Folk in the Family

They met at a local open-mike night in 1997, and although they grew up across the country from each other, they felt an instant connection, almost as if they were related. An Oklahoma native, Amy Carol Webb learned to raise her voice early, crooning around the Southwest with her three brothers and parents as the Webb Family Singers. Growing up in North Miami, Ellen Bukstel and her brother Gary (seven years her junior) also were exposed to music early in school and at home. In South Florida Webb has made a career performing as a solo folk musician, releasing a series of albums, winning local folk contests, and earning a New Folk Finalist spot at Texas's prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival. The Bukstels (Ellen too was a Kerrville finalist earlier this year) played with Andy Neuman and Steve Rosenberg in the band Legacy and often strike out on their own. After numerous gigs fusing harmonies and song, Webb and the Bukstels decided to pool their talents into the album Born to Sing. More sibling reverie than rivalry, the disc shares tunes penned by each and offers soaring vocal and instrumental collaborations. Musically the trio meshes seamlessly, but how much do they really have in common?

Ellen Bukstel

First instrument played: Piano.

First instrument owned: Ukulele. I was young and small, and ukuleles are small.

First song you learned to play: Folk songs like "500 Miles" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

First album you bought: Back then it was 45s: "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore or "Society's Child" by Janis Ian.

Records, if any, you hid from your parents: I didn't have that problem with them. Okay, I used to go across the street to hear Frank Zappa.

Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.

Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? Neither. I never liked either one of them. I was a little old for them -- or young!

Earliest musical memory? Opera records my mother played to put me to sleep. And recordings of Broadway musicals. I don't go to the opera today but I love musical theater.

First public performance: My mother used to force me to play the piano for her friends.

Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: Barbra Streisand.

Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) that you wish you had: Guitar playing.

Favorite way to musically torture your sibling: Singing Hebrew songs. I can't pay him enough money to sing them with me.

Favorite song on the new album: Hmm, that's going to be really egotistical if I pick mine. "Only A Sleep Away" [written by Gary Bukstel].

Gary Bukstel

First instrument played: Ukulele.

First instrument owned: Ukulele.

First song you learned to play: A song about Florida. "I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow." That kind of song.

First album you bought: Led Zeppelin 4 or Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens.

Records, if any, you hid from your parents: There wasn't any.

Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.

Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? The Partridge Family.

Earliest musical memory? My brother and sister singing harmony to "Woodstock," I think.

First public performance: In first grade.

Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: James Taylor.

Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) you wish you had: Her grand piano! Actually I'm satisfied with what God gave me.

Favorite way to musically torture your sibling: Tell her that I don't want her to play guitar.

Favorite song on the new album: I love my music but I can't really say that. "Born to Sing" [written by Amy Carol Webb].

Amy Carol Webb

First instrument played: Guitar.

First instrument owned: Guitar.

First song you learned to play: "Red River Valley."

First album you bought: The Sound of Music soundtrack.

Records, if any, you hid from your parents: Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I hide those today!

Preferred sibling duo, the Carpenters or Donny & Marie? The Carpenters.

Favored fictional singing family, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family? Oh no! I'd go back to The Sound of Music. That was a singing family.

Earliest musical memory? My parents singing at people's parties. I sat under the piano, up against the sounding board.

First public performance: My kindergarten Christmas pageant.

Musician you wanted to be when you grew up: Judy Garland.

Musical ability possessed by your sibling(s) you wish you had: Improvisation.

Favorite way to musically torture your sibling(s): When I was trying to learn the clarinet. Didn't happen.

Favorite song on the new album: It's a real toss. "Music Won't Leave Me Alone" [written by Webb and Randall Reeves]. That song was put away since 1985. They [Ellen and Gary] brought a life to it.