Cary Sheldon is a singer, songwriter, and beloved Berkeley voice teacher with 30 years’ worth of grateful students. She has been playing and teaching in the Bay Area for the last 40 years. Her love for R & B music led her to be part of Zazu Pitts Memorial Orchestra in the 1980’s.  Other affiliations include The Henry Kaiser Band, The Henriettas (a recreation of DeZurick sisters, a popular country music duo from the 1940’s), who appeared on Prairie Home Companion, and most recently her band DanceChant, a joyful community-inspired R&B band that encourages audience participation. She continues to be inspired by her love of singing in community. “Singing together with others is one of the greatest joys in my life.” Now in her 60’s, she returns to influences from her early life. Her grade school music teachers included John Langstaff, creator of the Christmas Revels, and the repertoire was based on the American folk tradition, including old English ballads, spirituals, freedom songs, and the popular folk and protest songs of the 1960’s. She hopes to inspire others to explore the depth of this material and rediscover the joy of community singing.
Photo by Jeanette Yu

All our Song Circle Guest Artists bring their expertise and love of community to inspire us to join together in singing. We explore multiple genres and styles, all grounded in creating an hour of fun in song.

In October we welcome Guest Artist Kathy Kennedy. Kathy is an active performing vocalist and vocal coach who has performed before thousands at events around the world as well as in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lead and backup singer for over 25 years in Big Bang Beat, she has also performed with Mickey Thomas’ Starship, Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Spector, and a variety of other Bay area bands, singing Motown, R & B, Rock, and Jazz. 

Kathy greatly enjoys teaching singing to people of all levels, from beginners to professional singers. Learn more at kathykennedyvoicestudio.com.