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Music and poetry have always been an important part of Brenda Freed's life.   She started writing poetry in grade school as gifts for special occasions, and at age 16 she added music to her poetry and began writing songs.   She found it easier to express what she wanted to say in song, and because it was a means of expression for her , she understood the value of songwriting as a therapeutic tool for others.   Therefore, prior to becoming a singer/songwriter, Brenda used songwriting to help patients express themselves in her music therapy practice at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Many universities still use her article entitled "Songwriting with the Chemically Dependent" in their music therapy curricula.  

Inspired by her music therapy patients' songs and heeding her own words as she encouraged others to go for their dreams, Brenda decided it was time for her to do the same.   In 1990, she teamed up with poet/songwriter, Bob Clark, and they set out on a 9,000-mile bicycle tour.   They went from Iowa north into Canada, over to Nova Scotia, down to Florida and then west to Texas.   They were heading toward San Diego when they stumbled into Kerrville and joined the volunteer staff of the Kerrville Folk Festival, where Brenda performed in the staff concert that year.   "It literally changed the course of my life," said Brenda. She had always been a performer, but it was not until then that she knew her future was in performing her original material.   Since then, Brenda has been a performing singer/songwriter while building a career she also loves: teaching guitar, piano and voice privately, incorporating her unique skills in music therapy.  

Brenda loves co-writing because it is fun, and bouncing ideas off other people helps get to the heart of the matter. Her co-writers over the years include Bob Clark, Francie Meaux Jeaux, Linda Sriro, John Row (British storyteller/poet), Suzanne Chesshire (mother of award-winning teen singer/songwriter, Sahara Smith), Val Roessling, JB Braden, Amy Cartee, Karen Peters, Linda Schroeder and most recently, Russell Clepper and Hamp Brockman.   Because she enjoys a variety of music, Brenda writes in a variety of styles including folk, blues, jazz, gospel, pop rock and even a little country.   She has also written several a cappella songs.