Well were do I start, my love and passion is entertaining people. That is an understatement because I have entertained people since I was a little girl and that seems like a long time ago now, because I have been performing for over 40 years upto the present day. My heart is still young and my voice is still powerful.
Over the years  I have tried various style's of singing because I wanted to experience what the voice was capable of. I was very lucky to be trained by Mr Harold Millar who also trained many famous singer's including Shirley Bassey.
Choral Singing
When I first started singing I sang choral choir song's because my voice was a Soprano. I then sang in musical's using my contralto voice.
This was purely in a semi-professional way. After a while I moved into learning folk song's. I sang some of my favouritie song's like "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind" and "Down by the riverside".
Germany
After that I joined a pop group and sang cover song's in the Tamala Motown vein and mainly 60's song's as my voice could change between singing high or middle tones. At the time, three male vocal's backed me which enabled song's like "Stop in the name of love", "Can't hurry love", "Get ready", and various other songs. When we went to Germany I started to sing soul numbers from Aretha Franklin and Ottis Redding.
Back to England
After Germany I returned to England and changed my style of singing completely. I started singing Country and Western numbers by The Seekers, Island of Dreams and some of the Carpenter's numbers. This singing seemed to change my voice into a more mellow calming style which was so different from all the belting out soul music.
Its like my voice is sweet silent and smooth and also can be so loud and rock-n-rolly.
Searching for Voices
My voice changes with the different energies I feel inside. I sing with the sensitively of love and that's when I started singing ballads, "What now my love", "As long as he needs me" and "No regrets". I sang like these types of songs for two years, learning how to control the high and low register's with power and passion.
 Most of the time I would be nearly in tears because of the meaning of the words and the expression of hitting those low sultry notes like singing "Summertime" and then flying off to the sky with the experience of hitting those high notes like floating on the clouds and being up with our spirit friends.
I have the ability with gods help to sing a quiet song and then switch over to a rock and roll song.
Coming from the experience of singing from the heart and soul. The following years I found myself singing "Tamala Motown", soul ballads and a compilation of most of my favourite numbers.
If I was asked to describe my voice, I could not do it. I just sing and you decide for yourself. Tina Time
I discovered `Tina Turner' a few years ago. I know she was around but I didn't personally start singing her songs until recently. I sing a lot of Tina's song's like `Simply the best', `Steamy Windows', `Whats love got to do with it' and `Addicted to love'.
I love Tina's energy and spirit for life and it has been said by audiences that my voice sounds so much like hers (I find that a great honour).
When I sing these numbers my body swirls with excitement because it is so earthy and grounding and I love doing all the dance movements by gyrating my body to the rhythm of the music.
Cabaret
In the meantime I also sing `Shirley Bassey' song's like `I who have nothing', `kiss me honey honey', `Big spender', and the song that really describes me and my life. `This is my life'.
I sing this song with an extension and return to the stage by finishing off `This is my life, this... is... my... life.' amen that's what I say. I have goose bumps thingling all over, a few tears in my eyes. and breathing at a accelerated fashion. Well this is showbiz after all.
 I have to say that over the past four years my Cabaret act has changed. Some of the song's and entertainment I do, include song's like `Twentyfour hours from Tulsa', `Will you still love me tomorrow',
A comedy routine with `kiss me honey honey', where I wrap my body around the men's body in the nicest possible way then get a man out of the audience who likes to have a laugh and get him to talk out to the audience and wriggle his hips and bottom in a very friendly courteous way.
I never take the mickey out of anyone its just all good harmless fun, I would sooner take the mickey out of myself than anyone from the audience.
Anyway I then proceed with `Big spender' and practically knock them out with my hip's on the "the minute you walk in the joint" bomp bomp
Incidently I learnt that routine back on the `Redcoat Touring Show'a few years ago. Its still going strong today and so am I. Mind you I usually do a nice quiet number after that.
A while ago I decided to get a version of `Lionel Richie' and `Diana Ross's' duet `Endless love' and turn it into a solo version. This I discovered was beautiful for my soul voice. I love this song and it also has a great deal of emotional memories for me.
I was asked to sing this without any backing music at a wedding of a very special couple who are dear spiritual friends of mine.
Apparently the congregation were pleasantly surprised to hear someone singing without any music, plus even to stand up there in front of everyone. (They didn't know I was singer, I don't tell people about that, when I am doing my Soundhealing and Psychic Readings).
Favourite Songs
I suppose the main song's that I sing today comes from 60's `Motown', `Tina Turner' and `Shirley Bassey'. my comedy thrown in for good measure.
"If you can make them laugh and cry you have cracked it" said a few friends of mine over the years. I always make my comedy about natural happenings that I see in life, especially picking up the antics of my three children who are now grown up.
I can remember recently when I did a showcase for a agency who has been in business for the past 25 years I was told "You are the old time true entertainer, we don't see that today from youngster's"
I took that as a wonderful compliment and have to say I thank God every day for all the wonderful gifts he has given me.
Teaching
I have taught this gift to other potential performers and most of them are out their doing their own acts. so I pass this gift on to whomever asks me for help. Its the most beautiful thing in the world to have this gift but even more beautiful to pass it on to others. I still teach people how to sing.
On a final note on this subject I was lucky again (I call it being divinely guided, to discover a man called `Chris James' at the`Body, Mind and Spirit' exhibitions in London a few years ago. I learnt about `toning' and `overtoning' to heal with sound.
I trained with him and his wife and spent the last 5 years using `toning/overtonging' to heal. Sound healing with my voice and the techniques I have learnt have given me equally the same amount of pleasure. To this day I do both and am so grateful for being taught this technique.
Commercial
Cilla has recently teamed up with Funky House producer Paul Deighton for the vocals on `C'mon Sisters' which is available now on the new Housexy Volume.2 Album. This can be purchased at all regular Music outlets.
Click here for the Housexy site
To visit Paul Deightons site Click Here |
