This A-Profiler we bring you Anna Maria Flechero. She's been compared to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Norah Jones. We find out where this jazz gem has been hiding and how many road bumps in the thing called life kept her from an adoring public. Now that she has put many of the bumps behind her, she's poised to make a name for herself in music and to inspire others through trying times with inspirational music with a message.

Your site URL:
http://www.annamariaflechero.com

What is your ethnic background?
Afro-Filipina. My father was Filipino and from the Philippines. My mother was African-American and born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was in the military and changed his name to FLETCHER to become "more American." He was ostracized by his family in the Philippines and I assume to some degree from his peers in the United States because he married my mother. Back in those days, interracial marriage was not as acceptable as it is today. Because of many problems in my family, I was separated from him and raised by my grandmother. In honor of my father and my heritage I changed my name when I was legally old enough to do so to his birth name, Flechero.

Tell us about your journey into a music career. What road bumps have you experienced? What lessons have you learned?
A very loaded question...and unfortunately, for me, heart wrenching, especially the memories.

I was introduced to music by my mother. Because my mother was involved in the church and was the choir leader and pianist, my brother and I were involved. I remember very clearly how I was awe struck by the voices in the choir, the emotion, and passion I experienced made a lasting impression on me. I knew then that I wanted to sing and play the piano.

Unfortunately, my mother and father separated due to problems associated with alcohol and poverty. As a result, there was extreme family domestic violence that resulted in the family being split. I was basically raised by my grandmother, bouncing back and forth between my mother and father. Because we (my brothers and sister) were exposed to this environment we chose a life of violence, chemical dependency, and despair. As a result, all of my siblings are dead due to violence or illness associated with the lifestyles we chose.

I used to feel guilty because I did survive. I know now that my survival can be attributed to my love for my family and music – God's gift to me.

I held on to the dreams we shared as teenagers. Today, that is the lesson I have learned to embrace. Journey Into The Fourteenth Hour is about my life experience and our dreams. "I Betcha Never Thought" is my way of communicating with my family that dreams can come true.

What other artist(s) influence you the most?
Not many, I was to busy trying to sort out the melodies in my own head. Honestly, it was the Motown Sound - Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, etc. I think Diana Ross influenced me because she looked so much like my sister. Stevie Wonder, of course, made a lasting impression on all of us. Today, I am beginning to listen to Jon Lucien, I love his style and Jill Scott and Lauryn Hill – I like them a lot too.

Can you elaborate on your family emergencies that put your music career on hold at a time when it seemed like your career was on the upswing in Japan?
Another loaded question. First of all I should explain what led up to this.

I experienced a lot of death in my family: my grandmother, mother, and father died within 4 years of each other. I took care of my mother as she died and was able to resolve a lot of issues that I did not understand as a child. The song "Just Because" is a personal conversation between my mother and I. The following year, I became a lot closer to my father as he died. He briefly came to live with me soon after my mother passed. This was the only closeness we had during our lives, although painful, it was great. I really got to know them in ways that I never knew.

My mother had BIG dreams of making it musically and my father was the funniest man. He had such a great sense of humor and a lot of war stories to tell. He also shared his love for my mother and his sorrow that our lives were as they were. He wanted to teach my brother and me how to speak Tagalog and to know our heritage and culture. During this time I was playing music around town and I got to be known as a "Modern Day Blues Singer." My father, walking cane and all, often went with me to gigs. My father passed in October, less than a year after my mother. He was 80 years old. Needless to say, I was grief stricken when I got an offer to go to Japan. I accepted and left for Japan at the end of October. It was like being taken away to sort things out in my mind. It was a time of personal soul searching.

Upon my return from Japan, I was confronted with a very difficult life decision. I decided to raise my great-nephews and niece. I was thrown into instant parenthood. One was 4 years old. Soon, my great-niece was born and a year and one-half later my youngest great-nephew was born. I felt I was capable of stepping up to the plate because I had raised two other children. This gave me a stronger need to provide a safe and financially stable home. Although I never stopped writing music, music was not an option because of time constraints, lack of finances, and quite frankly, dealing with my own personal development. I also knew that my love for my family was one of my strongest assets. I followed my heart and have no regrets.

Tell us your process of writing songs?
It's spontaneous. I hear melodies and rhythms in my head all the time. Sometimes it's great, other times it drives me crazy, especially if I have other important things to do, like staying focused at work.

Your lyrics seem very personal. Are all of your lyrics representative of what you have experienced in life?
Definitely, I feel as though my songs are therapeutic for me. I share through song my innermost self. The song "I Believe" is attributed to this. "Trouble On My Mind" was written during the Gulf War. I think most musicians and songwriters do this. I feel blessed that I have this ability. The songs I chose for this CD were of inspiration and love. I have many other songs that speak of death, despair, and down home blues although they are not blues songs, the lyrics and expressions reflected how I felt when I wrote them.

How has your CD "Journey into the Fourteenth Hour" been received? Have you found many new fans who have discovered you from your CD release?
I am grateful for the producer and arranger of this CD, Jeffrey Chin. He really embraced the essence of these songs and the music is awesome. I also have excellent musicians playing on the CD. So, the musical arrangements, musicianship, lyrics and my singing style are very complimentary. Because I am re-emerging, it will take time to promote the CD. However, I have gotten local community radio airplay, radio interviews, a local newspaper interview, and local television broadcasting in a very short period of time. I also have video footage of my first performance that I think gave people who viewed it a better sense of the music and CD. There has been positive feedback from everyone and a great response to the website where people have emailed me to be placed on the email list. My email list has grown tremendously.

When not writing or singing music, what do you enjoy doing?
I really love my job. I have always worked in the employment and training profession. Communicating with people and contributing to their lives makes me feel that I have purpose in life. I am very good at what I do because I have worked hard to achieve positive results. Helping people realize employment is no easy task. I recently lost my animal, Bar von Raine. He was my confidant and I spent a lot of time with him. He was a family protection dog and when he was younger he was a high maintenance companion. I must admit that when I "veg out" I play computer games and watch reality court TV programs like People's Court and Judge Mathis. It's a mindless pass time and gets me out of my own head. I love documentaries too!

What is the future for Anna Maria Flechero?
The immediate goal for the future is to promote the CD by playing at festivals, local venues, and hopefully to become more visible in the music industry. I am very optimistic about the future because I believe this CD is a GOOD CD. One ultimate goal is to secure an investor to assist with marketing. I feel confident that the next CD will be as powerful as this one.

Would you like to be featured on this site? Click here for more info.

This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.

Images courtesy of Anna Maria Flechero.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder.