Michele Sweesy Lane and friend Sue Tobin perform. Courtesy of Michele Lane

Michele, the oldest daughter of Rose Stancil and Jim Sweesy, grew up on Air Force Bases. Michele sang in middle school then took a hiatus until she joined the church choir. Michele occasionally sang solos at birthday parties. Then her creativity flourished as she wrote personalized lyrics to familiar tunes for birthdays and events. 1998 was a banner year as she gave her first solo performance at the Ronald Reagan Center in Washington, D.C. Michele rewrote the words to "I'm the Greatest Star" for MicroStrategy's friends and family night event.

Michele and two friends performed as the "Red Hot Mamas" and then in 2003 Michele joined the Blackhawk Chorus. They traveled to Italy, Austria, England, Scotland and sang at the Vatican and at Whitehall. Michele has continued to sing at charity events as a feature artist with a band or pianist. Michele and dear friend Sue Tobin formed "Two Over the Limit" Engagements include the Campbell Theater and California wineries.

Michele was influenced by her mother, Rose Marie Stancil. Rose had a lovely soprano voice, played the piano, sang in the church choir and filled the house with music. Rose spent her last few years in a North Carolina nursing home. In memory of her mother, Michele now freely gives performances at assisted living homes. She states, "It is a way to honor the Lord to thank him for giving me the gift of song."

For more, go to http://www.michelesings.com/

— Renn Stancil Hinton