Wendy Beckerman

Biography

Wendy Beckerman is a songwriter whose uniqueness comes from the naturalness of her writing and performance. Her songs, sung with a straightforward vocal style, leave an imprint of unpredictable melody and evocative imagery, and are accompanied by both rhythmic and fingerstyle guitarwork. In live performance she brings heart into every moment of sound and breath, often telling playful stories and poetic vignettes as framework for her songs.

A New Jersey native, Beckerman grew up studying classical piano and upright bass, and performing in school choirs and musical theater, while basking in the warm acoustic music that was emanating from the family stereo speakers - artists such as James Taylor and Laura Nyro. In 1986, largely inspired by Suzanne Vega's work, she began to play guitar and write songs, and soon found her way to the Greenwich Village Folk Scene. Beckerman participated in the weekly Songwriter's Exchange, recorded over a dozen songs for Fast Folk Musical Magazine, and performed annually in their revue at The Bottom Line in New York City.

Beckerman's songs have been recorded by artists Louise Taylor and Hot Soup, and her easeful harmony singing can be heard on various recording projects, including those of Jack Hardy, Louise Taylor, Annie Gallup and Linda Sharar. She was a finalist in Telluride's songwriting contest, and her song In So Deep appears in the film Rubbernecking.

Focusing on her foremost passions of music and yoga, Beckerman has recorded four CDs and toured in the United States and Europe while earning certifications in both yoga instruction and Reiki (hands-on energy work). In autumn 2001, she relocated and co-founded a spin-off Songwriter's Exchange in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she currently resides.

- from the Wendy Beckerman website :www.WendyBeckerman.com

Comments about 'You Never Know':

A poignant song about the preciousness of each life, especially in the face of a crisis.
- Suzanne Vega

'You Never Know'

[ mp3 sound clip ]

This is why I m counting one breath at a time
This is why I call the moment you come to mind
This is why I memorize your eyes before I go
Only going round the corner, but you never know

When the wind is cold it will not wait for sun
Underbellies of the leaves til mercy comes
This is why I m looking out the window
Wind might blow this way tomorrow, but you never know

This is why I m counting one life at a time
In the morning when the sun can make you blind
In the middle of the traffic moving slow
There might be somewhere to go, but you never know