Photo by Ken Odor
Singer Susan Greenbaum left the coprorate world behind, choosing instead to play music with other artists such as Jewel and the Dave Matthews Band.

0 Comments Email Article Tweet This Share

Susan Greenbaum’s youngest brother Ron died 11 years ago. For six years before that, he had been fighting a brain tumor.

His death changed Greenbaum’s life.

“I think he gave me a real gift,” said the diminutive blonde vocalist in an interview last week at a West End Starbucks, where her friends stopped frequently to say hello.

That gift was the knowledge that life is short and time is precious.

Greenbaum made a decision to honor her brother Ron.

“I decided that working in corporate America was not what I was put here to do,” she explained. “As a tribute to him, I decided to do what I really wanted to do.”

What she wanted to do was play music and sing, and that’s what the Harvard educated, marketing and communications executive does these days.

So on Sept. 12, she’ll be making her third appearance at Goochland’s White Hawk Music Café, performing with her percussionist husband Chris Parker.

And since White Hawk owner Terry Hazelton is a big Keith Urban fan, Greenbaum said she is going to perform one of the country star’s songs.

Greenbaum said her career, which includes four independently released CDs, has been something of a roller coaster ride, “but not a scary one!”

And while her goal is to become nationally known, Greenbaum says success depends on how you define it.

“I measure my success differently than when I started. Of course I’d love to become the next Sheryl Crow,” she said, but making a living in the business, while playing mostly original material, is success in itself.

Greenbaum’s fourth independently released CD is “You Are My Holiday,” a collection of holiday music that includes both traditional carols and original music.
In 2002, she released “Hey, Hey, Hey,” a collection of original songs. Both “Spin Like a Top” and “Everything but You,” won favorable reviews from Billboard Magazine. The CD also includes “Angels in America,” written after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

In June, Greenbaum won the Philadelphia Songwriters Project, and as part of her prize, she performed this month at the Bethlehem Musikfest.

And after winning a national competition for the spot, Greenbaum has toured with Jewel as the opening act of a 10-date tour.

In addition to touring with Jewel, Susan’s credits include performing an acoustic set with Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley; sharing bills with Jill Sobule; and opening for Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, Todd Snider, Tuck and Patti, Iris DeMent, Lucy Kaplansky, Lloyd Cole and Catie Curtis.

While growing up in Kansas City, Greenbaum sang in choirs and played guitar, and learned to read music.

She said she had allowed herself to be “nudged into the traditional work world,” until her brother’s death opened her eyes.

“I feel like I’m doing what I was put here to do,” said Greenbaum about her transition from business woman to songwriter/performer.
“I never really knew you could grow up and be whatever you wanted to be!

To find out more about Greenbaum and her music, visit her web site at http://www.susangreenbaum.com

There are no comments for this entry