Lilian Garcia Interview 2004
By Chris Perry
World Wrestling Entertainment fans know Lilian Garcia for her beauty, top-notch ring announcing and her unforgettable singing of the national anthem.
Fans may not know, however, that Garcia is an Army brat, has a great passion for music and entertainment and has a new CD in the works.
Her contribution to the new WWE "Originals" CD says it best -- "You Just Don't Know Me At All." Garcia hopes to change that and spoke with In The Ring Feb. 5 about growing up, WWE, her music and her future.
Chris Perry: For those who may be unfamiliar with your background, tell me a little about your childhood and how you made music and entertainment your career choice.
Lilian Garcia: I was raised in Madrid, Spain because my dad was in the military. He is a retired lieutenant colonel and he worked at the American Embassy there. I was there until I was 8 years old and when I was 5, I began to sing. I entered contests and did plays and musicals -- so I loved to act also.
I loved to sing from the very beginning and I've been signing ever since. I moved to South Carolina when my dad was stationed at Fort Jackson and I got in my first band when I was 14 years old. So, entertaining has always been a big part of my life.
Perry: Your five-year anniversary with World Wrestling Entertainment is in August. How did your working relationship with WWE begin?
Garcia: I live in New York City and I have an agent in New York. My agent called me for the audition with the, then-WWF and, at first, I just couldn't see myself in any wrestling atmosphere with the background that I have.
My agent talked me into going to the audition and, after it was over, I felt very comfortable and knew I did well. I was still a little leery because I knew they wanted to sign a one-year contract. When they came back to me with an offer to try-out for two to three months, I took that immediately.
Iowa State University was the location of my very first day on the job. When I got there, and they (WWE) had me ring announcing on my very first day, the experience blew me away. From that moment on I was hooked and also because I did watch wrestling as a kid.
Perry: What are your thoughts, so far, on your journey into the world of professional wrestling?
Garcia: It's been incredible. It's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Someone asked me the other day 'so how do you like your job?' and I said I can't believe I am getting paid for it.
Yeah, we travel a lot, but I love to travel. As a kid, I traveled a lot. I love experiencing new things, so I love that aspect of my job, and I get to work with such great people. All the wrestlers, everyone backstage and everyone in the company are just amazing. Vince (McMahon), Linda (McMahon), Stephanie (McMahon) and Shane (McMahon) are just incredible to work with. WWE is such a strong organization to be a part of, it has been a blessing for me.
Perry: What are your thoughts on WWE's new musical effort "Originals?" This unique CD presented a great opportunity for you musically and a rare opportunity for others.
Garcia: When they (WWE) told me about this idea, I immediately thought it was a great idea because it takes them (wrestlers) out of their element. It gives the fans something else and adds another dimension to the wrestler.
They just totally had a lot of fun with this CD and you can tell when you listen to it. I mean, the rapping that goes on, the stories that are told and even Stone Cold Steve Austin's bit with Jim Johnston throughout the whole thing is just hysterical. So, it's just a lot of fun.
You have to remember that it's not going to be a Grammy Award-winning CD -- nobody intended it to be like that. It's totally a CD the fans can have a lot of fun with and shows them another side of the wrestlers.
Perry: Tell me about your "Originals" song "You Just Don't Know Me At All."
Garcia: I wanted to do something that was more me and rock is my background. It's what I love to do. So, I definitely wanted to do more of a rock song that's why there are heavy guitars on it. I actually got the chance to co-write the song with Doug Kistner and Anthony Krizan, which I was very excited about.
They sent me just the music and I worked on the melody and the lyrics. WWE fans don't really get a chance to know who I am because I am ring announcing and am not really a character on the show. So, when I worked on the lyrics, I wrote about that and about the adversity I've encountered in my life and having the will and determination to overcome that. I put my heart into this song and I'm happy I could share with the fans a little piece of me.
Perry: With your musical experience, did you find that your fellow artists on "Originals" were asking for advice?
Garcia: Yeah, which made me feel really good that they wanted my advice. Some of the girls came to me and asked what I thought of their songs and how they should approach there songs, so I talked with them and gave pointers here and there. It felt good.
Perry: I have heard you sing the national anthem at live WWE events and you truly have a beautiful voice and deliver such a powerful rendition of the song. How special is it for you to sing the national anthem so many times throughout the year?
Garcia: You would think I would get bored with it but I don't. Ever since Sept. 11, the song has taken on a whole new meaning. I was singing the nation anthem before Sept. 11, and I appreciated the song every moment, but after that day I think everyone really started to listen to the words again and know what they mean. Every time I go out and sing it, I try to do my best at it and try to really put the feeling into what the lyrics are saying.
Perry: You have a new CD in the works. What should fans expect?
Garcia: It's definitely going to be rock-pop. It's going to have an edge to it and I think some fans are going to be surprised because many of them only get to hear me sing the national anthem. That's what happened when the "Originals" CD was released, fans were surprised to hear that side of me.
Perry: Who are your musical influences?
Garcia: Pat Benatar and Heart were definitely the biggest influences on me. They just believed in rocking out and singing. Just flat out belting. I love and admire both of them.
I love and am influenced by many of the bands out now as well including Lincoln Park, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Evanescence and Outkast. I love all different types of music and I think it's great to be diverse like that. I've always been a rocker so that's what I like. I think I'm enjoying music now more than I've enjoyed it in a long time. I love these rock bands that are coming back.
Perry: What are your future career goals with WWE and outside of the ring?
Garcia: I definitely want to be a part of WWE for sure. I want to be able to release this CD and I also would love to do some touring whenever I'm not ring announcing or coordinate with my WWE schedule and hit the various towns and do a concert possibly the night before Raw.
I definitely want to be performing. I've been performing since I was 5 years old so being out there with a band is something I'm really comfortable with. I wouldn't mind getting involved in some acting roles and doing either television or film and just working in the entertainment industry in general. I think that is what I was meant to do.
Perry: Any final comments for your fans in the military community here in Hampton Roads.
Garcia: I feel so proud to be an Army brat. I'm also a Marine brat because my father started out in the Marines and then went into the Army. I just have so much respect for the armed forces as a whole and for each and every individual in the armed forces.
I'm very honored that my father was in the military and he, and the armed forces, have a special place in my heart.
Over the next month Garcia will call Los Angeles home between WWE commitments as she completes work on her new album. For more information on the women behind the microphone be sure to visit liliangarcia.com.
Credit to Alex
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