Janice Miller’s
Scintillating Performance in Dallas
Janice
Miller with President Musharraf, Begum Sehba Musharraf
and guests |
Dallas:
Security was so tight that nothing could pass through without
being detected, each and everyone was thoroughly searched
and the whole neighborhood was surrounded by vigilant Police
Officers. There was a great sense of calm and anticipation.
It was a beautiful September 23rd , the eve of the start
of Ramadan. The breeze was perfect and inside the audience
seemed to be in an expectant mood as if something exciting
was about to happen.
There couldn't have been a better host then Dr Hashmi who
admitted to visiting Pakistan and watching President Musharraf
compliment Janice Miller and play her CD for them. Dr. Hashmi
said that President Musharraf is impressed and happy about
Janice Miller's first performance in Islamabad the previous
year and that is the reason Janice is performing for the
President again on a special request from President Musharraf.
Janice Miller felt obliged with the honor to welcome a prominent
figure in today's world affairs, President Musharraf of
Pakistan to her very hometown Dallas, Texas for a special
dinner and entertainment. “I felt like a princess
as I walked up the stairs of the beautiful mansion with
my colleagues Amir (musician) and Denis (tabla player)”.
Janice said, “Till this day, it still amazes me that
the president could be one of my biggest fans. I am truly
blessed to be admired by one of the most important leaders
of recent times.”
On World News with Charles Gibson, were the two presidents
telling America that "We are in the hunt together."
"It seems like they were brothers for a second,"
says Janice. She feels President Musharraf is stuck between
a rock and a hard place. Presidents have the hardest jobs
and she expresses her sympathy, especially for President
Musharraf's political position. “In The Line of Fire,”
his memoir, he sends his message of peace to the American
public and “one can only imagine how necessary it
is for him and his family to take a break to be entertained
thoroughly and I am honored to be the one to do so,”
said Janice. Living in President Bush's state and growing
up in the country of United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan, Ghana, West Africa, Janice said, “I am on a
mission to deliver a message of peace with my voice.”
Janice
Miller performs |
The
sound system was set and everything was in place before
all the guests arrived. The chief of police and a few big
shots of Dallas were present as well. The dinner was held
at a gorgeous mansion in Highland Park. The decorations
were absolutely breathtaking, done by Tiffany from Florida.
It was all so overwhelming; I just can’t remember
what was on the menu. Anxiously waiting to sing, everyone
gathered in the main room altogether 25 people in a very
intimate setting.
The
guests were surprised by Janice Miller's performance of
Punjabi and Urdu without understanding the language. President
Musharraf would try to explain the meaning after each song
to the audience. He went into detail to carefully discuss
almost every song and exchange questions with Miller across
the room expressing his appreciation for her intonation
and technique. Janice said, “All the while, I was
shocked at what I was witnessing; it was hard to believe
that I was the center of attention for most of the evening
and when the President and the first lady got up and danced,
that was just about all the glory I could take.” Smiling
in total disbelief, she sang beautifully captivated by every
single moment. Some of the security staff were shocked and
couldn't understand how it was possible that an American
could sing like that.
This beautiful musical evening ended 4 AM as President Musharraf
was to take off early in the morning for the East Coast.
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