September 2010
Carrying On


Amidst a world tour, Jupiter Index caught up with Gaynor to find out what some of her poignant memories are throughout her career, her favorite concerts and albums, and who to look out for.
Joshua Barajas: What would you say have been your top ten memories in music?
Gaynor: In no particular order:
1. Receiving the Grammy for “I Will Survive.”
2. Performing “I Will Survive” with Michael Jackson in the audience.
3. Recording “Never Can Say Goodbye” for my first album.
4. Recording “I Will Survive.”
5. Hearing Beyoncé sing “Ave Maria” in her concert.
6. Seeing a Tina Turner concert.
7. Seeing BeBe Winans sing at my church, Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY.
8. Seeing BeBe and CeCe Winans sing at my church.
9. Performing for the Nelson Mandela Birthday celebration at Radio City Music Hall.
If stuck on a desert island, which ten CDs would you most want with you and why?
1. The Bible on CD.
2. Kirk Franklin – The Fight Of My Life
3. Kirk Franklin – Rebirth of Kirk Franklin
4. Bebe Winans – Freedom
5. Cece Winans – CeCe Winans
6. Angelo And Veronica – It's Not Enough
7. Martha Munizzi – The Best Is Yet To Come
8. George Gershwin – Gershwin's Finest
9. Michael Jackson's – Thriller
10. Whitney Houston – The Greatest Hits
What would be your top ten music concerts you’ve most enjoyed?
I have been working so consistently since I first started, I've only seen a few concerts by other artists.
1. Performing at a concert in Brazil, where a young lady was inspired to become a Christian because of the Gospel songs I sang and the words I said before the songs even though she did not understand a word of English. (They speak Portuguese.)
2. Performing in Italy where a young lady told me that the lyrical change I made to "I Will Survive" had given her the strength and courage to abandon her plans to commit suicide, because they told her where her strength can come from and that she didn't need to die.
The rest in no particular order:
3. Performing at a concert in Brazil where I re-recorded "I Will Survive" in Spanish joined by thousands of fans who normally hate Spanish. (They speak Portuguese.)
4. Tina Turner (She's a great performer.)
5. The Jackson Five 30th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Special because Michael watched and enjoyed my performance, and called me at home afterwards to tell me so. Also, all the other artists there did great performances, especially the Jackson Five who were phenomenal.
6. Beyoncé’s concert - Special just because she's a phenomenal performer.
7. Smokey Robinson performance at Miami Children's Hospital, special because it was my first opportunity to see him live.
8. The Nelson Mandela Birthday Celebration at Radio City Music Hall - Special to be a part of a concert with so many great and legendary artists and actors.
9. The Last Dance concert and TV show. Special because it was great to perform with Whoopie Goldberg, and the other Divas.
10. Barry White Concert in England. Special because I got to meet the great man himself.
Who would you choose for your top ten list of up-and-coming artists?
1. Jonathan Tyler
2. Julian Moreno
3. Estelle
4. Nuttin' But Stringz
5. Asia Cruise
6. Crystal Bowersox
by Joshua Barajas