thank you, Wesla

Terry and I have loved vocalist Wesla Whitfield and her accompanist husband Mike Greensill for many decades. Wesla is among the best at bringing to life the Great American Songbook.

We have seen them in many venues. The first time we saw them was in the Carriage House at Villa Montalvo, located outside Saratoga, California, in the mid-1990’s. The last time we saw them was at the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco. That was in December 2001, shortly before it closed.

Last week Mike Greensill sent out an email announcing Wesla’s retirement. He tells us:

For a long time she has had a bad infection that’s growing and won’t go away, and the drugs she has to take to treat that are playing havoc with her voice and throat. She’s just not happy with her ability to sing up to her standards, so she has decided, reluctantly, that it’s time to hang it all up, concentrate on getting better and not have to worry about the energy needed for performing. So she’s asked me to tell you that this is her formal retirement announcement.

I can only say thank you, Wesla, for all you have given us. We love you and we will miss you.

Fortunately we will still have her CDs and her YouTube videos. Here’s one of the latter for you.