Jim
My brother Sam, PHS, 1950, and later a graduate of the University of Kentucky, with a degree in metallurgical engineering, has continued his alliance and love of anything UK related, although he still watches and roots for Ohio State University. Recently he sent me a story about a 20-year-old woman from Denver, Kentucky, Marlana VanHoose, who is a spectacular singer, and one who performs at many public events around the USA. ESPN presented an E:60 documentary a little over a year ago, and introduced her to the world. She has traveled the world since, and has been amazing crowds everywhere she performs.
Denver is an unincorporated, and small coal town in rural Eastern Kentucky, just seven miles from Paintsville. The story Sam sent tells that Marlana was born with cerebral palsy, and without a fully formed optic nerve, which left her unable to see, and doctors told the family she would live for only one year. They were quite wrong, and her mother Teresa says, "By the time she was 2 years old she taught herself to play the piano. Now she uses her spectacular singing talent to thrill crowds wherever she sings."
Her family has been a life-long fan of Kentucky sports, and they tried for years to get her to perform at a men's basketball game, and with other's help she finally helped her get to sing at a women's game in 2012. Word reached the UK sports administrative staff, and they extended an invite, and of course, Marlana showed up and brought the Coliseum house down. According to the story Sam sent, "one experience led to another, including more UK men's games. Now she is a singing superstar, and has become a member of the Artist Music Guild.
She has sung for crowds at many Kentucky men's games, a NASCAR Sprint Series race. and a Brooklyn Mets NBA game. Marlana has sung at the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day festival, and at political events.
Marlana says she is never nervous, and it doesn't bother her singing, even when it's in front of thousands of people. "It doesn't bother me to sing in front of a million people. I'm like "Woooo! Pumped up!" she said.
Marlana's mother, says, "Sometimes my legs are shaking during and after she sings. Especially when it's on live tv."
You can visit Marlana's website: www.littlemarlana.com
No comments:
Post a Comment