MS SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR AMERICA 2016,
PAMELA CANNON-COOK

CONGRATULATIONS to PAMELA CANNON-COOK, Ms South Carolina Senior America 2016, and Special Thanks to State Administrator Connie Ross-Karl and Co-Administrators Ida Brinkley, Ms South Carolina 2010, and Laura McFayden, Ms South Carolina 2012, for a wonderful State Queen!

Pamela Cannon – Cook, Ms. South Carolina Senior America 2016, was born in Detroit, Michigan, as a Leap Year baby on February 29, 1952, and raised in a loving, musical family of six children. Her dad was a great tenor in Barber Shop Music on the national stage, and her grandfather was an executive with the American Federation of Musicians and played in Pershing’s Band. With this rich musical history, the apple did not fall far from the tree. Pamela began trying to play the baby grand piano in the family living room as soon her eyes -- and tiny hands -- met the top of the keyboard! Pamela is fortunate as well to have her Mom, now age 94!

As her love for music grew, she further developed her repertoire by learning voice, guitar, keyboard and harmonica. Performing in folk and rock bands, she opened for Bob Segar in her early teens with her all-girl rock band. At 16, Pamela studied opera and incorporated acting into her performances. Her years of performing throughout the United States led her to write songs and record in studios around the world, including Nashville, Miami, Toronto, and London, where she signed a record contract with Elton John’s record label, Dick James Music. Pamela has worked with artists such as The Indigo Girls, B.B. King, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ann Murray and also opened for one-time heartthrob, comedian/actor Jim Carrey.

In the early 90s, right after her cherished daughter and best-friend, Christian, was born, Pamela was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; and her health degenerated rapidly. Through her strong faith, she was given prayerful answers for wellness, the blessing of honeybees for healing and the holistic protocol for safe removal of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, linked to MS, from the body. Today she has no medical sign of the disease and no symptoms, Hallelujah! So, after her recovery, Pamela went on to study and to advocate preventative medicine, along with proper food and nutrition, to alleviate and to reverse disease, a cause she continues to champion.

Supportive husband, Mike, formerly with the Beach Boys and the Gatlins, is head tech of mega award-winning Carolina Opry. A long-time resident of southern entertainment mecca, Myrtle Beach, SC, where they met, Pamela has a successful second career helping others shape and develop their own talents. She teaches from classical to modern, to cutting-edge. She coaches voice, guitar, piano, and performance in front of a live audience via her popular local showcases and much more. “Miss Pamela,” as she is fondly known, gives her heart, as a life-coach and second mom, into mentoring her students. She is now speaking, performing and encouraging in senior homes, too, playing to standing ovations!

Throughout her extraordinary life's journey, Pamela’s joy has been to help – anyone – in need. She remembers her mother, still her biggest fan, saying, “Let’s hope a wounded elephant doesn’t walk down the street, because Pamela will bring it through the front door, even if it breaks the door down!”