Singing In Perfect Harmony
Trilogy members say their musical tastes and talents mesh beautifully. The trio’s friendship bond spans notes and melodies, tying the group together musically and spiritually.
“We’ve become like sisters,” says member Peggy Wooden.
That’s why fellow member Jennifer Gilliam’s most rewarding singing experience came when the other two Trilogy members were adamant about supporting her and singing at her mother’s funeral.
“My mother always encouraged me to sing,” Gilliam said.
Though it was difficult to pay tribute to her mother at her funeral, doing so was important. Her mother’s lessons carried her throughout life. Now, she uses that gift to reach others.
“Music is a way to communicate,” Gilliam said. “People bond over music.”
I’ll Take The Lead
Part
All three Trilogy women have been singing for as long as they can remember. From childhood, singing was simply part of the fabric of their lives.
The love for singing — and the encouragement from family to pursue it — became an important foundation that set the stage for their future musical development.
Gilliam — who takes the lead part in Trilogy — began singing at age 5 in church. Her mother, a pianist, greatly encouraged her, teaching her parts and notes.
She grew used to singing with a microphone and was never scared to perform in front of people, mainly because her first audience in the formative years was comprised of fellow churchgoers.
“It was always kind of natural,” she said.
Robin Killion has sung all her life. Her mother consistently pushed her two daughters to perform duets.
The family lived in St. Louis in a flat, with a neighbor upstairs. Eleven-year-old Killion was always singing. The neighbor upstairs heard her and happened to be writing an operetta at that time. She asked Killion to sing it when she finished the composition.
Over the years, Killion has used her musical ability to reach people through family bands. She loves performing live.
“There’s something about singing before a group. It’s very exciting, it’s very satisfying,” she said. “(Once you do that), you never really lose the itch to do it again.”
While Gilliam sings lead, Killion takes the high role. Wooden takes the low part. Playing around with harmonizing and working out songs is not challenging for the trio, who seem to mesh personally and musically.
Killion finds singing in a trio is a much easier musical combination than a big family band.
“It is way more satisfying working with a trio,” she said.
Wooden’s family outings and trips were frequently peppered with singing in four-part harmony, performing with her brother, mother and father in the car, traveling down the road.
As a “gregarious” child, Wooden was never scared to sing in front of others. She began singing at age 2 and just never stopped.
“I would rather sing than anything,” she said, smiling.
Starting In “C”
It all started rather simply. Killion invited Wooden and her daughter, Brandy, over to sing. She thought it would be fun to sing some songs together. The result was a little amazing.
“We thought, ‘This doesn’t sound so bad,’” Killion said, laughing.
The three were encouraged by the outcome and thought they should take the show on the road. They began performing at various local gigs, including diversity dinners.
Six months later, Brandy decided that she didn’t want to pursue performing, so Killion and Wooden began auditioning for a lead singer. Gilliam fit right in.
“It was a good fit vocally, it was a good fit with her personality,” Killion said. “She has a good voice and we blended well together.”
That was six years ago. Trilogy’s full calendar of gigs throughout the year includes much repeat business. Some gigs come from first-time listeners who hear them at a venue, then book them for an upcoming gig of their own.
They’ve sung at a Kiss The Pig Diabetes Foundation fundraiser in Rogers, Ark., Art on the Creeks in northwest Arkansas, the Berry Festival in Anderson and at various restaurant and bar venues.
Their upcoming gig on March 29 will take place at the Indian Springs Brewery Company in Neosho from 7 to 9 p.m.
With a repertoire of 120 songs, Trilogy sings country, gospel, good old rock’n’roll, doo-wop, 1940s music and more.
They feel they can reach almost anyone in the audience because of the variety of music they perform.
Their fan base — which is growing and enthusiastic — follows them to various venues and enjoys the experience.
Trilogy used to regularly perform at a coffee bar, One14 in Neosho. During one song, group members wore gloves that lit up. The singers turned their backs to the crowd to put on the gloves. When they turned around, all the audience members had on gloves that lit up, too.
Reaching people through music keeps the trio’s fire lit.
“We have a good blend and feel like we give our audiences a good performance,” Killion said. “We all love to sing and performing together is fun.
“These girls are like sisters.”