My butt, January 2009

My butt,  January 2009
(who could miss it)

My butt, January 2010

My butt, January 2010
photos by Tom Peal

Welcome to You and All your Brilliant Parts!

In 2009 I lost 40 lbs and I got a new butt. How? Diet and exercise, that's the short answer. But all of the things I learned that made it emotionally possible, that allowed me to succeed when I had failed before - that will take longer. This blog celebrates the intelligence of the body. Please leave me a note to let me know what you think of this writing, if it's been helpful. I welcome your input and experience.

Original Music

Thanks for letting me introduce you to my original music.

Jenni Mansfield, Jennifer Mansfield, Jenni Mansfield Peal, Jenni Peal, Miss Jenni; they're all me and I've performed under all of those names and more. My career has been diverse and has become a long one, driven by a deep love for music and original expression. 


As a song writer, I have used my whole language, as well as the extent of musical style that I could grasp and compose with from year to year. This means that my art is not only diverse but intended for specific audiences - some songs are for children, some are for adults.  My pen and voice are given to all human experiences that move me, bright and dark.  I'm a teacher, a student, an instrumentalist and song preservationist, a children's entertainer and chanteuse to the elderly, a song writer and a poet. I love songs and will continue, by the Grace of God, to sing and write them. 




After I won Dallas' Poor David's Pub B.W. Stevenson Songwriters Contest in 1990 and sang my own set on the big sweet stage at The Kerrville Folk Festival, I recorded an album (Big Wind) and did two tours of Northern Ireland, featured on BBC radio worldwide more than once.  Some dates in London were included on that tour.  I had six original children's song videos in constant rotation on the globally syndicated Mr. Peppermint Show for years before it ended.  My song "Two Sisters" was picked up by some  Renaissance Faire performers; my song "Pearl" was picked up by some contemporary folk singers and groups.  In 1999, my song "Pearl" was nominated best of the year by HumbleTime! Radio Humbie Awards, and was beat by Susan Gibson's "Wide Open Spaces." 


In 1992 I released the celtic album Ascension with my band Pegasus Project.  In 2004 I released Flood, my first larger-run CD, with 13 original songs.  In 2009 came my first children's album, Putting on the Old Folk's Clothes.  The album features seven traditional songs and three original ones, and showcases my children's production, Gather 'Round Children:  America's Folk Song Heritage.  In 2009 I also did a new run of 1992's Big Wind, this time on CD.



And so the years go by.  I keep writing, singing, and diversifying my music to gain skill.

Texas is full of songwriters who write great songs, and I'm proud of the attention mine have gotten.  I consider myself part of the contemporary folk singer-songwriter movement, so evident here in Texas but also all over the country, on the air, around the world ...
Here in Dallas I'm part of an inspiring community that includes Lisa Markley and Bruce Balmer, Bob "Zen Bubba" Williford, Annie Benjamin, Steve Leach, Christine Cochran, Ken Turetsky, Dan Chandler, Nate Kipp, Lisa Byrn, James Michael Taylor, CC Cross, James Beavers, Erik Folkerth, Tom Prasada-Rao, Cary Cooper, and lots of others.  I'm telling you, it's happening.

You can find out more about my music, see where I'm playing, listen to some of my songs, buy my albums and see lots of great Tom Peal photos (and older ones from before I became Mrs. Peal) at: www.jennifermansfieldpeal.com

Thanks for reading, Jenni