Cynthia Interviewed
Click here to listen to Cynthia Bythell on the I Love Shanny Show podcast as she reveals details from her personal life, music career, upcoming album and more. Be one of the first people to hear two of Cynthia’s unreleased original songs from her upcoming album being aired for the first time!
My Story by Cynthia Bythell
I was depressed and suicidal from the age of 7 for no apparent reason. In my late teens, I finally took 50 chloral hydrate sleeping capsules. They found me when it was too late to pump my stomach, and I went into a coma. When I miraculously awoke, the pain the attempt caused my loved ones was heartbreaking. Certainly, they would suffer even greater grief if I succeeded in killing myself. Suicide revealed itself as an unconscionable option for me. I would simply have to endure life until death came naturally.
I knew how to endure. As a child, I learned music could serve as a medication for my secret state of mind. My mother, a piano, organ, and voice teacher started me singing from day one, and playing piano from age five. Making music truly carried me through my childhood and teenage years.
Somewhere in the early 80’s, after picking up substances as an additional coping mechanism, and soothing myself with excess food until I weighed 325 pounds, I was brought to my knees. With no place else to turn, I accepted the idea of a Higher Power. It became clear this loving energy had always been watching over me. During this time, my first inspirational tune came to me. Time Can Do Magic was published by the Spinners on their Down To Business CD. With one foot in the “spiritual door,” a new level of existence was gradually opening up for me.
Meanwhile, I found my true love, Shelly. We settled down in Berkeley CA, and I began to perform professionally. I worked as a piano bar entertainer, strummed a guitar with my country band, and delivered singing telegrams. Then I became popular in San Francisco’s cabarets, and segued into a successful career as a jazz, swing, & blues vocalist/bandleader in the Bay Area for some 20+ years. During this period of time, my spirituality continued to grow deeper. This enabled me to gradually released my addictions one by one, and overcome depression without medication.
Eventually, in search of more meaning in my life, I let go of working as an entertainer. But without performance expression, I began to feel lost and empty. Although devoted to my daily prayer, meditation, affirmations, and inspirational reading & writing, the old depression seemed to beckon me. Apparently this was all just divine discontent in action, for suddenly, inspirational tunes started to come to me. Then, a guided meditation led me to realize that I needed to share these songs at large. My whole life began to make sense. I realized everything had always been unfolding exactly as it should. It felt like I had mysteriously survived the suicide attempt in order to overcome depression & addiction, and be able to share the spirit of this healing with others through my music.
Now my Higher Power is mostly called God, but I use many other names too. My belief is that God is good, ever loving, all in all, and that all is actually One. I envision understanding and acceptance among the many faiths, and choose to focus on commonalities found within the various paths to Spiritual Enlightenment.
I truly hope you find my songs helpful, for yourself or someone else in your life, and wish for you an ever increasing positive attitude, and unlimited spiritual growth.
Blessings!