January 28, 2008
Redd sings on Tuesdays at Sally’s Backside
SANTA ROSA BEACH - It’s Tuesday night and the local crowd begins to shuffle
in. Some have come to the small locals’ bar to savor Sally’s excellent
meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Most, however, came to watch Redd perform.
Each Tuesday about 6:30 p.m., the saucy and spirited performer takes her place
behind the bar at Sally’s Backside to do what she does best. With each
delivery of a glass of merlot or a bottle of Bud, Redd breaks into song.
Patrons marvel at how the singing bartender keeps track of orders and
multitasks without missing a beat. But more importantly, they marvel at why a
woman with a voice like Redd is not on a big stage somewhere.
She has a presence and karma that resonates through song.
She sings the gamut from Etta James to Elton John, U2 to Fleetwood Mac with
strength and quality of voice range not commonly heard around here. Redd
mesmerizes her audience and comments of “What are you doing here?” are not
unusual.
“Waiting to be discovered,” is the singer’s reply, as she dishes up a plate of
food and breaks into another song. However, her customers seem in no hurry to
be served the next drink or plate of food as all eyes are glued to Redd.
She sways to the music as she delivers a haunting rendition of “Don’t It Make
My Brown Eyes Blue,” a song it seems surely she was born to sing. Those at the
bar sway with her, totally caught up in the moment. Some get up and dance.
Helen “Redd” Vizard moved to South Walton from Key West in May. She started
her gig as a singing bartender Jan. 8 at Sally’s Backside in Blue Mountain, a
bar that only quietly opened in October in the back of a quick shop.
While in Key West, Redd made frequent appearances in theaters, on local TV, on
Web broadcasts at
www.qtvnews.tv , on radio, and even made a New Year’s Eve broadcast from
Duval Street on CNN.
“I have been singing since I could see myself in the mirror. Of course I used
a hairbrush for a microphone and was singing along with Cher and Donny and
Marie,” she said. “I sang in church choirs, concert choirs, performed in high
school and community theater musicals and even sang the National Anthem at
football games. Just let me sing. I always tried to sing with whatever band
was performing at local bars and finally had the nerve to say, ‘I can do
this.’”
Experience Redd each Tuesday at Sally’s Backside.
