Newest Blog Posts

• Goodbye Whitney Huston!

  Feb15

  I first heard about Whitney Huston when I was living in Barbados, I was 11yrs old and the CEO of a record company handed me her cassette tape and said you will sing like her someday. As you can imagine, that stuck with me. After moving to America many years later, while camping with my family and friends, I heard “I will always love you” on the radio and was so moved. As an experiment for myself, to see if I could sing it, I sang it out loud in the campground shower. When I finished a lady walked in and said can you do that again? You have an audience outside : )  Since then I’ve sung it countless times and always feel the love people have for her whenever I sing it.

  Whitney has been an inspiration for me and she will be missed always. I will continue to keep her spirit alive through her songs.

  To me she was and is the BEST.

   Thanks for reading. 

  Goodbye Whitney

  Hugs and Love always.

  Your friend Lois

• A Singer I’d love to share with you:)

  Feb05

   

  I’m writing as I listen to music by Mishal Moore. I met her a while back when I was in DC with 40 other amazing youtube singers whom all sang on the Lisa Lavie, YouTube  HIT  Video of “We are the world” .

  Mishal is not only a beautiful, talented, and amazing performer, she also so nice : -) Her voice is soulful, and timeless, I could listen to her all day long… so refreshing.

  I loved hanging with her and getting to know her music thru youtube. I hope to collaborate with her very soon.

  Please checkout her music and if you live in her area, check out her shows, and let me know how much fun I’m missing by not being there: -)

   

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnCKbN 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnCKbNNWTa0&feature=relmfu

  http://www.itunes.com/mishalmoore

  Enjoy

  Hugs and love,

  Your friend Lois

• At the NAMM SHOW with Kenny Loggins

  Jan21

  At the NAMM show with Kenny Loggins

   

   

  This was my 2nd trip to the NAMM show and it was so much fun. I rode from Santa Barbara down to LA with Kenny and Jesse Siebenberg and we listened to music all the way down. We listened to rough mixes of Kenny's new album that he's working on and it sounds great :) 

   

  When we got there the place was packed, but we got the whole star treatment going in a back entrance while the coolest driver Jonathan parked the car. :)

   

  We were guests of guitar and clothing manufacturers "Two Old Hippies / Bedell Guitars" who I'd met last time I went to NAMM. They've been so great and have sent me a ton of clothing and jewelry, so of course I wanted to wear some of it today. 

   

  After Kenny introduced the Bedell Guitar that he designed with them, he did an autograph session and we then did an impromptu concert with Kenny, Rick Cowling and myself. There was no stage, just 3 stools and a crowd of people around us. A local TV station was filming it so please let me know if you see it on the news :) 

   

  I handed my phone to someone to shoot some videos of us and have posted a couple on YouTube. It was kind of crowded so the shots are a bit tight but you can hear us doing Kenny's Winnie the Poo Song, and me singing Natural Woman and Aint No Mountain High Enough with Rick who's an amazing guitar and vocalist and my new friend. Of course Foot Loose.

   

  Natural Woman

  Poo

  Ain't No Mountain

  Foot Loose

   

  I always enjoy singing with Kenny – so this was a nice surprise. I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I did singing! :) 

   

  Hugs! Come back and visit soon… 

  Love,

  Lois

• NEW YEARS EVE 2011:)

  Jan03

  Where to start?….. It was the best New Years Eve party I've performed at in a long long time:) We were at the best spot in Santa Barbara Soho music club. Gail Hansen, thank you for making your restaurant available, the food was amazing. Huge hugs and love for you my friend.

  I felt like I knew everyone in the audience personally. I am so glad that I got a chance to bring in the new year with my friends/family in the "MidnightBand" you are so loved!  Everyone on stage had a blast!! Kenny Loggins, you are the best my friend love you!! Thank you so much for your love and support. Dion Mial, Chaz Thompson, Morganfield Bernet, RoseMary Butler, Mike Stern, Leslie Lembo, Thank you for blessing us with your voices and your presence!

   

  To you my friends/fans, thank you all soo much for coming you so made the night for me. (please google the names of singers listed above to find out more about who they are and what they are doing:-)

  Here's a eddited version of the night, so you can get a better idea, hope you enjoy:-) and again I wish you lots of Love and smiles in 2012.

  NewYearsEve

  NewYearsEve-2

  Hugs and Love, your friend Lois

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Halloween Party:-)

  Dec21

  Hello again:-)

  Well, what can I say, it was a blast!! It felt like a summer night at the Brew House…. sooo hot!!:) Before Georgetown came on My brother William has a school named santa barbara youth music academy  (SBYMA) and his band called "Cut Time" was rocking the jazz/R&B grooves and keeping everyone happy:) I was suppose to be a white swan, but I got called an angel all night:) that's ok, I don't mind. My Friend and makeup artist Romina www.rominamurillo.com thank you so much for doing a excellent job on my makeup… you're the best my friend:-)

  The enrgy was so high and everyone was so happy, thanks to all of you for being so supportive:)

  Here's a video of that night:)

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVMcXCXcrdc

  Ps: see more photos in gallary:-)

  Huge hugs

  your friend, Lois

• B.B. King’s Concert:)

  Dec02

  I just came back from the bb king concert at the granada. It felt like I was watching a piece of history. He's 86 and still going strong – and obviously still loves the ladies :)
  
  I loved the way he communicated with the audience, it was like he was just hanging with his buddies and chatting. I loved it. We were 5 rows from the stage and seeing his facial expressions while he played was priceless!
  
  It's wonderful to see someone with such talent and so much experience, I always learn something from them.
  
  Thanks for the Christmas present from my best buddy Christineee:)

  Huge Hugs

  your friend,

  Lois

• Friends of Woni Kenya Concert:-)

  Oct03

  Well, I wish you were there…that's ok next time.

  I had the best night singing on the beautiful stage, of the Majery Luke Theatre at the Santa Barbara Junior High school, in the spotlight with lovely smiling faces in the audience. The R&B bombers band backing me and doing an amazing job. Most importantly this concert was to raise funds for friends of Wani Kenya to continue building wells for peopl who don't have water. Please read more about at http://www.friendsofwonikenya.org/

  i shared the stage with Gina Eckstine, daughter of the legand Billy Eckstine, she was amazing, please hear her and read more about her at www.ginaeckstine.com

  What a show, sooo much fun:-) I hope to have a video up soon, for you to have a little taste of the evening. Please enjoy the photos and keep coming back to visit to see more videos, blogs, and information on my upcoming Album.

  Thanks my friends. See you soon:)

  Big Hugs, Lois

• Meeting Evelyn “Champagne” King:-)

  Jun18

  It started out like one of those days, one of those nights when I felt a little down, thinking about my future and wondering if I’ll get where I want to go. Lots of things went wrong, we started the show late and there wasn’t many people there, looking like a sad night. Nevertheless I was going to give it my best! You never know who is in the audience!!

   

  On the first break a man came up to me, Freddy Fox, said he brought his wife to meet me:) so we went over to his wife so I can say hello. I shook hands with her and she complimented on my choices of songs “they suit your voice” she says. That made me think she was listening with professional ears, so I asked her if she was a singer:), her husband Freddy looked at me like huh? You don’t know whom Evelyn “Champagne” King is?:) I covered my face in embarrassment :o

  She is a famous singer known for many hits in the 80s.

  http://evelynchampagneking.com/

  Later into the show, Evelyn got up on stage and sang a few songs with me and her Freddy on guitar-:) Very fun!! (Video clip coming soon)

  We laughed and sang and danced and had the best time. What started off a little sad was now the best show I’ve had in a long time. Below are a few photos of the night:)

  

  

  Smile:)

  Your friend.

  Lois

• Benefit Concert for “Friends of Woni Kenya International”

  Aug10

  Hi my friends:) Hope this finds you well.

  I am honord to be apart of this event for a great cause at the beautiful Majery Luke theatre.

  I would love it if you can come and support not only me but a worthy cause:-)

  

  Friends of Woni Kenya International is a Non Profit group for the education of the less fortunate children of Kenya.Governed by the laws of Kenya, Friends of Woni Kenya International works with Woni Educational Trust which was created in Kenya by Woni Safaris, Ltd of Nairobi Kenya, to help educate children who may be orphans, children of single parents, children whose parents are not able to educate them further than the primary grades.In the rural areas of Kenya, the public schools in areas are mainly primary, the high schools are some distance from their homes, and thus difficult for the children to get a further education.

  Friends of Woni Kenya International, Inc and Woni Educational Trust, takes children in primary grades and places them in Mt. Sinai School in the outskirts of Nairobi, there they live and study, get the proper education to help them later in their schooling years.They receive room and board, and clothing under the trust. Many times when vacation time comes, they are reluctant to go to their homes as there, most often is not three meals a day, but maybe one.

  Please click for more information: http://www.friendsofwonikenya.org/

  Along with other head liners from 7pm. I look forward to seeing you and giving a big hug. I will have new music available.

  Smile

  Your friend

  Lois

• Song Writing:)

  May18

  So a couple of nights ago I got inspired again to write a new song:) It’s been a while.

  

  Since for me songwriting is so personal that if I’m not feeling it, it won’t happen. But earlier that day it was starting to come.I Started putting a few chords together, which by the way sounded like sad chords, but very cool. Then I started humming a melody and I thought to myself, “mmm nice melody:), but what do I write about?” I don’t want to say anything sad, because I wasn’t sad, and my last song was very sad. So I left it a lone. Later that evening it came to me that I wanted to write about love, of course:) now I have a beautiful song to arrange with great music and excellent melody and of course great words. It is about a girl telling her guy what he means to her:) it's called “ I’m yours”

   

  I’m working on the video as I write this to you. I will have it available to checkout very soon! :) Thank you for your love and support. I look forward to sharing many masterpieces I have and will have in the future. Keep smiling you’re the best!

  Your friend

  Lois

• Singing the “National Anthem”

  Jun08

  I’ve been signing the National Anthem a few years now for the Polo games at the Polo fields in Santa Barbara.  I love singing the national anthem, it’s a really challenging song, and I love a challenge:-) Also it’s really fun walking out on the field with the horses. Well the season started a couple of weeks ago and now I’m in on some of the games.

  I was singing at a party just Saturday night, and after I was done I hung out a little with friends and new friends:) while chillin’ on the couch a guy over heard me saying to a lady what I’ll be doing tomorrow, which was Sunday, that I was gonna sing the national anthem, and with a panicking voice he said, “you know all the words right?” I guess the big story about a very famous singer mixing up the words came to his mind, but of course my reaction was, well actually I’m not from originally from the U.S. but I have a lot of American friends who don’t even know half the words:) so right away he agreed, that even he doesn’t know it. Hmmmm very interestesing:-)LOL

  Here’s a game I sang at last year:) hope you enjoy

  National Anthem-Lois

  Hugs, Smile

  Your friend

  Lois

• Voice Coaching:-)

  Jun29

  As most of you know I'm working hard to make music my full time gig. For now, that means not just performing, but also doing voice coaching. I say for now, because I hope to get so busy performing to not be able to coach for a while, but once I'm rich and famous I'd like to get back into coaching just because I enjoy it so much!

  I’ve been coaching voice for about 8 years, and each time I’ve been blessed with the chance to share my knowledge of singing, it has been an amazing, fulfilling process for me. I get to encourage and help my students grow and express themselves, and seeing their confidence in their abilities grow is so rewarding!

  Most of my students come from word of mouth, and I'd love your help in passing on the word that I am available to coach to your friends and family. Or maybe you'd even like to take a lesson or two!

  Lessons consist of learning vocal exercises and breathing techniques, but I also want you to choose a song or two that you'd love to sing. We then work together on finding your voice, your style and techniques to make singing a joy.

  In addition to 1 on 1 lesson, I also do group lessons, which are really fun for several friends to do together. If you are interested or know someone that might be, you can email me at: loismahaliamusic@gmail.com. Here are a few quotes from a few of my students:-)

  “Before meeting Lois I’ve never had any sort of voice coaching. She helped me train my voice and taught me techniques to control it in a way that has benefited my musical career in ways I never could’ve imagined possible. Lois is such a patient, generous teacher, her teaching has given me confidence and  the ability to flourish in the music business.”

  ~Lauren Herschorn

  “I’ve gained a lot of confidence from my voice lessons with Lois. They were always really fun, as Lois is enthusiastic, positive, and a very encouraging teacher!”

  ~Kendra McGary

  “Lois is amazingly talented vocalist but is also an sxtremely kind and patient teacher. I loved how she interacted with my daughter Kendra, showing great kindness and encouragement.  My daughter became much more confident in here singing by working by working with Lois, and she really enjoyed the choice of music as well.”

  ~Donna McGary

  “Lois gives me the coaching and confidence to bring out my best and develop my singing voice. I am eternally grateful for her.

  ~Kathy Lynch

  “I was able to build my confidence and sing with less strain and feel more comfortable.”

  ~Gigi Ficarra

  I also love teaching kids and for several years have been teaching the Children’s Voice/Choir Class at the yellow bird music school in Santa Barbara.  Each session lasts for 10 weeks one class per week, in which each child gets to choose a song to solo and the whole group will learn and sing along with it. They get a CD to bring home to learn the songs and at the end of each session there's a recital for the parents and friends – it's so much fun! :)

  

  Molly Wenal

  

  Tiana Monaghan

  If you are interested in having your child join please click on this link for more information http://www.yellowbirdmusic.com/choir.htm on the site there's a video of a recital, it's adorable :)

  Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and other Blogs coming up:-)

  Keep smiling
  Your friend,
  Lois

• Exited to hear what my fans think

  May09

  Hi my friend;-)
  Hope this finds you well.

  So I recently attended the Durango song writers Expo.
  http://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com/
  It was very enlightening for me. I especially liked attending the class with a panel of songwriters and producers publishers for companies like Universal music. It was interesting to hear people with ties to the big studios admit that times were tuff for record companies and that musicians can really make it on their own now because of the Internet. The fact that I can produce my own music and release it directly to you is amazing – and if you like it and spread the word, who knows where it might take me! I'm inspired knowing that I'm able to make it as a singer songwriter, because of now having access to the world ;-) 

  I also got chosen to sing in the Durango showcase, a great experience to perform for so many talented people. I sang a song that I co-wrote with Peter Claydon. Was a lot of fun! Here's a video from the show :)

  I'm loving my new website and hope you do too! Looking forward to lots more to come.
  Don't forget to Join my "Friend Club" please;-)
  A big Hug!
  Smile;)
  Lois

• Having a new website

  Apr26

  Woo hoo!:-) I'm so excited that my new website is finally finished! We must have gone through a dozen different versions until we found the look we were happy with. (no exaggeration – it might have been more! Thank you Nick, you're the best!) 

  I want to welcome everyone that wants to get to know more about me as an artist and a person. My plans are to share new videos and recordings I've been doing as well as side projects I'm working on. Plus there will be photos of shows and photo shoots for CDs and for the clothing company that's helping me out. I'm also planning on featuring videos from the people I'm watching on YouTube – and would love to hear who you are watching too – and what you'd like to see and hear from me. 

  A big part of the reason for the website is for me to develop my Friends Club. I want to be able to keep track of the people interested in me and my career, and be able to let you know when I'll be coming to your area, give you discounts on tickets and sneak peaks at what's going on with my career. Plus if my Friends Club get's big enough… maybe i can get a major label to offer me a deal – and I can say no because I've got enough friends;-)
   
  Hopefully you'll keep coming back to see what's new. The website and Friends Club is a great way for me to be in touch with my fans on a more personal level than just Facebook and youtube. Thanks so much for visiting.  I look forward to seeing you and giving you a big hug at my next show! Smile:)

  Your new friend
  Lois:)