Joy Boothe

Born in Florala, Alabama and raised at the edge of a cypress swamp, Joy spent much of her early years playing with the local cottonmouths and alligators. By the time she was 8 she was cooking for 20 or more on the farm. But she dreamed of one day being a mermaid at Weeki Watchee Springs in Florida.

"My first music memory is singing 'Frankie and Johnny' while my Granny Lewis played the guitar. My own mama Carolyn sang all the time, too. She was also a great whistler and yodeler. On my daddy's side...his grandfather Morris tried to keep his kids fed by playing fiddle at barn dances. My uncle Jack plays banjo and sings in a successful bluegrass band.

"I was a beauty queen in high school. Sang 'Let Me Entertain You' for the talent part of the competition. Then I went off to the University of S. Florida to study theater arts and communication.

"In 1971, I moved to North Carolina, met my husband, Norman, and together we cleared a piece of land with bow saws and shovels. Built our house by hand, just the two of us, and had three great sons, Jesse, Eli, and Jeremie.

"I've been a teacher for a long time. At one time or another I've taught creative writing, rock climbing, hula and belly dancing, and fitness classes. I was once a trainer for a professional mens' ice hockey team.

"So, I never made it to Weeki Watchee, but playing cacophonium and singing in Hot Duck Soup is pretty darn close."