Carol's first acceptance on stage was with the most beautiful guidance of Ms. Beverly Blackburn in Omaha. At the age of 9, her debut was at the Kellom Elementary School auditorium. Carol moved on to become a moving voice in the Cleaves Temple CME choir in Omaha along with her mother, Callie Rich. As a youth, Carol also participated in most of the "local" talent venues in Omaha, including Show Wagons, back yard talent shows, and local school programs. Entering her teen years, Carol began singing at local Jazz clubs in Omaha, including the Off Beat, Allen's Showcase, Archies, the Lamplighter Inn, and many others. She shared the stage with other Omaha legends such as Big Daddy Sailes, Luigi Waites, and Mason Prince. In Omaha, Carol captured the hearts of Jazz fans with perfomances with her late brother Herbie (a multi-talented artist), and Bill (legendary bass player), all three of whom are inductees to the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame. In the late sixties, Carol moved to Denver with her family, and quickly became known as one of Denver's premier female vocalists. She was instrumental in the success of an early Denver Jazz Club, Club Soda, as it's opening act along with the Green Street Trio. That lead to a string of successful engagements at the Ninth Hole, Granny's Cellar, to name a few. She also had a successful touring engagement with famed Blues legend, Bobby Blue Bland. Carol was voted Denver's best Jazz soloist in 1990 by the Denver News and Arts publication. It was during that period that she teamed with Bobby Greene, a noted Denver Jazz pianist and, eventually, became Mrs. Bobby Greene. The duo continues to thrill Denver audiences to this day. |