[mp3j track="SUSAN_OSBORN-Small_Green.mp3"]

For over 30 years, singer and songwriter Susan Osborn has held the high ground of vocal artistry. Her startlingly remarkable voice — powerful and rich with emotional expression — came to world prominence when she was lead singer of the Paul Winter Consort between 1978 and 1985, shining on such albums as “Common Ground”, “Missa Gaia.” and “Concert For the Earth”.

Osborn’s voice has such power and soulful presence that she’s performed at the United Nations, the Berlin Wall, the Nagano Winter Olympics, the Global Forum in Kyoto and the Hague, and numerous memorial and peace ceremonies at Hiroshima and Post-9/11 New York.

Osborn has performed all over the US and Europe, but 1991 saw the beginning of a long association with Japan, where her voice has been heard on Toyota commercials and film soundtracks, on a two hour HDTV Special on her life for Asahi Television, at the Winter Olympics, in a stage musical Tanuki Goten directed by Amon Miamoto, and New Year’s Eve concerts with both Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, and John Mauceri’s Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Releasing 9 CDs on Japan’s prestigious Pony Canyon label, Osborn’s recordings express themes ranging from Japanese folk melodies with English lyrics to Disney movie theme classics. “Still Life” and “Tideline,” both feature Western classical melodies with English lyrics written by Susan and her husband poet David Densmore. Susan’s most recent recording, Wonderful World ( Sakura in Japan), is with Japanese pianist Kentaro Kihara, String arranger and woddwinds, Martin Lund and Gene Nery on bass and features some of Susan’s favorite jazz standards.

The following poem/song, “Small Green Island”, was written before 9/11, but I think it says that we are all in the same boat (Earth), and that we should all help each other through tragedy. Feel free to leave a comment with your own interpretation.

Small Green Island

You and I on a small green island
Spinning round and round in space.
You and I on a small green island
Spinning round and round in space.

And the small green island
Is a living being
And we the living proof
Of her grace.

Yet in the night, the children are dying
The sound of their crying has just reached my ears.
I must fight through the numbness
Of distance and numbers,
To embrace my sisters and brothers in tears.

In the cries of the dying, a song of life’s rising
Can you hear it, can you feel it?
Will you take a stand
For freedom of spirit and the family of man
Oh, can we make a difference?
Yes, we can, yes we can.

SMALL GREEN ISLAND by Osborn, Halley,
Spear taken from Album Notes from the CD:
Susan by Susan Osborn, Living Music Label,
1987 Copyright all rights reserved.


Stylistically, Osborn’s approach spans original songs (pianist Paul Halley and songwriter Bill Lauf are favorite collaborators) to classical favorites to the freewheeling scat she records with jazz guitarist Ralf Illenberger. She brings refreshing inspiration to pop and jazz standards — recently working with Seattle jazz legend Overton Berry and exceptional piano solo artist Kentaro Kihara– and her annual candlelit Victorian Valley Chapel Christmas concert series is an established 20 year Orcas Island tradition.

The mosaic of artists who have inspired her life includes Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, folk legend Odetta, singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams, Miles Davis keyboardist Robert Irving, Broadway star Betty Buckley, New York Pops maestro Skitch Henderson, the guitar/vocal duo Tuck & Patti, pianist/composer Paul Halley, Native American flutist Gary Stroutsos, oboeist Nancy Rumbel, African master drummer Baba Olatunji( and a menagerie of wild animal voices with the Paul Winter Consort, Brazilian maestro Oscar Castro -Neves.

Though Osborn’s extraordinary voice is indeed unique, she openly shares her soulful approach through her Silence & Song seminars. For over 30 years, Susan has been exploring the power of the human voice in song with people all over the world. Silence and Song classes have been presented in 10 countries, and Susan has been on the teaching staff at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur California, the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, the Omega Institute, in Rheinbeck NY, the New York Open Center in New York City, Suirin Retreat Center in Nagano, Japan, and the Whidbey Institute in Clinton Washington. “Singing is a gift intricately woven into the human design.” shares Osborn. “I am privileged to be there when people remember it.”

deletereply starfishred wrote on Sep 9, ’08 very very nice

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Sep 9, ’08 great song

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 9, ’08 I think it’s really beautiful. I not sure what year it was written. Maybe in the 80s.

deletereply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Sep 9, ’08 Wow…Laura that was really nice. As always thanks for letting me know. : )

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 9, ’08 Thanks for visiting, Fred !

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Sep 9, ’08 Yes indeed..this small green island that we al share could be so much more compassionate and tolerant of each other. What a wonderful reminder of this for 9/11. Beautiful music and such a vital message of peace !

deletereply dianahopeless wrote on Sep 10, ’08 It isn’t about 9/11, but it reminds me of that too. I thought of the children that died in that daycare when I was reading it. And it is a very lovely song. http://dianahopeless.multiply.com/journal/item/371/Poetry_Wednesday_The_Tattooed_Man_My_Poem

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 10, ’08 I know it isn’t directly about 9/11, because it was wriiten before 9/11 occurred, but it brings to mind that we are all together in the same boat called earth.

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Sep 10, ’08 You just said what I was thinking LOL. I’m thinking the “small green island” is the earth and she’s telling us we need to stop abusing each other AND the earth before there’s nothing left. FANTASTIC blog as usual, Laura! http://bostonsdandd.multiply.com/journal/item/196/Poetry_WednesdaySeptember_10thA_Special_MessageBy_Me

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 10, ’08 Thanks for visiting, Lori ! Yes, I believe the song is saying just that.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Sep 10, ’08 We have to take care of the small green island AND each other. So why isn’t that happening? She has a clear, strong, voice; can’t say I remember her but must have before. Very good message, sis.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 10, ’08 It’s very possible that you might’ve brought her and the Paul Winter Consort to my attention years ago.

deletereply jadedruid wrote on Sep 10, ’08 This is amazing and beautiful. Thank you.

deletereply vickiecollins wrote on Sep 10, ’08 great song, thanks for sharing…of course I cant hear it but the words are wonderful… http://vickiecollins.multiply.com/journal/item/472/Poetry_Wednesday_Nine-eleven

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 10, ’08 vicke, you should really get speakers for your computer. You’re missing out on some wonderful melodies.

deletereply zafreud wrote on Sep 11, ’08 “And we the living proof Of her grace. Yet in the night, the children are dying” One could wonder “So, what grace?…” “In the cries of the dying, a song of life’s rising ……………………………………………………………… Oh, can we make a difference? Yes, we can, yes we can.” I hope…I believe…I want to believe that we can! Thank you, dear Laurita!

deletereply sylvie1 wrote on Sep 11, ’08 Beautiful music. She has such a gentle voice …

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 11, ’08 Thanks for visiting. Yes, sylvie, the music is very beautiful, and her voice is gentle.

deletereply forgetmenot525 wrote on Sep 11, ’08 thanks for the introduction, she has a powerful and unusual voice, Lovely music and words.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 11, ’08 Thanks for visiting. I was thinking of presenting Susan Osborn for Song Saturday, but I was so moved by the meaning of the song, I thought Poetry Wednesday would be best.

deletereply lonewolfwithin wrote on Sep 11, ’08 beautiful and powerful! i’d heard the song before, but never knew who sang it… until now! ~smile~ thank you!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 11, ’08 She’s the lead singer with the Paul Winter Consort. I’ve actually seen them do a live Christmas concert in New York City.

deletereply slohomeles wrote on Sep 12, ’08 Beautiful song… perfect harmony to a beautiful post.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 13, ’08 Thanks for visiting, Michael. I love the song, too.

deletereply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Feb 12, ’09 Thanks Laurita, this is beautiful.

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