I guess I've always sang from a young age. My mother was a professional singer and we used to sing along together as we played piano tunes and sang Christmas carols. In juniors school I remember being asked to sing in a class production to the school and asked to lead as I kept the others in tune. A friend and I even wrote a load of songs then and recorded them on a cassette and drew an album cover for it using made up names!
In secondary school I auditioned for the chamber choir and was accepted singing soprano which I would struggle with now! I didn't really do anything singing wise after that except the odd kareoke not very well. I tended to sing using my voice box not my diaphragm struggling to project with commercial music. Then years later, singing "I will survive" on a kareoke to some impressed work colleagues, my voice opened up and from singing with a microphone it clicked and suddenly I learnt to belt it out not hold it back.
It was still a long time after that before I did anything musically. A friend discovered I could sing and recorded me singing lyrics to his music. I then decided I should join a band so auditioned and joined Sticky Rock as lead singer. We were a newly formed rock cover band and all the musicians were still learning their instruments. Because of their inexperience confidence was an issue and they were reluctant to do many gigs. Another already formed band called Dockyard Rock got me to stand in as their singer where I got a bit more gig experience.
Eventually, after winning a singing competition singing "What's up" in the Dominican Republic and with lots of international friends whilst travelling pushing me to take over the singing of other bands and guitar soloists, I decided to move out on my own starting with a few open mic nights. I would sing with just an acoustic guitar accompaniment, keyboard or backing track. From this I got my first solo booking for a 60th birthday party. I had my nephew Louis Black, who was only about 14 at the time, accompany my singing with his electric guitar. He is now a rising star, very musically talented playing guitar bass and piano, and soon to be in the next big boy band! Next at a open mic performance, singing a song I'd made up about my dogs with my friend Matt Giles on guitar, I was approached by the organizers of a local festival and asked to perform a set there. Following this I sang with various musicians at a music festival in Spain increasing my repertoire.
My claims to fame, apart from my nephew Louis Black, are that I recorded lyrics on a dance track in Skunk Anansie's building for a record producer called Alexis Farshi who has had hits for Snoop Dog among others! I also took a song writing lesson with award winning singer- songwriter Maiuko Fi who started her career with a number 1 single in many countries around the world. More recently Billy Ocean's saxophonist David Baptiste has accompanied me a couple of times in my gigs.
As a soloist now using back tracks I have an extensive repertoire of songs and genres. My voice is best suited to artists like Etta James and Amy Winehouse but I also have the power for Rock N Roll, Soul, Motown and of course I have the background of singing Rock in the bands. My sets are very varied and depend on the occasion. Usually I let it be audience choice and I perform like a human juke box. I have also worked in collaboration with DJ's doing a more tailored set for theme nights such as "Motown" or "70's" with just Abba and Queen tracks. I can do a whole Rock N Roll set too and have been part of hotels entertainment for a Rock N Roll weekend. I perform at wedding fayres, weddings, festivals, functions, charity fundraisers, bars, pubs, parties, hotels and restaurants each with its own vibe so music to suit the occasion, with more like lounge chill out music for dining and disco upbeat for parties.