Houston soul artist Simone Gundy visits the Music and the Human Experience class for a discussion and performance on Nov. 3. Jackson Haltom\/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nStudents asked Gundy about her musical theatre experience and what it\u2019s like to pursue music as a full-time career. One student asked what her greatest achievement has been thus far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI get to do music full-time,\u201d Gundy said. \u201cFor the past six years, I have not had a 9-to-5 regular job, and that is truly a success to me. I never wanted to have cameras in my face. The only thing I ever asked for was I wanted to be able to provide for my family and be comfortable and do what I love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gundy is raising four children alongside her husband, James O\u2019Neal, who is also a singer-songwriter. Her oldest son is in high school and wants to one day play in the National Football League. Gundy said she believes she has helped him see big dreams are achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shared that her son had an SAT prompt he was working on that said: \u201cDo people generally go for the money in their career or do they go for what they love?\u201d She asked him what his answer was, and he replied that people should go after what they love. If people only pursue money, at some point it will run out, and they won\u2019t have any love for their choice of work, he told Gundy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was beyond filled with joy,\u201d she recalled. \u201cBecause I would like to think that I instilled that in him, to let him know that this isn\u2019t a mainstream career, but you can do it. Maybe not everybody makes it to the NFL or on \u2018The Voice,\u2019 but I did it and he can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gundy performed two songs during the class with keyboard accompaniment from Rob Hitchcock, general manager at Grand Stafford Theater. They played \u201cDiamonds\u201d by Rihanna and The Zutons\u2019 \u201cValerie,\u201d popularized by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson. She said her original song \u201cNever More,\u201d which she wrote with her husband, will be available to stream in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n