Donnie Tryce @ Muddy's Music Cafe
So, Michael asked me to do a blog on singer Donnie Tryce at Muddy's Music Cafe. Normally Muddy's just has DJs but occasionally they have live singers so I knew I could not miss this event!
Well, I arrived at Muddy's a little early and I will have to say that it was decorated so lovely for Valentine's Day! Lots and lots of red here in the decorations and people's outfits! Love was in the air!
Everyone knows Muddy's, at some time in their second life adventurers most everyone has stopped at Muddy's or hung out there. Muddy's has been around in Second Life for 13 years! Bridget Hammill is the proud owner of this great venue! I have always enjoyed it here and Bridget is always so very creative about changing up the venue for special events at Muddy's. Tonight is another one of those special events for Valentine's Day! This is going to be great, and I am looking forward to hearing from the "LIVE" singer Donnie Tryce!
Of course, this is the entrance to Muddy's you are used to....but for Valentine's spirit check out below!
Donnie arrives on stage and starts to talk about how he has not sung for a while. He says
he is nervous but for me, I thought he was relaxed, easy going and his personality immediately shined through! He is very unique as he seems to tell a story between his songs as if someone is with him in real life listening to him singing. He has a seamless change from one song to another which I rarely ever hear a singer do, I so appreciated how he did that! I want to call him a Motown guy but he had so many different types of music that he sings. The best way I can describe him is a Doo-wop, R&B, Pop, Blues, Rock and Roll, and Soul kind of guy!
His first song was "Groovin" by The Young Rascals. What a song to start with, he was so smooth when he sang this song!
One thing I ask the readers of my blogs to do if they want is to go search out each one of these songs on youtube and listen to them. It can almost put you in the mood that the audience felt during the live show! When writing my blogs I also listen to the songs once again to help me get that feeling I had at the moment I heard each song!
The next song up was "Little Green Apples originally written for Roger Miller by Bobby Russell. Bobby Russell also wrote "Honey” and “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.
I loved this song when Donnie sang this song, he made it his own!
As soon as I heard the beginning of the next song I can recognize it immediately before Donnie even sang a note. A song about enduring love, "Stand By Me". Beautiful song and sung so smoothly by Donnie.
An iconic Doo Wop song is next, "Tears On My Pillow" sung by Little Anthony & The Imperials. Dick Clark once introduced this song on American Bandstand by taking an eye dropper and using it to put drops of a liquid on a pillow he was holding. The crowd immediately knew what song was next. Donnie has a talent for picking just the right songs and putting them all together in a great sequence. This was a smooth rendition that Donnie performed that night.
Another great choice of songs by Donnie is "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" originally sung by Ronnie Dyson.
I think I am going to call Donnie from now on Mr. Smooth, because this next song was a smooth rendition of "Lady Love", Lou Rawls's version that he sang!
Donnie keeps singing all the hits of the past, Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Neither One of Us, Teddy Pendergrass, "When Somebody Loves You Back"; "Always On My Mind".
Then Donnie threw in "Rockin Robin" sung by Bobby Day! That is a blast from the past! What a great tune and you could tell Donnie was enjoying this song!
Is it hot in here or is it Donnie singing "Heat Wave" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas rendition?
Donnie is taking us on a journey through time with all these great songs!
Next song Donnie sang was a fun light-hearted song called "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin. Bobby Darin and Murray Kaufman wrote this song and Murray made a bet that Darin could not write a song that contained the words Splish splash, I was takin' a bath. But he did it and performed it!
A great slow song for all the lovers out there in the crowd was next! "Hey Girl" was sung by many artists but was originally by Freddie Scott. Donnie is singing Bill Joel's version.
"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", I think everyone knows who sings this song but just in case it is the great Lou Rawls.
Donnie finished off his performance with "Oh What A Night" and then
"Tell It Like It Is".
We all need to convince Donnie to come back and start singing again. He has not sung for 3 years he said and for sure he needs to return so that this era of music is introduced to a new generation in Second life. I enjoyed this show and hope we all have the opportunity to hear Donnie again! Donnie was born to sing and be the storyteller of so many great songs!
Thank you Muddy's for having me today!
Till next time....
