Regina at The Bookhouse

The Eastern Monroe Public Library (EMPL) in Stroudsburg, PA presented Singer/Song writer Regina Sayles on Friday October 23^rd 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.