From a family of musicians whose parents and grandparents had a traveling medicine show in Oklahoma and Texas, I have carried on my family tradition of performing and “sing songs”, at coffeehouses, benefits, schools, churches, summer camps, festivals, multiracial celebrations, old folks’ homes, peace rallies, Earth Days, women’s gatherings, hospitals, and more. I share my music wherever I go.
Since the mid-1970’s, I have performed my songs with various musical friends and as part of Silkworm, Pomegranate Rose, the Earthquackers (environmental education musical theater for children), and Stellaria. In 1986-87 I composed, recorded, and produced six performances of The Goddess Suite, a choral work for women’s voices, flute, cello, piano, and drums, about the Greek goddesses. In 2010, my then daughter-in-law Hope Wilder and I co-produced the Goddess Suite four more times, assembling a chorus and orchestra 50 women strong, and raising $8,000 for seven local and global charities.
My songs have been published in Songs For Earthlings by Julie Forest Middleton, used in a curriculum empowering girls, included in church songbooks, and performed by choirs in Vermont, Alaska, and locally. For eleven years I led a monthly women’s singing workshop with Sarbaga Falk; and for four years, Hope, my son Jesse, and I have held monthly Circles of Song in our country home. I’ve produced numerous song sharing tapes and songbooks, made two tapes with Pomegranate Rose, and in 2002 created the CD Feel This Love, which is being distributed free as part of the Ken Crossen Community Music Project.
- Cynthia (right) and her sister Joane
Musical Partnerships
I have been blessed to share music with so many folks, starting with my Woodring family. You can read more at Stories, and view photos of my Woodring family. I especially treasure singing with my sister Joane Rylander, son Jesse Crossen, and many dear singing friends. I honor the exuberant loving spirit of my mother Lillian, and the quiet steadfast love of my father Clanton.
Silkworm was my first band: Sandra Brooks-Mathers, Steven Forrest, Dave Kleinbaum, and me. Peter Campbell, Clark Cone, and Rex McCall also played with us in later years. We played at Sudi’s and 9th St. Bakery in Durham, Cat’s Cradle, and all over Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham from 1977-1980. View photos of Silkworm. I have included some of our old recordings under Music, Silkworm.
Pomegranate Rose began when I was pregnant with Jesse in 1981, as “Cindy and Sandy”. We did lots of kids concerts, from toddlers to 6th-graders. In 1983, Sarbaga Falk and Laurie Lindgren joined us, and a few years later, Joel Landau. We performed widely in the Triangle area and beyond at gatherings of many kinds, in coffeehouses, for weddings, for art openings, at peace rallies, at benefits, in churches, at memorial services. View photos of Pomegranate Rose. Expanded with Carol Verner, Val Rosado, and Dede Banks, we are still close friends and play music together. I’ve included the two albums we did, As We Are and Such is the Garden.
The Goddess Suite was written in collaboration with Pomegranate Rose, with Sandra and Laurie contributing words, and everyone inspiring me, spurring me on, and singing in the chorus in 1986, 1987, and 2010. With my then daughter-in-law Hope Wilder’s encouragement and co-production, we staged four performances of the Goddess Suite in June 2010: “We have come together to experience and share the joy of celebrating womanhood through song, spoken word, and dance. To honor each of the seven goddesses of whom we sing, 100% of the proceeds from our performances will go to support local, regional, and global charities that embody attributes of these Greek goddesses.” View photos of Goddess Suite performances.
I now sing with Stellaria, a singer/songwriter trio of myself, Lea Clayton, and Farrunnisssa Lila Rosa, performing original, sacred, and heartfelt music. Singer-songwriter Hope Wilder played with Lea and me for five years, until May 2014 — you can hear the work of our trio on We Shall Lift Each Other Up. Stellaria blends their voices in angelic harmonies, a capella or accompanied by various combinations of guitar, banjo, cello, mandolin, and drum. View photos of Stellaria. Stellaria sings for compassion, community, connection, the sacredness of our earth, kindness to each other, and the recognition of women’s voices.
I am grateful for all the musicians that have played with me, lifting my music up with their talents, and lifting me up with their love. Special thanks to Paul Ford, John Waken, Elaine Chiosso, John McSween, Carrie Bolton, Jonathan Byrd, Ari Picker, Circle of Song friends, women’s music pals. I thank and honor each of you in these photos, my dearest musical friends.