Sheila Jonsmithe - Big Daddy

 For those who may not know, Sheila Jonsmithe is the wife of Big Marv, our resident piano player extraordinaire. She uses her maiden name because she has her own Cajun food catering business and wanted to keep things straight between her and her husband's finances for tax purposes. This is only the second time she's recorded for us. She used to have the prefix 'Big' before her name, kind of like keeping it close with her husband's use of it. But the gal has been on a diet, and over quite a few months, has managed to drop a considerable amount of weight. So she doesn't use 'big' anymore, although she isn't a little woman either. She comments on that, and the song she sings:

I had to lose weight for health reasons. I'm diabetic, and my Doctor had a serious talk with me  about the risks of heart disease being higher with diabetes, and all the other things that can go wrong. So I went on a weight loss program of just eating less, cutting down on my portions, and watching how much I eat when I'm cookin' Ya know when ya cook, ya gotta taste how things are goin', but that doesn't mean I need to slurp ladle full of what I'm tastin'! Didn't have to increase my activity much, cuz cookin' is hard work! I did start to take a walk every day, and that helped. Big Marv went on the program too, and he's dropped a good chunk of weight. But he likes his beer, and it's hard to keep off the weight with beer! And he loves my cookin' too, but he's learned  to take smaller portions. He quit smoking too, which has made me really glad. So this song was written by one of his band members with input from me with the lyrics. I surprised him with it after I got through cookin' at a wing ding. He was a little embarrassed I think, but he ended up bein' really touched. It's the way I feel about him. My life has been so good with him, and I hope we've got a lot more years together!

Big Marv and Sheila got together in the studio with the band and put this recording together. We really like it, and hope Sheila gets the urge to record some more! And it ain't no lie- we've had this ladies' cookin', and it's the best! 

I thought it was going to be just me my whole life 

My younger days were not so hot 

Being a big lady, and a little shy 

Didn’t think I had much of a shot 

 

One night I was cookin’ away

 Had lots of pots on the fire 

Real good black beans and rice 

And some out a sight Jambalaya 

 

 When I looked out the kitchen door 

To see who was wailin’ the stage 

A big man playin’ the piano

 Really got the crowd engaged 

 

 It was big Daddy! Yes, my big Daddy! 

In good form, playin’ up a storm 

Smiling while he played

 I was no longer forlorn 

 

There was an instant attraction 

He held himself so well 

Sat up straight, played it straight 

As clear and bright as ringin’ a bell!

 

 It was big Daddy! Yes, my big Daddy! 

Playin’ with the band, Groovin’ Dixie land 

A command of the eighty eights 

 Had the crowd in the palm of his hand 

 

Got through cookin’, cleaned up the mess 

Band kept playin’ on and on

Then he was playing by himself 

Soulful as the day you were born!

 

 Fell in love with Big Daddy, my Big Daddy 

The more I heard play, more I saw him sway 

I went out and sat at the bar 

And he looked over my way! 

 

When the band took a break 

He came strolling over my way 

Said he loved all my food 

And asked me if I could stay 

 

Man, I was so tired from cookin’ 

Sweatin’ from the heat, tired in my feet 

But no way was I gonna leave 

From this big guy that's so sweet 

 

That was years ago, never did leave! 

I'm still cookin', he's still playin' 

We are in love even more now 

Without no hestitatin' 

 

Ya'll know him as Big Marv 

But he's my Big Daddy to me 

His heart is the biggest part of him 

Cuz he's Big Daddy to me