A Brownstown gospel singer and songwriter recently finished her latest CD, featuring songs inspired by her own story of love and heartbreak.
Shirley Trowbridge has recorded eight works of music including CD’s, cassettes and 45 RPM records. Her latest project is, “Shirley’s Love Songs.”
Influenced by Southern Gospel music, Trowbridge has written religious songs in the past with positive feedback from listeners commenting that her songs are encouraging and uplifting.
She began her journey into the world of music in 1988, when she discovered she had a gift for singing and songwriting.
The inspiration for her latest CD came as a surprise to her, as it was due to heartbreak. A grade-school friend had come back into her life after many years, then the two parted ways, Trowbridge said.
“Then about 3:30 a.m. one morning, I woke up singing, ‘God’s making room for a new rose to bloom,’” Trowbridge said. “With tear-filled eyes, I wrote the words down.”
Since that time, Trowbridge became reacquainted with a former Brownstown Central High School classmate, Roger Hartman, who passed away in December. Trowbridge’s song “The New Rose” was written in his memory.
The songs from her new CD are true to her life and come straight from the heart. Fear and shyness had held her back in the past, but she has fought to move forward with her music career, Trowbridge said.
Trowbridge traveled to Hendersonville, Tennessee, to record the vocals for “Shirley’s Love Songs” and contacted Garland Craft of Hendersonville to provide the instrumentals and background vocals to her songs.
Trowbridge seldom performs her music for audiences due to health issues, and so she hopes to pitch her songs to well-known recording artists, she said.
“The songs seem to bring comfort and healing to me,” Trowbridge said. “Besides inspiring people, my goal is to get some airplay with these songs so I can share my music with people and hopefully inspire them.”
Trowbridge has several other CDs and cassettes available, besides her latest release.
For information, 812-603-2043.