Featured Fan - Tracie Merchant-Leatherwood

Name: Tracie Merchant-Leatherwood

Username: traciedfw

Location: Roanoke, Texas, USA

Been a fan since: I was around 10-12 years old when "Every Breath You Take" and "Don't Stand So Close to Me" were released in the US, I remember how popular the songs were. I was just starting to develop my own taste in music. When 'Dream of the Blue Turtles'came out, I was a freshman in high school. I didn't have a lot of money, and I wanted to hear this new album that some school friends were talking about. So I went to the library, and checked out a copy of the LP. Remember when you could check out copies of LPs at the library? In any event. I was absolutely floored, with the sounds, with the lyrics. Since then, his music has been part of the soundtrack of my life. I was in college when I saw Sting in an interview say (I'm paraphrasing) that when he had been asked to support the save the rainforest efforts, he naively thought that when the people in charge would see the harm being done, they would stop. And then he realized people don't necessarily stop or care about things causing harm. It was the first time I was aware of his social justice and environmental efforts.

Favourite Sting song: Asking me to pick a favorite Sting song is almost impossible. 'Fortress Around Your Heart', 'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free', 'You Still Touch Me', 'Fields of Gold', 'Sacred Love'.

Favourite Police song: 'Don't Stand So Close to Me'.

Favourite Sting album: 'Dream of the Blue Turtles' - but also impossible to pick a favorite. But this album changed, influenced how I listened to music in general.

Favourite Police album: 'Synchronicity'.

Most memorable concert: The only concert I've been able to attend was when Sting played Starplex, now Doxs Equis Pavilion, in Dallas in the early/mid 1990s. I'm so excited to see him in Irving, October 14, 2023.