|
Cheri was raised on the east coast of Florida. Her love of music started at the age of four when she first heard the song, “Puff The Magic Dragon”. During her adolescence, she discovered the many different worlds of music. She started playing the bass in her late teens, and for a short time played with a group of friends in a punk group called “The Cichlids,” but was pulled away for over fifteen years by her interest in the world of martial arts. Cheri spent this time working on getting her black belt in Ninjutsu, and in Kung Fu. In the process, she also studied to become a Massage Therapist and focused specifically on Asian healing modalities. Throughout this period she was blessed with teachers that taught her meditation techniques that would be the guiding foundation through her life.
It was not until the late nineties when she was approached about trading massage therapy treatments for flute lessons that she became an active musician again. This time, Cheri became focused on new age and old world music, mainly because that was what she listened to in her treatment room all day.
Cheri and Sarah Hale, her co-partner and band mate, met in 2004 while teaching Asian massage modalities at a massage school in Melbourne, Florida where Sarah was a student. They realized they shared a love for music and became fast friends. Later that year they started a band that would become the foundation of Manuka Honey.
Manuka Honey focused on music that Sarah had written as a solo musician, and those who joined blended their sound and personality styles into the songs. They began hearing parts for other instruments as well, but could not find the right musicians in their small fishing town that fit the bill. So Cheri went out, bought the instruments and a how to book, and never looked back. To date, Cheri plays flutes; concert and bamboo, alto and tenor Sax, and the electric cello for the band.
Cheri’s is currently working on her own solo meditation and relaxation music featuring the bamboo flutes.
|
