Sally Fingerett

Over these years, as a touring musician who wore a lot of different hats, I've met an array of lovely people. Warm and open, we've kept in touch I'm proud that we did so. Some are well known, and some aren't - but should be. These are the people, and these are the moments, I've loved and learned from.

Before I was a Bitchin' Babe I toured in an all female bluegrass group call the Buffalo Gals. Elaine was the mandolin player and here we are on a mountain in Southern Virginia on our way to Aunt Minnie's Farm Bluegrass Festival in Ronceverte, WVA. We had driven all night, through winding mountains, heading south from upstate NY almost running out of gas. In the middle of the night we saw a Shell sign high up above us and thanked our lucky stars we wouldn't get stranded out in the middle of nowhere. As we drove around the mountain bend, we realized that the full moon was golden enough in color to confuse us and have us believe it was a Shell sign. Those were mysterious and wonderful days as gypsies. Man, look at my figure.....what the hell happened since then? This was in 1976! Yikes!

Fast Forward 15 years to 1991 or 1992? I was performing in Seattle with the 4BBabes, and I caught up with Elaine in Bremerton Wash. She is a true Renegade Gypsy. She's lived in the Middle East, worked as a cook on a steam ship  in Australia, then bought a little apartment in Venice, Italy, and just keeps moving! I cherish and admire this in her. My song "My Friend Elaine"  tells her story.  

1979 New York City. From left, Pat Alger, me and NY guitar genius Artie Traum. I met these guys when the Buffalo Gals did a show with Pat and Artie's group, The Woodstock Mountain Review. This led to Artie producing my first demo in New York City. Artie went on to create brilliant acoustic guitar records for Shanachie and Narada as well as instructional videos for his brother Happy's Homespun Co. You might recognize Pat Alger's name as a major Nashville hit writer. He's written for Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, etc. He used to date my friend Elaine! Sadly, Artie passed away a few years back and he is survived by his adoring wife Beverly.

I met Debi Smith (and her sister Megan there on the right) at a music industry conference in Nashville in 1983. We have been sisters ever since. You'll be seeing a lot her in this scrapbook collection!!

July 1990. The first of many babes photos that will show a timeline of the members, the outfits, the hair, and the fun! This was taken at the club where the Four Bitchin' Babes first met. I believe the "venue" was called "The Glass Slipper" in downtown Chicago. There we were: four women from four cities. Christine Lavin knew each of us, but we'd never met each other. From this gig in Chicago, we then flew to other shows in Boulder, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Boston, NY, Philly ending up in DC. This was the summer of 1990, before the Babes were the Babes. From Left, me, then a blond Megon McDonough, Chris and then Patty Larkin. There was an art showing in the lobby of the club, so that blue stuffed thing was mistaken as our road manager. He was in fact our booking agent.

We ended the tour of that summer season 1990, at our favorite club in Alexandria, VA. We're backstage at the Birchmere, the night we recorded what was to become our first CD. Here we are with the very popular and dedicated supporter of new folk talent, Dick Cerry. Patty, Meg, Dick, Me, and Chris.

September 1990. Here's Christine Lavin in the editing suite at Amerisound Studios in Col. OH. with engineer Steve Haynes. Chris put together the Babes first CD, Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair, Life According to Four Bitchin' Babes. Little did we know that a last minute DAT tape thrown into a recorder at the Birchmere in DC would create the first of nine recordings that would span these past thirty-one years!

It's 1992, backstage at the Birchmere! Meg's gonna have a baby, (her son Denvir!) Patty was gearing up for a Windham hill tour, and Chris and I tried to keep up with this soon to be revolving door of babes. This was a great gig-baby-shower-girls-night-out-concert.

This grouping of the Babes, Megon McDonough (with unborn Denvir Dobbs inside that jumpsuit) and then there's me, Christine Lavin and Julie Gold.(Julie won the Grammy for her song "From A Distance") Meg was such a trooper!!

Babes on tour 1992 Haines, Alaska. Here's where the concept of the revolving Babe Cast made sense. Meg was busy having a baby, so the wonderful Cheryl Wheeler stepped in. Patty sat in for Julie Gold - and so here are Cheryl then Patty Larkin, a windblown me, and then Chris. We played Seattle, then Juneau, then took a ferry up the most incredible terrain to Haines to perform at the Alaska State Fair. I couldn't believe the company of great musicians I was traveling in.

It's 1993, and Babe Patty Larkin took to touring solo to support her Windham Hill CD project, and she passed the Babe Baton, to the lovely and talented Grammy award winning songwriter Julie "From A Distance" Gold. So here we are somewhere under the spell of a huge ROCK star. That would be from left, Julie Gold, Megon McDonough, Christine Lavin and me. This would be that Ogre in Seattle who's carved under a thruway.

Believe it or not, this is Mary Chapin Carpenter. She sat in with the Babes and stood next to me onstage at the Birchmere in DC. She dropped in and hung out as a Stage Babe as part of Cheryl Wheeler's 40th surprise birthday party. We girls sure know how to throw a party!!!

Some say backstage photos are the best. What about those photos taken in the someone's NY City apartment? Here's Julie Gold and Christine Lavin with their special guest a Pee Wee Herman doll. Julie is experiencing a virtual something.....maybe it was a virtual sound check as we headed to a gig at the Bottom Line after this photo was taken.

From left. Me, Kate Taylor (sister of James) and Christine Lavin.This was taken at the Martha's Vineyard Annual Singer/Songwriter retreat that Chris organized many years ago in 1993/94. Songwriters from all over the country gathered together to relax, write, commune, sing, record and in some cases go fishing. (see other photos). Christine put this vacation/symposium together and there were several live records made from concerts given up on the Vineyard. (see discography).

BIG TIMES IN A SMALL TOWN (1993) From the first Annual Martha's Vineyard Singer/Songwriter retreat organized by Christine Lavin. From Left, we've got Patty Larkin, my producer and ex husband Dan Green, Jonatha Brooke, and me. This is the very photo that produced my song "Ten Pound Bass" (on my solo My Good Company CD). During that 10 day rest fest while we singer/songwriters were singing and songwriting, Dan (my then husband) was busy fishing and communing with Nature! The joy of his summer was the enormous striped Sea Bass he caught one day that fed the 20 of us staying at the Sea Spray bed and breakfast. Dan was as overwhelmed by his catch as he was by Jonatha Brooke's beautiful legs. She gave him this kiss that left a HUGE RED lipkiss mark. Too bad it didn't show up in this photo, but we all knew it was there. Later that winter, when looking at the photo Dan said "That kiss made my whole summer" and I said "Yeah, and that 10 pound bass." Viola....a song.

Big Parties in a small town.....well, okay, time for some serious kick ass drinking and eating at a soiree on Martha's Vineyard. That would be me enjoying the company of boy toys David Roth, a great songwriter from the Seattle area, and the late great Shel Silverstein, may he rest in poetic peace.

From Shel Silverstein's party on Martha's Vineyard, here I was saving Dan Green's nose from a loose lobster claw. Dan, my good sport husband of that era, took a lot of crap from me, but I wasn't gonna let some unknown Claw hussy pick my husband's nose. That was my job.

The first of many "folk chorus lines" from the left, me, Megon M, Julie G, Christine L, the three Chenille sisters, and Patty L.  Hey I made that dress I'm wearing. It was a t-shirt with a long strip of fabric that I loved. The best summer dress ever.

If there is such a thing as a Folk Chorus Line, this would be it. From 1993, starting on the left. Julie Gold, Patty Larkin, Christine Lavin, Megon McDonough, me. I think we were on our way to perform a big group Babes show at a lovely outdoor shed called Greatwoods in Mass. Lunch at a roadside diner. Dessert (lollipops) in the parking lot.

That's Christine on the left and Julie on the right. Two hip NY'ers who haven't had enough playtime in clean snow, so nice winter coats and gigs be damned, they played on and on. In the snow that is

Nancy Moran and her husband Fett spent time with us in Columbus, so we played around Amerisound studios for fun. Side bar: Nancy and Fett would later put me up in Nasvhille,while I was at the Vanderbilt voice clinic for rehab, during my year with paralyzed vocal cords. They were my safe haven during great sorrow. I'll always be grateful to them. Always.

Could'ja bust? I'm singing a duet with Mary Travers, while Noel Stookey and Peter Yarrow and Dick Kniss are playing instruments on a song I wrote (Home Is Where The Heart Is), and we're all on stage and there's a huge audience, and I can't believe I wore that schmate (Yiddish for rag!)

Here's a 9 year old EJ backstage with Mary Travers. Mary's loving kindness and generous spirit is sorely missed. She passed away from Leukemia Sept. 16, 2009. She of blessed memory.

One of my favorite Babes black and white head shots. Photo by Irene Young, this was taken for the Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's for Dinner CD from 1995. Welcome DC singer/songwriter Debi Smith! My gal pal from the College Circuit days joined the Babes in 1994 the year I had paralyzed vocal cords. On stage she would sing the role of me, while I was the instrumentalist. This way I was able to still work, how beautiful is that??? xxx Deb!

1995 From left, Meg, Deb, Sal, and Chris at a vocal session at Amerisound Studios in Columbus. We were doing our overdubs for our Fax It, Charge It, Don't Ask Me What's for Dinner CD on Shanachie. We really had that girl group thing down. We were so happenin,' you could hear the fun on that project...What was that on my head????   Oh, hair.

Can you imagine performing for 2,000 girlfriends at a downtown Chicago conference center? More fun than legally allowed by law.

August 14, 1997. From the left, Debi, Meg, Chris and me. Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, Christine Lavin's last official gig with the Babes. After 7 years of Babe-dom, Chris was taking time off to concentrate on her solo recordings and shows. It was a huge night full of music and memories, under the stars in Pa. Chris is wearing yet another Sally Fingerett dress.....You know I should have given that to her, she looked better in it than me. What was I thinking?

1997 Photo by Irene Young. An out-take from our black and white head shot press kit. It's plenty difficult to get all four of us to do the right thing (look beautiful, fabulous, wonderful, hot and sexy) all at the same time. Deb was doing the sassy thing, Meg and I were hysterical over something and Camille was getting ready to go somewhere?

In my lifetime I've been handed some amazing blessings, and this here was one of them. Janis Ian joined me for a duet on my song "Little Girl Please Wait" for my 1998 Shanachie release "My Good Company." Janis is a dear soul, thoughtful and kind. With a generous spirit, she's a gracious artist I'm honored to have as a pal.

1998 The lovely and talented Jonathan Edwards was a very special guest vocalist on "Ten Pound Bass" on the "My Good Company" CD. Here we are doing overdubs at our Amerisound Studios, schmoozing and pontificating on the glory of boats, fishing and mermaids. Jon's a great performer, singer/songwriter, and a lovely man. I treasure his music.

What can I say. It was 1999 and we all missed each other. It was an amazing night! From left: Julie Gold, Debi Smith, Sally Fingerett, Megon McDonough, Camille West and our president Christine Lavin. Photo by Ron Pownall

2000 What an outrageous time this was. Our beloved production team at Longview Farms Studios for the recording of Beyond Bitchin'. From left at top, T-Bone Wolk (musician), Sally, Debi, Danny Bernini (engineer), Left bottom, Meg, Jeff Bova (maestro/producer) and Camille. Jeff's a Grammy winning producer whose resume defies description. You must visit him at JeffBova.com

From the Four Bitchin' Babes "Beyond Bitchin'" Sessions at the residential recording studio Longview Farms in MA. We holed up for 14 days, housed in a fabulous farm house that was attached to the recording studio. The joint came with engineers, a cook and maid service. At least once in every musician's life they should have an experience like this. It was a miraculous event, where everything was just like the big kids do it. Here's T-Bone Wolk, (Bass player for Hall & Oates,  guitar player for the Saturday Night Live band for 10 years in the '90s) who played everything from bass, mandolin, banjo, all guitars, and now accordingly, an accordion. He was a brilliant addition to our record and remained a kind, gentle and supportive friend.  Saddly, he passed away in March of 2010, creating a huge void in his industry. He is greatly missed by many.  Photo by me.

2000 Photo by Ron Pownall in his Boston Studio as we get ready for our Beyond Bitchin' CD cover photo shoot. From left, Elizabeth Moon, make up artist and magician, then Meg, Deb, Sal, Camille. We were gearing up to shoot a Beatles spoof, complete with 60's make up and those wacky black turtle neck sweaters. Check out our The Babes Beyond Bitchin' CD, 2000. I think Deb's bangs were the coolest thing ever. It took me 3 days to get my eyeliner off.

Revolving Babes once again. Suzzy Roche of the Roches joined us in 2002 for "Some Assembly Required" but was in Europe with the Wooster Group theater project, so Christine Lavin sat in. "The higher the hair, the closer to G-d"

The Babes just finished our last concert of the year and it was Camille's last show with us, as she was shifting into a painting phase. I thought we were heading out to toast Camille, but noooooooooooo, we ended up at Christine’s place and BOOM, it was my 50th birthday surprise party!! From left, Camille, Deb, Me, and Nancy, photo by I have no clue - I was tanked.

Well, here I am with my Babe Sistah Suzzy and my real Sistah Rosalyn at Christine Lavin's apartment in NYC. Chris made a turkey, rehearsing for Christmas 2 weeks away.

Couldja Bust? Come on it's taller than me? The Schubert in New Haven Conn announces the Babes' new show with Deirdre Flint, Nancy Moran, and of course Deb and me!

Yeah Babies. Yeah! The thrill is definately not gone!

Ooops, almost forgot this. Back in 1992 I performed solo at the First New York Putumayo Singer Songwriter's Festival at Carnegie Hall. A highlight no doubt.

Here's Kayla Gordon, executive creative director of the Winnipeg Studio Theatre, who commissioned me to write music for the original play "Hersteria" with "book" by Sharon Bajer (award winning Canadian playwright/actress). That gig was nothing short of magical!  The snow, however was not magical. But they sure know how to deal with it up there. That red cable pictured running through this pic, is the electric car heater, that keeps batteries from dying in the cold. Why didn't we think of this in Chicago, we had cold too you know...hmm.

Marek Norman, a Julliard trained orchestrator living in Toronto, was hired to score my work. Beautiful transcription!

I would fly to Winnipeg for a kamikazi week of writing. I knocked out 6 musical "motifs" which Marek Norman, a brilliant Canadian arranger, notated on paper for the upcoming workshop. I loved the early stages of composing, so many possibilities. So I took the originals of Marek's hand written scores of my songs back home to the States. I protected each of the 6 'motifs' in brightly colored matts and frames, and hung them in my living room next to my grand piano. It's funny to think of music, framed and serving as wall art. One way to keep a joyful memory close.

Here we are up in the barren Canadian wasteland where they send people to create so they're not distracted, but we peeps gotta eat right? The restaurant was under the snow pile. Damn.

Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, and Eliza Gilkyson, easily among the best writers out there. Backstage at their Red Horse Show. 2011.

In Columbus, there's a magnificent organization called "The Women's Fund" dedicated to creating life enhancing programs for women and girls. Very altruistic and desperately needed. Diane on a stage in front of 2000 women. WOW, Annie Hall was in the house!!!

The year after Diane, Goldie Hawn brought her outrageous self, along with the best grown up giggle anywhere, to Columbus, where once again the house was packed to hear her tales of the joy to be found in helping out those who need us.

Here we are in 2012 with a new CD and a new Babe. Nancy Moran steps down to launch her music industry internet seminars and we snag Grammy Winning Marcy Marxer, and we keep on ticking!! Onstage at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield Oh. Photo by Michael Houghton.

This is a little something from my private files. On my first recording, Enclosed from 1983, I had written a song for Red Skelton. I had long before read somewhere that Red had bequeathed that all his TV shows be destroyed, least they end up in syndication after his death. He was disappointed in television as a medium what with all the violence that had become so prevalent. And so this song "The Redman" came to me while thinking about all the generations that wouldn't experience his great work, like we can with Lucy reruns. When Red Skelton came to Columbus to perform at the Palace Theater, a friend of mine was the concierge at the hotel and gave my LP to Red's arranger. Here's a letter from Mr. Skelton thanking me. In his signature you'll see a clown. What he wrote was lovely and I just wanted to share this all with you. It's amazing what a little communication from an artist can mean and how wonderful it feels to have insight into someone's life. Goodnight and may God bless.