Local singer performs National Anthem on BART

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland soul singer Dee Dee Simon treated BART riders so a surprise during their Wednesday morning commute through the East Bay. 

Known as "The Soul of the Bay" the Oakland native used Facebook to live broadcast an impromptu performance of the National Anthem.

She says her Facebook fans suggested the idea. 

The video begins with Simon sitting on a crowded train. She says that she warned the woman sitting next to her not to be startled when she starts.

Simon giggles, "My heart is racing."

After a few delays and many deep breaths, she says "Ok y'all ready, we're about to do it right now."

With a huge smile on her face, Simon belts out the Star Spangled Banner. Immediately people begin to notice. 

She finishes to a round of applause saying "I did it!"

One rider responds, "Sing that to Colin Kaepernick!"

Simon wrote on her Facebook page "My phone kept ringin in the middle of my broadcast sorry, people were filming and crying. Omg I ain't been that nervous in a long time."

Simon is presenting a play she produced and wrote at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre on September 11th and is performing a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland on October 6th.  

Simon is KBLX Whose Got Soul Winner, Steve Harvey National Singing Competition Winner and Kevin Hart’s favorite,16 Black Music Awards, Northern California Female R&B Winner, and Entertainer of the Year. She is an instructor at the Tony School of Music for kids.