Brenda Waters

Circle of Life

Brenda Waters, 1944
Brenda Waters, 1944
Brenda Waters Grandson, 2004
Brenda Waters Grandson, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten years is a long time. A whole decade. An era. Music changes, fashion, media, life itself. This year marks ten years without the single most influential woman in my life. She was my very first music teacher, my very first friend, the first person to ever teach me about God. Her music touched me from the very first moments of my being. The wisdom she imparted guides my decisions even now. Her joy at being still rings in my own laughter. She was the first person to ever love me and although I have been blessed to be loved by many, no one will ever love me like she did because no one loves like a mother does. The woman she was influenced the woman I am in countless, immeasurable ways from the way I write to the way I sing to the way I mother my own child.  She was strong, beautiful, talented, funny, expressive and a great woman of faith. Ten years truly is a long time but when someone has been that strongly interwoven into the fabric of who you are, ten years is just long enough to let you finally realize that they never left. In tribute of Brenda Waters, my mother, my friend.

Circle of Life Read More »

Back to the Grind

The Houston Gospel Music Legends event hosted by Kurt Carr and Yolanda Adams was an extravaganza extrordinaire. As a presenter, Hedreich’s role was relaxed enough so that she could enjoy the festivities of the evening with “Legends” she’s known since childhood. One of the event’s highlights was Hedreich sitting in as drummer on the award winning “Order My Steps” sung by Barbara Johnson Tucker, who happens to be Hedreich’s Godmother. It goes without saying that presenting the BC&S Music Excellence award on behalf of her mother–Brenda Waters– was a very special honor.
Now safely again ensconced in the Swiss Alps, the unpacking will have to wait. In addition to all the vacation paperwork piles, Hedreich has been invited to work on a Michael Jackson tribute project with Al Walser, Nubya, Phil and Tanya Dankner and Jesse Brown. The project is spearheaded by Jermaine Jackson and is slated to be released for August 29th, Michael Jackson’s birthday. Check back in a few days to see how the session went. In the mean time, we’ll keep a light on for ya…

Back to the Grind Read More »

Memory Lane

After a few choruses of “the hills are alive…” while vacationing in the Austrian mountains, Hedreich is turning her attention to arranging. The background vocals for the upcoming Gölä club tour as well as a couple of new pieces for the choir are in the works.

In commemoration of the death of Brenda Waters in March of 2005, Hedreich is arranging one of the beloved singer/songwriter’s compositions, “Absent from the Body”. When asked why she feels the need to re-arrange such a good arrangement, Hedreich replied, “Replacing my mom’s solo in that song is pretty impossible so I want to do the whole song, including verses, as a choir piece. At first I wasn’t so sure I could do the song at all without falling apart—it’s still so soon—but somehow I manage to swallow the lump in my throat and get through it. It’s such a beautiful song, it would be a shame to let it just sit on the shelf.”

Memory Lane Read More »