Stephanie J. Block sings Scott Alan's NEVER NEVERLAND (FLY AWAY) - Live @ Birdland

Stephanie J. Block performs "Never Neverland (Fly Away)" at Scott Alan's CD Release event for 'Dreaming Wide Awake' on January 7, 2008. CD available on CDbaby.com/scottalan and iTunes.

BACKSTORY: So, I had done a Benefit Concert with Shoshana Bean called 'The Kitchen Sink.' It was my first professional gig in the city. Stephanie J. Block was there. I had JUST seen her a few days prior in Boy from Oz, but I was to scared to say hi to her at the Concert. Intimidated.

Yet, that's what email is for. I went to her website and emailed her a letter, exactly how I had touched base with Shoshana. I didn't think she would respond. (Side note, I have ALL of these emails saved still. Sad, right ?!?!). Well, she did respond, and said she loved the song Shoshana sang at the Concert and has a benefit coming up for BroadwayWorld.com called 'Standing Ovations' and has to sing two songs and it would be great to sing something new. So, we scheduled to meet later that week at Shetler Studios.

So, we meet and I am shaking and start playing her some songs and she is so sweet and keeps going 'Yes, this is beautiful, I'll take this one.' I played her Goodnight (the song Liz Callaway sings on the CD) and she said 'this is the one.' So, she made her decision, but, in a weird twist of fate she said, just in case, do you have anymore ? I literally had played her EVERYSONG ... Well, there was one more ...

Never Neverland (Fly Away) was a very personal song for me and I hardly ever played it for anyone. Everyone I DID play it for passed it over very quickly, so I was even skeptical to play it for Stephanie.

Well, I did, and she loved it. So, she took Goodnight and Never Neverland home with her. She emailed me a few days later to let me know the director of the Concert asked her to sing two more well known songs but was going to try and sneak in one of these sings, if possible. She still didn't know which one. Well, the concert came, and Stephanie sang her first song and then an intermission came and I thought 'well, hmmmm, maybe she isn't singing my song after all.' Truth be told, I was going to leave.

I am so glad I didn't. Stephanie came out, I had my tape recorder ready, and her performance changed my life forever, literally.

Some songs are meant for a performer. This song was one of my trunk songs, and Stephanie made it a spotlight song of mine. Everything happens for a reason, when it's meant to.