i already posted a paragraph about my own background last year, so this one is about Suzy (mostly); specifically, young Suzy of 40 years ago. Quite a few celbrities/artists came through Illinois State University: Craig Robinson, Laurie Metcalf, Jane Lynch, Gary Sinise, John Malkovich and Gary Cole (I might even be neglecting one or two others whom I forgot about as my number of years have grown and my brain has surgically become smaller).
Anyway, I was fortunate enough to have been a contemporary there with Suzy. She was a year or two ahead of me. It's obvious now that my future would never have been as a talent scout, because at the time I had no idea that she would become the star singer/songwriter that she is. It's difficult to project that somebody you know locally will actually make it in "the business." But all of the elements were there 40 years ago..........very attractive young lady with a beautiful voice and a sparkling personality. When you are playing gigs in bars and coffee houses, personality is huge because you frequently engage in improvisational conversations with members of the audience (or so I have witnessed).Suzy was engaging, witty, personable and unflappable and had all the characteristics needed for a successful career . Fortunately for us all, she applied those talents to the music business rather than to metalsmithing.😊😊 None of this is "news" to IC Members who are Suzy fans, but I'm just pointing out that she hasn't changed, she has only gotten better.