think would make just about any listener happy.

On a personal note, it’s been disappointing to observe the sound on stage morphing from what, for me, had become a live and vibrant entity, back into what I’ll call the “fish bowl” sound. Remember the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”? That doesn’t seem to apply here. The “drum aquarium” is back up, my headphones are back on, and my beloved monitor - with it’s warm, punchy bass tone - is gone. It really affects my ability to interact with the music around me, although, I wonder if it’s as much of an issue to anyone else.

I’ve decided to ask one of our band members if I could interview her and she’s graciously accepted. Lacey Sisco is one of our background vocalists and a warm, generous woman.

Where are you from?
I was born in Tampa, Florida and I currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

How long have you been with Engelbert?
Since August 2003.


<Don’t worry folks, it gets better.>


What’s your most memorable experience being on tour with Engelbert?
Getting a free pair of $1800 Jimmy Choo shoes and going to Malaysia.  

How did you get started in music?
My parents were both musical - My Mom played piano and my Dad played the trumpet.
When I was little, I began singing in church. In fact, when I was four, I would sing with this Little Orphan Annie contraption that had a battery-powered transmitter which allowed your voice to come through the radio. And I used to sing in front of the mirror acting out scenes from “Fiddler On The Roof”.

Were you ever in Fiddler On The Roof?
Yes. In fact, I did a lot of musicals, dinner theater and other things while in college. In Tampa there’s a company called the Musical Theater Project run by Ann Reinking who is known for her role as Grace in the movie version of “Annie”, was in “All That Jazz”, and was an original cast member of “Chicago”.  It was a great experience in that people come from all over the world to audition for what is essentially a summer workshop. Some great names in theater donate their talents and give master classes for the people who pass the audition. People like Bebe Neuwirth, Vanessa Willimas, Gregory Hiines, and Savion Glover. They offer a scholarship for who they deem the most promising musical theater artist, and I won! Yay! I’m a mean tapper.

How about your educational background?
I went to college at the University of Miami where I was a jazz vocal major. I actually started as a musical theater major but found the curriculum wasn’t challenging enough. So, one day I opened up the course book, closed my eyes, and put my finger down. It landed on Studio Music & Jazz Vocal Department. I learned about improvisation, how to write my own arrangements, singing jazz standards, and other things that helped me as a working musician. In fact, the reason I got the job with Engelbert was there was a girl in the department named Ariana Hall who went through the program with me. We were the only two who made it all the way through all four years! She was on the gig and the other girl quit, so she recommended me! So I packed my bags and in four days I was on the road! And the rest, as they say, is history.

What are your goals for the near future?
A while back I made a mental to-do list for myself and it basically had three things on it.
One, sing back-up for a famous person. Two, be in my own CMT video. Three, hear myself on the radio. And four, be a voice in a Disney cartoon.
I’d also someday like to be a session singer in Nashville and have a normal life and raise a family. Of course, being on stage and being an artist will always appeal to me.

Any final words?
I don’t know. I guess I’m ready to go home and be with my family, my boyfriend, and spend time with my puppy Layla. I just want to go grocery shopping for food that’s not fried, walk around, practice driving on the right side of the road, and be normal.

Well Lacey, I’ve enjoyed our little chat.
THANKS!