Gina*
SINGER/SONGWRITER
Jan Bellamy
Many musicians say that their music is their life. But few have been so anchored in the musical tradition and so loyal to their musical careers as Gina Bellamy. Gina's family has been musical for several generations: grandmother and great grandmother were both musicians, and mother Janett was Gina's partner in ScooterTunes, Inc. and the composer of several songs on Gina's True Love Conquers All album, Lavender Blue, and Wild Honey. "My mother had been in music since I can remember." Gina knew almost from when she could talk that she wanted to be in the music business-she asked to be on a show when she was three years old!
Gina waited ten more years, however, to make her official debut as part of a girl-guy singing act called 'Gina & Bill.' This team lasted throughout Gina's high school years and allowed her to experience television and stage shows as well as cut a couple of records. 
"It was always in my mind to continue with my music," Gina says. "I took time out, however, to earn a degree in Geology and then I worked in the oil business for several years." But Gina's love of music and show business never waned: although professionally she was in the field of petroleum geology, she worked on the television series 'Dallas' as Linda Gray's stand-in for two summers and worked in several made-for-television movies as well. She also recorded her first solo project in 1994, "True Love Conquers All," and saw it released that year in England.
One of her happiest projects was "Lavender Blue", the fourth album she recorded (see Discography) and it paid tribute to both Gina's love of music and her love of her heritage. It was also a very special album because it reunited Gina with longtime friend and fellow musician George Anderson. Anderson, who attended Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, TX, with Gina, is the bassit on'Lavender Blue' and also sang backing vocals on the recording. "I wanted to create my own style with this album,"Gina explained, "and I wanted a jazzier sound. I immediately thought of 
George."Although she hadn't worked with her high school friend in many
years, Gina made the contact and scheduled the recording of the album around George's busy schedule. "I was so delighted to hear from Gina, and her new project intrigued me," George explained, "Once I got in (the studio) with her, though, I was really excited by the possibilities and the album material."
"Lavender Blue" is a collection of 10 emotionally moving songs, many with George's trademark jazz 'feel.' "The album is about love," Gina notes simply. "Love from several viewpoints - between spouses, from someone hoping for love, love of your heritage as in the title track 'Lavender Blue,' and love from someone who recognizes the need to be careful whom you love and whom you trust, as in the song "Watch Out (There's a Thief About)" The lyrics to the title track were penned by Gina's mother-songwriter Janett. Randy Wensel and Gina contributed the music and chant. The song speaks to the feelings and the proud traditions of Native Americans.
All 10 tracks showcase George's inspired bassmanship and several feature his unique voice in nicely-arranged backing vocals. George is a product of North Texas State University Music School, and his list of credits reads like a who's who in contemporary and jazz music. George was a member of the North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band under Leon Breeden and has worked with Woody Herman's Big Band Tour, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams for the Spoleto Music Festival, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Marvin Hamlisch, Tommy Tune, George Strait, Jennifer Holiday and Doc Severinson. He's also performed on the bass and sung vocals for national campaigns for such prestigious accounts as Nike, American Airlines and Dr. Pepper. Four other musicians helped Gina and George bring "Lavender Blue" to fruition. Randy Wensel, who plays keyboards, grand piano and synthesizers on the album worked with Brooks Benton. After studies at the University of North Texas, Randy played piano for Chuck Berry and trombone for Little Anthony and the Imperials. He co-produced the songs on 'Lavender Blue' with Gina and was instrumental in many of the arrangements. Versatile saxophonist Jeff Robbins has worked with everyone from the Dallas Wind Symphony to Harry Connick, Jr. He made time after a European tour with blues legend Albert Collins to lay down the sax arrangements on 'Lavender Blue.' Kim Platko, who handled all the guitars on the album, has played with both the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphonies. Specializing in Broadway productions, he has also worked with Rita Moreno and the New York productions of 'Tommy' and 'Evita.' Driving the album is the brilliant percussion of Warren Dewey, who has drummed with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and for the stage shows produced for Bob Hope, Englebert Humperdink and Liberace.
Gina is the President of ScooterTunes, Inc. which owns a label (Scooter Records) and an ASCAP music publishing company (JB Quantum Music). She owns a BMI publishing house, (GB Scootertunes, Inc.). A member of the Order of She is listed in the 'IBC's Dictionary of International Biography and the International Who's Who in Music-Popular Music, the International Who's Who of Professional and Business Women, Five Thousand Personalities of the World and also in the ABI's 'Two Thousand Notable American Women.' She's recorded in three languages and holds a degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in geology. She has worked mainly in the Austin Chalk area of South Texas. Gina is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, BMI as a publisher and a writer, ASCAP as a publisher and Naras. **
** These publications list Gina as "Gina Bellamy", "Gina Bellamy-Loren" and "Gina Loren"