Barbara Cecil releases new CD, Roadhouse Angel

Road of life takes Barbara to the top of the heap

By Kurt “Swingcat” Johnson

She’s tall, blonde and got stunning good looks! On top of that, she’s one of the best emerging Country Western entertainers in the Pacific Northwest. I’m talking about Barbara Cecil, singer, songwriter, polished entertainer and leader of The Barbara Cecil band.
Many of you may also have seen her in her other singing role as female lead singer with the 50’s/60’s retro dance band, Johnny Limbo and The Lugnuts. She’s been singing professionally since 1994, and has been an entertainer in one capacity or another since the fourth grade! It started with school plays, talent shows and high school events. From there it was lounge acts, more talent contests and karaoke and KJ’ing briefly. She explains her early entertainment experiences, “For two and a half years I was a wandering lounge entertainer. People didn’t take me seriously because they would think I was just a karaoke singer. Even the bands wouldn’t take me seriously, so I created an individual singing lounge act and took that as far as it could go.”
When her lounge act began to trail-off the real-life pressures of raising kids and home life forced her to take a retail job. As with all her endeavors, she threw her all into it and achieved everything she could, rising to a management position, putting in twelve years with that employer. Cecil is driven to succeed. She relates her experiences, “I’ve always been driven. When the retail career ended, the focus shifted. I thought, now that I have time, all I have to do is get about an hour of karaoke tracks laid down, make the phone calls and find out how to do this whole thing. The Clark County Fair was one of the first shows. It was free but I did that to get exposure and build a resume. After that I started getting paid to do shows.”
Cecil’s next big step was performing at an Oregon Country Association Competition at which she won Female Entertainer of The Year. From there she competed in the Nationals in Las Vegas. She didn’t win but learned alot and made many contacts. From there she formed The Barbara Cecil Band, started writing music and put out her first CD “Big Trouble Now”.
Next up was a series of personnel changes in her band and she found herself shorthanded. She subsequently called a producer friend who happened to be a member of Johnny Limbo and The Lugnuts. She auditioned and was asked to join the band as a permanent member. As the West Coast’s premier retro dance band, Cecil takes on an entire different persona as a cross between Sandra Dee and Grace Slick.
She talks about being with The Lugnuts, “It’s alot of fun and we always have a good time on stage. It’s high energy rock and roll dance music. The crowds are great and the dance floor is always packed and by the end of the night - everybody always says we’re awesome.” Dividing her time between her own band and The Lugnuts keeps her constantly busy. With her own band she’s become promoter, booking agent, singer, sound engineer, manager and den mom all at once.
She shares the key to a successful band, “Surround yourself with people you trust, that like you and respect you.” Her most recent success was the new CD release party at Jubitz Truck Stop in North Portland. She explains, “I couldn’t have asked for anything more. All the planning paid off.” She talks about her new CD, “Roadhouse Angels”, “It’s rockin’ roadhouse to sweet heartfelt country. It’s playing original music styles from Dolly Parton to Shania Twain. On ‘He thinks he knows’, ‘Big trouble’ and ‘Don’t be sayin’, I try to convey that I’m a strong and independent woman that shows the funny twists or everyday relationships in a humorous, real world way. It’s songs that people can relate to.”
She talks about her creative process, “I want people to listen and say ‘yeah I’m livin’ that, I know exactly what she’s talking about. It starts with an idea or a line. ‘Roadhouse Angels’ came up from a belief that everyone comes into your life for a reason. At one of my shows, I looked at my regulars and I thought, why are they there? They always help me out - well they’re my angels and from that phrase a story came forth about how they’re always there to help me and give me support. It’s all about perceptions. And the lyrics ‘There’s angels on this earth and the angels in the barroom are keeping me safe at work.’ You need to recognize that and be respectful to them. I get an idea and build on it.”
With a compelling and welcoming onstage presence and a sincere respect for those that come see her and make it possible for her to perform, Barbara Cecil is an act you don’t want to miss. Whether it’s at her own band’s show or when she appears with Johnny Limbo and The Lugnuts, you can plan on getting your moneys worth. Either way though, you better be ready to dance! Catch one of her shows and pick up a copy of her new CD “Roadhouse Angels” and experience the sincerity and respect that is Barbara Cecil’s music!
See more of Barbara Cecil at her website www.barbaracecil.com or www.johnnylimbo.com. You can order her new CD at www.cdbaby.com or www.cdpulse.com.