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Entertainer of the Month - Elizabeth Roth
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| The little girl looked up
expectantly at Elizabeth Roth and repeated, "Sing the bubbles song again,"
but Elizabeth only shook her head in bewilderment and answered, "Gee, I
don't think I know that one." Yes you do, you sang it already," the child
insisted. "You know, I go bubbles when you are not here. That one."
Finally the light went on and Elizabeth grinned, "Oh, you mean
'My
world crumbles when you are not here.' " "Yeah, I like that one," and a
satisfied baby girl returned to her family's table. Elizabeth Roth had paused in the middle of a set at O.C. White's one evening to share this story with her audience, and that's just one of the things that makes Elizabeth so special. Not only is she a wonderful singer and guitarist, she's as sweet as she is pretty. Full of talent and blessedly devoid of pretense, she freely divulges little personal vignettes with her audience and chats casually with everyone, as if she's your friend or neighbor. She'll tell you if she's in a good mood, or if she's frustrated over a song she's working on, or if she's planning a birthday dinner for her husband, all with a warmth and openness not usually found in an entertainer of her calibre. Whether the crowd is large or just a couple of regulars, Elizabeth travels calmly from song to conversation, inviting her guests to join in an easy circle of music and dialogue, making everyone feel as comfortable as if she were entertaining them in her own living room or front porch. Elizabeth Roth is a natural talent. with a strong formal musical base to back it up. Her father bought himself a guitar when Elizabeth was about 13, but he quickly recognized that she was the one with a true affinity for the strings, and turned the instrument over to his daughter. This original Epiphone remains one of Elizabeth's dearest treasures, reminding her of the closeness she and her father shared until his death when she was still in high school. In fact, Elizabeth Roth experienced more than her share if tragedy as a young girl, losing both of her parents at an early age, but believes that her music served as a source of emotional self- nurturing and perhaps the steady rudder of what could have been a fragile little boat on some very rough waters. Along the way, it became evident to those around her that both her instrumental and singing abilities were exceptional, and she went on to pursue formal training in both classical guitar and classical voice in college, first in her native Jacksonville, and later at Stetson University. Elizabeth believes this solid grounding in the classical field has given her the confidence to do what she loves best, perform a |
broad range of musical styles, from
ballads and folk and blues, to rock and country. She is committed to the
thoughtful consideration of translating the true meaning of a song's
intent, filling the lyrics and music with the emotion or spirit necessary
to perform a piece in her own style, while remaining faithful to the
original artists message. This she does amazingly.
Elizabeth first came to St Augustine in 1985 as a cast member of the famous "Cross and Sword" historic outdoor play, met and married her husband, and decided this was the place for them to call home. Now the mother of two boys, Elizabeth declares her life "perfect. My husband's the best, my kids are wonderful, I love my house, we've got a great dog, and I get to bring pleasure to old friends and new (visitors to St. Augustine) by doing what I love to do. I've got the benefits of being self-employed, I meet great people, I love the diversity of performing at different public venues and for a variety of private occasions. What better way to make a living?" Currently, Elizabeth has released one CD that she views more as a 'keepsake' than a business endeavor. Her high standards and discriminating music selections influence her decisions about when and what she wants to record. She is a prolific song-writer, but values the work of other artists as well as her dedication to a faithful interpretation of well-known music. In fact, her all-time favorite song is "The Dutchman" by Michael Smith, which was at one time performed by Gamble Rogers, well-known St. Augustine folk singer, and which Elizabeth delivers with a hauntingly cerebral, yet romantic clarity. She has another CD in the works, but plans on taking her time and perhaps adding a few more originals than in her present collection. She also has plans for a future production of children's songs, which is an ongoing favorite project, but in the meantime her days are kept pretty full with her family and entertaining and the general cadence of a demanding life. But one day that little 'bubbles' girl may well remember the famous Elizabeth Roth as the pretty lady who sang a song one evening, just for her.
Note: Elizabeth Roth sings regularly at O.C.White's, Harry's, Tradewinds, and Outback Crabshack, and is available for private bookings. She can be reached for engagements at (904) 829-8916. |
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