Barbara Phaneuf

     What do you say about a musician's life? It's a tapestry, a puzzle, strings and pieces- a gig here, a band there. It started with a wish, "hey, I want a guitar," and a brother who drove me to Building 19. We both bought the same guitars with strings about a half inch away from the fretboard. But that was a good thing. Callouses came fast and devotion was tested. When the "real guitar" came  along a year or so later (a black Gibson J45, 1969) all of the hard work became easy and I fell in love.  
     The DIY (do it yourself) concept has enhanced many artists lives by making it possible to self-produce original music. Over the years I have recorded three CDs with a fourth on the way in 2012. A genuine “cottage industry,” I sell my songs from the stage and through on line distribution.
   
     A steady theme throughout my life has been cat presence. My family always had one and after moving out I got my own. Any cat owner knows you never “own” a cat. We are privileged to keep them company. All the cats I’ve had the pleasure to live with inspired a 15 song musical titled PURR. With lots of help from talented friends and family, PURR was performed at The Marion Music Hall, Marion, MA.  in November 2010 and again in January 2011.   
    While PURR is being groomed for future productions  I continue to write songs and joyfully perform in a duo- my first love, that same guitar I bought back in 1970, and me.