By Aundria McMillan Humphrey
Felecia has known she wanted to be a singer from the time she could talk, which was at the age of 2 years. “I was with my mother at a theatre showing an Elvis Presley movie in Alabama when I crawled under my mother’s legs, up the aisle, and onto the stage and began singing along with Elvis. They turned the spotlight on me, and the rest is history.”
Throughout elementary and high school, Felecia entered talent shows and singing competitions. She honed her craft by singing in choirs, participating in musical theatre, and entering state-wide competitions throughout high school. She also learned to play the piano and began to write her own songs. Felecia was a vocal performance major in college and starred in operas and other musicals.
At age 18, she was “discovered” by a producer and advertising executive who promised, “If you ever move to Dallas, you have a job!” She eventually moved to Dallas in 1985, got an agent, and began her professional career. During this time, she also began getting small roles in TV Shows, including Dallas and Rescue 911.
Her career came to a grinding halt when in 1991, at 27 years old, Felecia had a horrific accident. A balcony where she was standing collapsed, and she was in traction for eleven months. During this period, she had an epiphany. She wrote more, put chords to her melodies, and decided to produce her own songs and shows. Felecia had always loved writing poetry, but until now, had never considered putting music to her poems. When healed, she moved to Austin, becoming a backup singer for the experience. “It was fortuitous that I moved in next to a band who heard me singing and said, 'We need a backup singer' and hired her. “In Austin, I was nourished and grew,” she said.
In 1998, she joined the Hundred Year Flood Band, partnered with the co-lead singer and guitarist, and had a daughter and a son. The band stayed together 11 years, releasing 6 albums – all original music, toured the Netherlands, and had their music distributed in Japan.
In 2009, Felecia separated from her partner and took a hiatus from Hundred Year Flood. She moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now a single mom, she became a full-time vocal coach working with children and adults. She led a life of music, staying grounded, and being a good mom. During this time, she started her own band, playing for private parties and huge theatre events. Felecia said, “This was a way to get through life.” In the meantime, Hundred Year Flood took a long break from 2010 to 2024. In 2014, Felecia released her first solo album, Kissing Booth, on her birthday.
When I asked Felecia what brought her to San Miguel De Allende, she said that she first sang in San Miguel De Allende in 1999, when she and her band, Hundred Year Flood, came at the invitation of a friend who lived here. They were hired by Mama Mia’s and performed 5 nights per week for six consecutive weeks. Twenty years passed between this first visit and her return to San Miguel De Allende with her now husband, Louis Uttaro in 2020. They decided to stay.
Felecia released Ocean of Love in 2021. This album reflected her true, unconditional love of music, performing, and being in her element. Felecia said, “I still get butterflies in the stomach, but being on stage is like being in my living room. It’s where I completely open up and shine. Singing is a way for me to share my essence and energy to help others heal.”
In June 2024, Hundred Year Flood got back together for an Austin show called Purple Bee. “We played some old stomping grounds like Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dixon, New Mexico, and Madrid, New Mexico, as well as live on Purple Bee TV.”
Felecia now spends her time writing music. This year, she plans to release some singles. She has a band, Felecia y SoulFlame. All band members are San Miguel musicians. Felecia performs regularly around town, singing at Posadas, benefit events, etc. Her love of singing has not faded over the years.
“I love being a mom,” Felecia told me. “Being a mom is one of my greatest joys in life, and now I have a daughter, a son, and four stepchildren.”
Please check the Qué Padre section of Insiders’ News for Felecia y SoulFlame upcoming events.
Aundria McMillan Humphrey, Special Assignments, www.slowdowngranny.com
See more about Felecia at www.feleciafordmusic.com
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