Michele Falcon Profile
Atlanta Jewish Life, Fall 2001 edition
Michele Falcon is running at warp speed. She is tackling a list of family
errands on this sultry afternoon. Decked out in tennis game gear complete
with a light blue tank top and shorts, she jumps out of her minivan to grab a
decaf non-fat latte at the Northpoint Mall Starbucks. "I know, where's the
real latte in this. I mean, what's the point," she jokes to the
late-afternoon coffeehouse server. It seems that this 36-year-old mother of
two fits into Alpharetta's clean-cut culture like a glove. As Michele
Falcon is following suburbia's life script, she is writing quite a different
one-unbeknownst to many of her Bunco-playing contemporaries in the
neighborhood.
After she puts the kids to bed, Michele heads out to various nightclubs to
perform as the lead vocalist in an alternative rock band known as
Snapdragons. Okay...what's a nice, Jewish girl doing in loud, rough and
tumble bars? Shouldn't she be at home baking Kugel? Well, this is not your
average Emah. At showtime, gone are the sporty threads. They are replaced
with blue jeans and a fiery red top cut off at the midriff to reveal the
results of hours of tough workouts in the gym. She is an earthy, passionate
and energetic performer who is sending ripples through Atlanta's music scene.
It is hard to believe that all of this raw energy is generated from a
self-described shy woman from the Midwest. Novelty, Ohio had no idea that it
has produced a singing sensation, nor did her parents. "I have always had a
good relationship with my parents. My mom was a bit hesitant of my singing
at first, but she perked up when she found out that I was playing as an
opening act to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers."
While her support network is strong, so is her Jewish identity. "I was
raised in a reform Jewish household east of Cleveland and it was not so much
that religion itself has impacted me, but it was the religious aspect of
family that has inspired me," explains Michele. As music is very much a
part of her life, so is her bond to Judaism. She intends to raise her
children with a foundation rooted in Jewish culture.
To arrive at this juncture in her young life, Michele has gone through years
of soul-searching. Her quest was found when her husband Rick purchased a
musical keyboard. "I was shocked when he bought it," she exclaims. "I
remember thinking, 'what do we need this toy for'?" This once so-called
"frivolous expense" uncovered Michele's musical talents. She decided
to build upon her high school music and chorus training to learn the
keyboard, strengthen her vocals and publicly perform. Although she
experienced a bit a stage fright, Michele learned to overcome it by writing
and rehearsing her own material which built up her confidence. Teamed with
her guitarist Dale Beasley, Michele has crafted a number of edgy pop numbers
including, "Baby Goodbye" available on a mini-CD titled, Candy from
Strangers. Michele would like to head back into the studio with 14 new
songs she and Dale penned.
Does all of this success mean that Atlanta will produce a new Jewish pop
diva? "No,"she says emphatically. "I'm just having fun. It's a hobby and
nothing more," Ms. Falcon says, as she jumps back into her minivan with
latte in tow and drives off into Atlanta's gridlock overshadowed by a sunset.
(C)Leader Publishing, 2001
Return to Robert's Resume
Please note: The band is now billed as Candy From Strangers once again
Candy From Strangers Homepage