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In my travels, as a jazz singer, I've been to the top of the mountain! in America, Europe, Africa, Asia and more. . .

Step into the world of Joan's Music!

Gaiafest  

Joan Cartwright, President and CEO

Dear Joan,

I am so thrilled and honored to hear from You. I have been a fan for a long time. I have friends in the business who are loyal fans of yours and I have been hoping one day to meet you. I cannot believe that you wrote to me.

I have done many articles on the subject of women being overlooked in every profession.

I will attach just a couple of recent articles and I will also attach the cover of a book that will be release in a few weeks.

I am a former Stax recording artist, producer and writer. I also own Mission Park Records. My wife is the only artist that I am producing at this time. I am also attaching a brief bio on her.

We have so much in common and I hope to work with you if possible. I am sure you can help my wife with her career and I hope to be of service to you and your company.

I hope I have not overloaded you with material. I am sure you did not expect to get this much back.

Please allow me to hear back from you. I am at your service and thrilled to death.

Bernie Hayes

FYICOMMINC@aol.com wrote:

Bernie Hays,

I never mean to diminish your message, but this is so true of all human endeavors. As a musician, I realize that the world celebrates about 5 Women in Jazz and Blues:

Ella, Sarah, Billie, Bessie and Betty. Though there are hundreds of women who made marks in the music, these 5 get all the notoriety, unless those of us who communicate to the world that there are others work double time. www.fyicomminc.com/files/lecture.html

So, I would have to agree with you about Claudette Colvin. The history of too many of us has been a footnote, simply because we fail to document and define our lives for ourselves, letting those in the "majority" do it for us.

I am a documenter. Read my life at www.fyicomminc.com/files/lifeabroad.htm. I am who I am because of those who came before me.
Love, Light and Music,
Joan Cartwright - www.fyicomminc.com

There are several websites highlighting the events surrounding the heroic deed of Claudette Colvin. One suggests that Claudette Colvin could easily be lost in the crowd. Her short hair is neatly curled; she wears eyeglasses and a small pair of gold hoop earrings. She dresses modestly and looks more like someone's kindly grandmother than the woman who 50 years ago was a catalyst for one of the most famous events in civil rights history. Where is she in the history books?

Now 65 years old, she's retired and lives in the Bronx in New York. She calls herself a footnote in history.

This by no means diminishes the action of Rosa Parks, but Colvin should also be remembered. What do you think?  I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3349 or by e-mail at berhay@swbell.net.
Bernie