April, 2008 y ndy Centola

When Jocelyn Oldham was a little girl, “My mom told me that I used to sing instead of talk,” she says with a smile.  Singing remains her passion to this day, and she is popular among children for her Music Together   With Jocelyn music classes, and among adults, who know her better as a member of Me & JO.

The duo plays cover songs frequently to audiences throughout Hampton Roads.“I see music as a language,” Oldham remarks. “If you grow up speaking the language, it becomes a part of you.”

Music has always been a part of Oldham’s life. As a young child in New Hampshire, her mother introduced her to the guitar, piano, and singing. Oldham eventually taught herself to play the guitar, by reading the notes from the songbooks her mother had lying around the house. She bought her first guitar at age 15, and still uses it today in her music classes. In middle and high school, she played the clarinet, trumpet, and oboe, but it’s when she left for college that her talent for singing fully emerged. “Singing is my forte,” she says.  “It’s what I’m most confident in and what I believe I’m the best at doing.”

At Virginia Tech, Oldham joined the vocal jazz ensemble, The New Virginians, with encouragement from an older sister.  “The music was really challenging, and it just really made me a better singer,” she recalls. “I started to take voice lessons after that. I always felt I had a pretty voice, and just really learned how to use it.”

After graduating with a degree in music education, Oldham taught for a year in New Hampshire before making her way to Williamsburg in 2001 to be a part of the Music Theatre of Williamsburg. When the theatre closed two years later she and a co-worker, Ted Pollard, joined the local group, The Rythmn Kings, a six-piece horn cover band with Oldham as lead vocalist. Oldham and Pollard later left after a year to form Me & JO.
“We play a lot of popular music from just about every genre,” Oldham says. “We play the Beatles, Gwen Stefani, Joni Mitchell, Dave Matthews, country, jazz.”

Me & JO perform multiple times weekly at various venues, and have regular gigs at the Firkin & Frigate in City Center in Newport News on Wednesdays and at Kincaids at the MacArthur Center in Norfolk on Saturdays. Locally, the duo has played at JM Randall’s, Berret’s, the Merchants Square Farmers Market, and private functions. Eventually, Oldham and her partner want to record a CD. “She is one of the best singers I have ever worked with,” says her partner, Pollard.  “She is very musical.”

In addition to Me & JO, Oldham teaches music classes to infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. Inspired by her sister, she began offering the Music Together With Jocelyn program to children from birth through age five and their parents or caregivers in 2004. The nationally recognized program believes that all children are musical.
“It’s not about teaching music, it’s about experiencing music,” Oldham states.  Currently, 70 children are enrolled in Oldham’s class, which integrates song, instruments, and movement. She often bumps into parents of previous students who say their children still enjoy singing along to her songs.“It’s really neat when they tell me they are still into the music,” Oldham says.  Carolyn Miller believes the class was a great benefit to her daughter. “She loved singing the songs and we would sing them together in the car, at bedtime, at bath time,”  Miller says. Miller describes Oldham as “extremely talented in many ways. Her musical abilities are amazing. She can pick up any instrument and play it so well. And her singing voice is so beautiful. She has a terrific rapport with children. They flock to her and she is so patient.”

Oldham hopes to continue the program, and is looking for a partner to help teach the classes. “I like being an inspiration for the kids, and bringing music into their lives,” she states. “It’s really great being a role model. I’m like a rock star for the under five crowd here in Williamsburg.” And that suits Oldham just fine. “I love to perform,” she beams. “It’s really satisfying. It’s great to be able to do what I love and get paid for it.”

Easy listening doesn't have to be a bad thing

Nevermind the age gap, acoustic duo Me & JO offer smooth covers of tasty pop and rock confections.

Sam McDonald | | 247-4732

July 28, 2008

Jocelyn Oldham has the kind of singing voice that stops people in their tracks.

Clear and strong, never abrasive, her singing sparkles in a variety of pop and rock styles. In the covers duo Me & JO, her pure pipes are backed by the acoustic guitar of Ted Pollard.

Pollard is about 20 years older than Oldham, but there's no musical generation gap. "We actually enjoy the same kind of music," Oldham said. "He's a really laid-back kind of guy. Anything I want to do is fine with him. He's a great person."

Just to be clear, there's plenty of musical chemistry in this duo — but not the romantic kind. People often presume they're a couple offstage, Oldham said, but they're not.

She took time to answer a few questions about the group's sound, which is easy listening in the best sense.

Explain your name. Ted Pollard is "Me" and "JO" are my initials, Jocelyn Oldham.

How did you two meet? At the Music Theatre of Williamsburg, before it went bankrupt in March of 2004. We were both performers. He played guitar in the band. I sang and danced. After the Music Theatre, we both were in the Rhythm Kings, a party band. We broke off from them to form this duo. Ted approached me about it. He's an excellent guitar player, and he's been playing music for many, many years. He knew the music biz and knew how it would go.

Where is home base? I live in Williamsburg, Ted lives in Chesapeake.

When did the duo start? March 2006.

Who plays what? I do lead vocals and guitar; Ted plays guitar and does some vocals.

What's your style? We play mostly popular rock music from many eras: Beatles, Dave Matthews, Colbie Caillat, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and much more.

Who are your musical heroes? Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Indigo Girls.

What's your favorite local stage? Anywhere outside on a nice day with NO SMOKING. In the winter, I'll just take the no-smoking thing — it's hard to find. Buon Amici in New Town Center is about the only place.

What tunes surprise people most? When we pull out the ABBA or the Blondie, people don't expect that. People like that '80s rock. It brings 'em back.

What's your dream gig? How about the Grammys?

What motivates you to make music? It's what we do best. Besides, it's nice to get applauded for doing your job.

Ultimate goal? To keep playing and improving ... landing more private parties, corporate functions, weddings, birthday parties, etc. We play for any and all occasions. Also, to work on writing (that's Ted's job) and recording a CD.