A Citrus County woman has an amazing story to tell.
When Gina Musick looks at old pictures in her quiet home in Inverness, her mind wanders back to a time when a lot of people knew her name. She was Gina Wilson back then, and she turned a lot of heads with her looks and jokes.
"Nobody had a better life," she said. "I am blessed."
Musik is about to turn 92 years old, and she loves to reminisce about her days as a popular entertainer and comedian.
Back in the day, she played in all the big clubs in New York, Miami and Chicago. She was on the Steve Allen Show and was invited on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, but couldn't make it. Early on in Gina's career, she even hung out with movie legend Charlie Chaplin.
"We had a wonderful conversation, and he said if you ever get to Hollywood, would you please look me up," she said. "He kissed me on the cheek and he left."
Gina started her career in 1938 when she joined the circus. Life has slowed way down, but her advice is as sharp as ever for young entertainers.
"If you ever do something that somebody notices about you, follow through," she said. "If somebody says you sure can sing, take singing lessons."
She led an amazing life that lives on through pictures and memories.