At 46, Lodi's Jennifer Lind starts music career singing about old cowboys

Music is in Jennifer Lind's lineage. She grew up drawing lines and music notes on a chalkboard in her grandfather Pasquale Rosato's music store in Stockton. And as a teenager, Lind's mother recorded opera. So it was no surprise to the family or Lind that singing and music have always been a passion.

At a young age, Lind thought of recording her own music, but she married her husband, Andrew Smith, and chose to raise her three children. It's a decision she says she has never regretted.

Now, with her children older, she has taken the steps to get known on the music scene, including recording her own album, "Cowboy State of Mind," and working with The New Christy Minstrels' Randy Sparks.

"I started a music career at 46 — who does that?!" Lind said.

Now, Lind loves every part of her new career. She plays wherever she can. Most recently she played at Micke Grove's Sparks in the Park and the Downtown Farmers Market.

However, one of her favorite things to do is to is accompany Smith, an estate-planning attorney, to his clients' houses and sing for them.

"There's no better reward than using your talent to help someone," Lind said.

Jennifer Lind at a glance

Hometown: Lodi
Husband: Andrew Smith
Children: Drew, Grace and Glory.
Hobbies: Singing, boating on the Delta River, surfing.
Her CD: "Cowboy State of Mind."
Her Web site: www.jenniferlind.net.

With her husband as her manager and crew, and band of all friends named Michael — Michael Henninger (lead guitarist), Michael Nickerson (bassist) and Mike Lothrop (harmonica on CD) — she is in the cowboy state of mind, as she would call it.

"This is cowboy poetry folks. I don't call myself a storyteller. I call myself a story singer because I love to sing," she said.

Q: What are your favorite songs on your album?

A: "Cowboy State of Mind," "Nightsong" and "Riverbend." For the women out there, (there is) "Fair and Tender Ladies."

Q: What is a cowboy to you?

A: A cowboy is exactly what I sing about. It's a state of mind. It isn't the buckle. It isn't the boots. It's a state of mind.

Q: What's your key to success?

A: From my perspective, success in this business is 10 percent talent and 90 percent drive. You want it? Go get it! Being willing to learn and perfect is the real key — and don't take no for an answer.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do in Lodi?

A: Go out on the river. Water ski and houseboating on the Delta River. I'm not afraid of the water. I raised all three of my kids (on the Delta).

Q: What else do you like to do in your time off?

A: We (me and my husband) are tandem surfers. We ride one surf board at a time. We go to Santa Cruz or Pacifica (or down south).

Q: What was it like to work in the recording studio?

A: We'd work 12 to 14 hour days four days in a row ... I provided healthy food — fruit and sandwiches — so the band would keep going and feel good.

Q: Who was the original Jenny Lind?

A: She was the first touring musician. She packed events. Smith was my name before.

Q: Randy Sparks encouraged you to change your name. Who else's name has he changed?

A: Randy Sparks changed John Denver's name to Denver. He was Little Johnny Deutschendorf.

Q: What's your dream vacation?

A: Probably the Caribbean.

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Pizza.

Q: Who are some of your favorite artists?

A:

1. James Taylor.

2. The New Christy Minstrels.

3. Anne Marie.

4. Nora Jones.

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