Cathy Hamer’s career changed direction after releasing two folk-based singer-songwriter albums in 1979 and 1980. She earned a master’s degree in music therapy, worked with children and adults with developmental and neurological disabilities and recorded 11 children’s albums under her current name, Cathy Bollinger.

Her first two albums, Cathy Hamer and Lady Full of Dreams, are filled with soft, breezy original songs that are very catchy, particularly because of Bollinger’s beautiful voice. Eleven of the two albums’ 21 songs were rereleased in May by the Numero Group record label on a vinyl album, Lady Full of Dreams.

Bollinger’s children have followed in her musical footsteps. Daughter Kate Bollinger is a singer-songwriter who has released various LPs and EPs and had her song “Candy” credited by Kanye West on his Donda album. Cathy Bollinger’s son Will plays banjo and creates experimental and electronic music, and her son Ross is a musician who has an animation business and created the animated comedy web series Pencilmation on YouTube.

I mention to Bollinger, who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, that her voice is special, drawing listeners in to every word and getting them on her side with every line she sings. I ask her if she is aware of her voice’s captivating quality and how her voice has changed since the albums were first released.

“Awww, thanks so much,” she responds. “It’s hard to be a critic, listening to yourself. When I listen to my old songs, I hear a lot of youth and vulnerability. I think my voice now is similar but, perhaps, deeper. I started taking voice lessons recently, because I noticed my pitch was not as good.”

Bollinger was 20 when she recorded the first album and a year older when she recorded the second one. They were recorded at now-defunct Threshold Recording in Roanoke, Virginia.

“There were no media reviews,” Bollinger says. “I was pretty shy at the time. My college roommate pushed me forward and took on the task of selling them to friends and friends of friends.”

The lyrics are very emotional and full of heartbreak. There’s open-hearted longing, so I ask Bollinger whether she has been able to get past that stage and live a fulfilled life today.

“I was in college at the time,” Bollinger explains. “Writing songs had always been a way for me to process the ups and downs of life. A boyfriend of mine had recently died, and many of the songs reflected the intensity of those days. I think in many ways I’m the same person, still trying to figure life out. But, without the distractions of youth, it’s much easier to hear the answers. I think it’s easier to find fulfillment with a little more age, because you have the time and space to finally know and appreciate who you are.”

Music therapy emerged through career testing in Bollinger’s senior year of high school.

“I had no idea what music therapy was,” she recalls. “Three years later, I met a Charlottesville music therapist, Zane Apprey, who inspired me to get serious about it.”

Music therapy in America formally began after World War II after veterans responded positively to musicians’ live music.

“When I studied it in the ‘80s, it was definitely a time of growth for the profession,” Bollinger says. “Music therapists are now licensed in Virginia.”

Full-time music therapy jobs were hard to find in the ‘80s, so Bollinger started part-time while also working part-time at a drug and alcohol treatment center.

‘When my first child was born, I began my children’s CD business and worked one day a week at Innisfree Village (a residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities),” she says. . Thirty-eight years later, I still work there once a week! I’ve worked with the Alzheimer’s Association at the Speech and Learning Center collaborating with speech pathologists. I’ve always worked multiple places.”

On the website of the Crozet Speech and Learning Center in Crozet, Virginia, a parent of a 5-year-old girl praises Bollinger’s role in her daughter’s development, and the fun they shared in speech therapy.

“She sings along with songs, saying words that she would refuse to try in speech therapy,” the parent explains. “She is also practicing turn taking, good eye contact and following directions, not to mention the fine motor skills needed to play the instruments. Ms. Cathy is encouraging, creative, sincere and generous with her time! We are so lucky to have Ms. Cathy on the team of doctors and therapists who are helping our daughter to thrive.”

Bollinger recorded her first lullaby tape in 1988 after her son was born.

“That one will always be special to me,” she says, “because it was the beginning of a business born of not wanting to leave my baby and go back to work full-time. Somewhere in the midst of growing my business, I really grew to love creating children’s music.”

Of her 11 children’s albums, might one or two stand out as a treasure?

“I think My Turn Your Turn will always hold a special place in my heart,” she answers. “I was hired to write the album to help kids on the autism spectrum navigate social situations. At the time, I didn’t have a lot of experience or knowledge about autism. I was introduced by a friend to Elly Tucker, who has a son with autism. I began meeting every week with her and her son Josh to discuss the songs as I was writing them. That was an incredible experience, and Elly later became my business partner!”

I ask Bollinger to explain some of her most effective music therapy strategies or techniques.

“One common music therapy technique is called entrainment,” she responds. “The music therapist attempts to meet the child or client where they are and gently guide them forward. This begins by trying to musically match the child’s body movements and vocalizations. Gradually, the music therapist tries to shift parts of the music by, perhaps, changing the tempo, dynamics or form. Through this musical connection, specific attention and communication goals can be worked on. Many of the same skills used when playing music together, like listening, turn taking and intonation are also used in verbal communication.”

Bollinger writes songs with many of her clients.

“I try to take as much as they are able to provide musically and help them shape it into a song they can be proud of,” she says. “It’s a beautiful way for them to express their feelings in a less threatening way. I worked with one man who had a severe traumatic brain injury years earlier. He had trouble with speech and initiating his movements, but he came up with some amazing songs!”

Bollinger can’t identify which professional musician released the best album she ever listened to. “But I think James Taylor’s music has always spoken to me,” she says. “He’s such a great guitarist, and his lyrics and melodies always feel so nurturing.”

The best concert she attended was a No Nukes concert in Washington in 1979.

“The Mall was packed, the energy was infectious and there were so many great performers, including Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and Jackson Browne,” says Bollinger, whose second album includes a song entitled “Jackson Browne.”

“Back then, he was so cute, had a great voice and was full of passion,” she explains. “That’s enough when you’re 19 or 20. I think I first heard him singing ‘Doctor My Eyes’ and later loved the album The Pretender. He’s written so many amazing songs through the years and is still going strong.”

No concert influenced Bollinger’s songwriting or musicianship; the albums she listened to were the influence.

“I spent hours with Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and Elton John,” she says. “Listening to an album over and over while studying the cover and liner notes is a wonderful way to be infused in the music.’