I always give the audience a variety because I want to make sure they hear the favorites and all that.

Vonda Shepard

Categorized in : Always Give Want Audience

I do a lot of touring, yes, and I have my whole life ever since I was 19 years old, when I used to tour with Al Jarreau, Rickie Lee Jones, and Jackson Browne as a side musician.

old side life years

The two together are a really great combo: the family life and then being able to go play some shows and write.

great family together life

James Ralston, my guitar player, has performed with Tina Turner for about 22 years. Jim Hanson on bass has played with Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell and Bruce Springsteen, and they're fantastic musicians and amazing singers they get a really cool vocal sound together.

amazing cool guitar together

Playing clubs is the ultimate - you see the faces; you hear the 'clicking' glasses - I love all that atmosphere and seeing people's mouths singing the words to the songs.

you singing love people

I've been through the entire gamut of the music industry - I've been playing in clubs since I was 14, and I've been on Warner Bros, on Sony - I've had lots of successes and some serious times of struggle.

some music serious struggle

My advice is if you have to do music, then do it! There's no choice in your heart and your soul - unless you have that kind of great need, desire and determination, it's pretty tough out there!

you music soul heart

I just kept making records, touring in Europe a lot, and then I had a baby in 2006, so my life has been very, very much family-orientated.

my-life just baby life

I can't really stop doing the music because it really feeds me.

stop doing me music

At first, I wanted to start my own label, but it was such a full-time job that it became too much.

own job start my-own

We've been waiting for a format like triple-A where you can hear Crowded House, Joni Mitchell and R.E.M.

like you waiting house

Success was overnight, but it was a very long night.

very success night long

I had a hard-core cult following of at least 12.

least had cult following

I seem to be drawn to the really romantic songs.

seem really songs romantic

I have played lots of clubs since I was 14, but I always did my own music.

own always my-own music

The biggest similarity between me and my character is that we've both played clubs for 20 years. In real life, the clubs aren't quite as controlled - and my hair isn't quite as in place as it is on 'Ally McBeal.'

me hair character life

I don't have much time for TV shows, but if I did, I'd watch 'Seinfeld' reruns.

watch did tv time

Having drive is a big part of success, along with integrity. You need to have a clear vision of what you want and take the steps to achieve it, even if that sometimes means playing gigs in tiny clubs.

you vision success integrity

The last thing I wanted was a big paycheck but no inspiration or support.

last big support inspiration

My nature is to worry about everything too much.

everything too-much nature worry

I thought nothing would ever happen for me. My whole life had been geared toward being a singer, and it wasn't clicking.

nothing thought me life