Losing your job can be one of the most frightening tests of personal character. After Miami University's NPR-affiliated radio station WMUB shut down local operations in March, former News Director Gary Scott and his wife Dalia Garcia, former membership manager, were forced to re-evaluate their future.

"It makes you stronger because you're faced with decisions," Garcia said. "You scramble to get yourself together. It's easy to get complacent and mundanely go through things in life then, all of a sudden (after a job loss), you appreciate things a lot more. It was both scary and exciting."

Scott also said it was rough at first, but the couple began to prepare for life after WMUB.

"It reinforces the fact that nothing is permanent and no one is immune to forces like a bad economy," Scott said. "But losing our jobs wasn't that big of a shock because, disappointing as it was for the station to close its local operations, I'm a survivor and I know I and my wife will come out with our heads above water."

The resilient and easygoing nature of this amicable pair has already taken them far. After WMUB staff was officially dropped from Miami's payroll in June, the pair took to the road to chase a dream - a dream of music.

"Dalia and I had been performing together as a duo for two years, were just finishing our CD and were talking about making a transition to pursuing music full time," Scott said. "(Losing WMUB) forced us to do what we had been talking about doing."

Garcia and Scott got into gear, formed their group "Garcia and Scott," and have been pursuing a life of music.

After releasing their self-titled debut album, they have been traveling the country playing as far away as Pensacola, Fla., and as close to home as uptown Oxford's Blue Room.

Unexpected backgrounds

Despite their modest start in the world of music, these two are nothing less than well-trained musical veterans.

Scott comes from a rich family history of country and southern-rock music. His father was a highly respected guitarist who played the Grand Ole Opry with big names like Billy Walker and Johnny Cash. His uncle was also the original drummer for the band Alabama and the writer of several of the band's first songs.

Scott has spent 15 years in the radio business, all the while itching to get into music.

"I've been fortunate to have one foot in both worlds," Scott said. "I've always had a full-time professional job and played music on the weekends, but music is my No. 1 passion. I've had this gnawing at me, wanting to pursue music this whole time. Life has opened the door, and here's my opportunity."

Garcia also has an impressive musical background. The former Miss South Carolina sang around the world including Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and Wembley Stadium in England. She also toured with Julio Iglesias for eight years followed by a record deal from Universal Music.

"I was going to be a doctor and never thought I would sing professionally," Garcia said. "I helped put myself through college singing every weekend and just kept with it right out of college."

The couple first met at a music festival in Paducah, Ky. Scott's band had just left the stage when he was asked to emcee for the next performers, a salsa band with vocals by Garcia. The two met up afterwards and hit it off.

"I had been working as News Director at WKMS in Murray, Ky.," Scott said. "And after Dalia and I met, I got the (WMUB news director) job in November of 2005."

So, the pair moved to Oxford.

Beginnings

It wasn't until a year into their marriage when they thought of singing together.

"About three years ago, we went to see John Kogge, a friend of ours, playing in Richmond and he asked us to sit in and do a couple songs," Scott said. "When John couldn't play one night, the owner of the bar called us and asked us to play. So, we jumped in head first."

Their first performance together went so well, they continued to be asked back to the bar.

"I told Gary, let's think about doing this full time because we both just love it so much," Garcia said. "My thing is I finally found a partner to sing and go around the world with."

The two were reluctant at first to play with a group of just two people.

"I was always used to having a big sound around me," Scott said. "I fell in love with (only two people playing) so much and I don't want to work in a band ever again. We are challenged everyday to make a big sound and fill the space."

Garcia said she also enjoys the challenge of making the audience feel the energy.

"People are amazed that all our music is Gary's guitar and me doing percussion," Garcia said. "Just those two instruments and our vocals making that much sound. They're blown away we can do it and they can really feel it."

With the beginnings of Garcia and Scott in the works, the two began playing in Richmond, Oxford and Cincinnati. They say the best part about starting in the Oxford area was the people.

"We couldn't have found people so supportive of us, always asking what they could do, how to help," Garcia said. "When someone there says, we'd love to have you come stay with us, they really mean it. Just

offering their homes and their hearts and feeding us! When we get back to the area, even though I'm from South Carolina and Gary's from Nashville, it's a coming home to us."

Scott said it has only been in and around Oxford that he has ever experienced such warm welcome.

"I've been playing music for 25 years now and never encountered the support, love and friendship of people there," Scott said. "People are sincerely happy to see us. That's the nature of people there. The big lesson I've taken from living and working there is the value of friendships and relationships."

Now, after relocating to Nashville and traveling the nation to promote their CD, Garcia and Scott have set their sights solely on music.

"We're not looking to be stars," Scott said. "Our goal is to earn a living playing music, and if something larger comes out of that, we're certainly going to take it. But our goal is to spend the rest of our lives writing our songs, playing music and paying the bills with that."

Garcia said she is encouraged by the progress the two have already made.

"We're just going to keep on going and grow, grow, grow," Garcia said. "Everyone says we are doing the right thing by having our product ready and our constant playing and performing. Already, the feedback for our CD has been phenomenal."

A muskrat kind of love

The CD, which is available through their Web site, http://www.garciaandscott.com, and on iTunes, is described as a blend of rock, blues, country and Latin influences. Most of the songs are originals but the CD does include remakes such as "Save the Last Dance for Me" and "Muskrat Love."

Debbie Vogt, former WMUB employee and colleague of the pair, often traveled to see them play and said their music is, most of all, refreshing.

"Their music is a great combination of her Spanish flair world travels and his country roots," Vogt said. "It's a very unique sound. They interact with their audiences; they're not up on a stage but right down with the people who are listening. They have formed friendships with their audience and get to know them and when they come back to town to play, we look out for them."

Vogt said each time she's been to see Garcia and Scott, the building has been packed.

"You can't get reservations because there were so many people," Vogt said.

Gary said he has been overjoyed with their successes. After placing the CD on CD Baby, he said the first one sold was in Naples, Italy.

"This was a labor of love," Scott said. "We poured our heart and souls into this over many years and we've been amazed. This whole thing is beautiful in that it's grassroots and proves you don't need a record label anymore."

Garcia and Scott said their life philosophy is just to be real.

"Be honest and true to yourself," Scott said. "The music we play comes from the heart. It's not a formula. To thine own self be true, it pays off. Our overarching philosophy is do what you do and do it well."

Garcia said you also need a little spirit.

"And do it with passion," Garcia said. "Even when we're covering a song, we do it our way. We push the envelope (and) do it our way."

The pair agreed it is that honesty, sincerity and compassion that makes their music appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds.

"If you want to last a long time, go back to being real," Scott said. "People can smell phony a mile away. The people who come to see us and listen to our music are our fans. They love us, we love them and we all know that."