Callaway finds success her own way

Suzie Harrison

The ability to sing songs came at the early age of 3, and by 10 she

knew it was her true ambition. Her path started early, and Ann

Hampton Callaway has been persistently working on it ever since.

A widely acclaimed jazz/pop singer and songwriter, Callaway, who

won a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a musical

for her work on Broadway in “Swing!” will be showcasing her talents

on April 4 and 5 with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra at the Orange

County Performing Arts Center.

Her resume is highlighted with many accomplishments, and she is

pleased with the path she has taken.

One of Callaway’s favorite early performances was when she was a

Brownie in elementary school and was part of a play.

“I remember how thrilling, a play in sixth grade,” Callaway said.

“That was the first time I remember being truly thrilled.”

She won the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut for

her work in “Swing!” She has also composed many songs for Barbra

Streisand, including “I’ve Dreamed of You,” a song Streisand sang to

James Brolin at their wedding.

As she got older, she really started to blossom.

“In seventh grade at Riverdale in the Bronx, I started to hone the

idea of theater, jazz, opera and writing lots of songs,” Callaway

said. “I had an eclectic upbringing to do anything to express

myself.”

Her starring roles in several musicals in high school was also

lauded. It wasn’t until she was in college at the University of

Illinois where she met discouragement and criticism that could have

defeated her. Instead, she moved to New York to create her own

education. Three days after she moved, she started performing.

“It’s nice to be recognized by your peers and be validated,”

Callaway said. “I’ve been fortunate. The bottom line is that you’re

happy with your own work.”

She said the awards can only take her so far. They offer

encouragement; but she doesn’t take them too seriously or allow

herself to sit on her laurels.

“I remember the day of the Tony nomination, my agent called and I

thought he was lying,” Callaway said. “I told him to stop, it’s not

funny. To think of all the people who discouraged me -- I thank God

that I did what my heart said and never listened.”

Another highlight for Callaway was performing with her sister for

Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev’s Youth Peace Summit in Moscow.

She was moved by the tears in Gorbachev’s eyes when they performed.

She has written more than 200 songs, has eight solo albums and has

performed as a guest artist on 48 other albums. She is also working

on many future projects.

“During a time of war, I feel so privileged to share beautiful

music, when souls are starving for beauty,” Callaway said. “It’s

important to provide oneself with love, beauty and inspiration, to

share with an audience songs and love to restore what is beautiful in

life.”

Callaway said she looks forward to performing with the Pacific

Symphony Orchestra again. She did a Fourth of July concert with the

symphony two years ago, and said it was one of the highlights of her

career.

For more information, call the Pacific Symphony Orchestra at (714)

755-5799. Shows are at 8 p.m. Tickets cost from $26 to $60.