The
Eastern Monroe Public Library (EMPL) in Stroudsburg, PA presented
Singer/Song writer Regina
Sayles
on Friday October
23rd
as a finale to their BookHouse Series for 2015. A large number of
music lovers and fans of the musician filled the library's community
room to near capacity. Ms. Sayles
was seated among the audience calmly checking out her text messages
while being aparently unaware of the excitement swelling around her
by those who eagerly awaited her performance to begin.
It
was after a time did Linnae Cintron of the EMPL take her place before
the microphone to welcome the gathering and to introduce Ms. Sayles.
Ms. Sayles has earned a great number of well deserved platitudes
during her musical career and many of them were read by Ms. Cintron
during the introduction creating a slight blush of humble
embarrasment upon Ms. Sayles' cheeks. After Ms. Cintron concluded her
words, Ms. Sayles and her guitar took their place before the
microphone and began to wow the audience.
The
powerful performace Ms. Sayles shared with the crowd nearly
overwhelmed them through its electifying properties and its soulful
explorations. A mixture of songs created by other artists and
original works filled the evening. The qualities of Ms. Sayles
compositions and those of other song writers were indistinquishable
although many (including this writer) find her work to be somewhat
superior as its more readily relatable to the listener.
The
performance was enhanced by a number of stories Ms. Sayles shared
about her work and those about her relationship to the other songs
she shared. Also, Ms. Sayles' theatrical experience allows her to
utilize her face and body to express the deeper emotions of the song
that are not found in its lyrics or music. This enables the listener
to experience the all encompassing effects of the piece while
exploring the contours of Ms. Sayles' open soul. The concert was a
phenominal one and it was a befitting close to a wonderful Bookhouse
Series that led many to eagerly await the beginning of their 2016
season. You’ll
find more photographs taken during the concert in the Regina
at The Bookhouse Galery at
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154298670443761.1073741913.91146283760&type=3.
Regina
Sayles grew up in Tiffin, OH and was a drummer in her high school's
marching band. She also sang in choir, performed in theatrical
productions, and played softball while attending the school. In
addition to this, Ms. Sayles became her class's homecoming queen. Ms.
Sayles joined her first rock cover band at the age of 16. She later
attended the East Stroudsburg University of PA where she began
writing and performing her own songs. She graduated in 2003 and
released her first EP in 2006. While Living on Ann Street in
Stroudsburg, PA, Regina held a number of house concerts and in the
April 2013 Regina released a live acoustic album titled, “The Ann
Street Session.” She now performs in various venues throughout New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, and more.
You can learn more about Regina Sayles by exploring her Facebook Page
at www.facebook.com/pages/Regina-Sayles/235450517538?fref=ts
or her Website at www.reginasayles.com.
You can also visit Regina’s YouTube channel to view all the videos
from the Ann Street Session at www.youtube.com/user/reginasayles.
The Eastern Monroe Public Library (aka The Hughes Library) Bookhouse Series takes place in the Edinger Community Room which is located on N. 9th Street (aka route 611) in Stroudsburg, PA. The Hughes Library is the main branch of the Monroe County, PA library system which includes their Pocono Township Branch in Tannersville, PA and their Smithfield’s Branch in Marshalls Creek, PA. The library offers access to numerous books, DVDs, Audio Recordings, and cultural programs free to the public. The library’s Bookhouse series is part of its cultural programming designed to provide a venue for literary and musical events which are outside of the commercial and literary mainstream. The Regina Sayles Concert was the final Bookhouse Sereis event for 2015. Please Contact Linnae Cintron at 570-421-0800 x 28 or explore The Eastern Monroe Public Library Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/EasternMonroePublicLibrary?ref=ts&fref=ts or their Website at www.monroepl.org to learn more information about the library, their Bookhouse series, and all the institution has to offer the community.
Photography
by Paparazzi Paul.