TRACEY JACKSON
Interview 11 July 2002
Interviews Menu - Interviews
THEN THERE WAS TRACEY
DIFFERENT ? YEAH THAT'S WHAT I'LL CALL HER, DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE, SENSUOUS AND FINE WITH A BODY TO DIE FOR AND A VOICE THAT MAKES EVEN THE ANGELS SMILE. TRACEY'S HUMBLE YET STRONG PERSONALITY REACHES AND TOUCHES THE HEARTS OF MANY AS SHE SOFTLY WHISPERS SWEET SOUNDS OF LOVE WITH A VOICE TONE THAT WILL THRILL YOUR VERY SOUL. A SPIRIT LACED WITH SUCH WARMTH, BLISS, CHARM, AND SO MUCH LOVE IS HARD NOT TO TAKE A LIKING TO. IMAGINE TINA TURNER, A TRUE DIVA. DONNA SUMMER , DIANA ROSS AND A TASTE OF GOD MOMA WRAPPED INTO ONE AND TIGHTLY PACKAGED TO CREATE A NEW AND TRUE DIVA CREATED TO BRING PLEASURE, JOY, FUN, AND ENTERTAINMENT TO HEAL THE HEART. ONCE THE WORLD MEETS AND EMBRACES TRACEY JACKSON, THEY WILL FEEL THE SAME AS I. AND THEN THERE WAS TRACEY!
Tell me something about your
background, where you from, where you are now, and the bits in
between.
I was born in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands and
raised in Toledo, OH. My music interest began as a child, playing the
flute and piano and wanting to be a great singer one day, I
continuously performed as a singer and musician from elementary
school with band and choir, winning numerous contests for my talent,
and high school performing in musicals as the lead performer gave me
a sense of what it's about to be a legitimate artist in the industry.
I 've opened shows for such national acts as: The Temptations, Buddy
Hackett, and Lou Rawls. I'm also considered to be the number 1 Tina
Turner impersonator in North America which is also an honor, that has
taken me all around the country and abroad. Currently I'm promoting
my CD as to which I am very excited about.
Performance has always been
with you? Your mother was a dancer right.
Yes it has, as I
know that I was born to sing and perform. My mother was an incredible
tap dancer and would show me different ideas and moves that were
awesome.
What was playing in the house?
What are your early influences?
I heard a lot of jazz music
around the house of such legends and idols as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah
Vaughn, Arthur Prysock, Grant Green, and Tony Bennett too name a few.
My influences are Cynthia Girty who as my mentor is an incredible
singer and writer/composer, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, and of
course Tina Turner, and Chaka Khan.
You then studied at Ohio
University, was that performance related..or was there a different
career path. Any thing happening there?
No I studied
business management and medicine with aspirations to be a nurse, but
I was still performing and found that music was my niche in this
life.
What happened then...how did you get to meet Cynthia, what kind of stuff were you doing at this time. Did you have a band or anything.
I received my Associate degree in business, and continued to sing with bands in clubs and functions . I met Cynthia thru a friend of hers by accident which was a God send, because at the time I was looking for a really good producer and manager and performing for conventions etc.. I did have a band that I was working with but I was ready to go to another level, to be a recording artist and Cynthia was my angel who is taking me there.
You have performed with some
big names, what kind of stuff was this. Where did it take you and
what was it like.
I've opened for Lou Rawls, Buddy Hackett,
Nell Carter and the Temptations, which was fun and a great experience
but took me no where as an artist.
Do you write your own
material.
I'm currently co-writing with Cynthia who is a
great writer and I've learned so much from her, and still learning.
Tell me about Cynthia and how
she's helping you ..and what you expect to achieve.
Cynthia
is my mentor friend, teacher and friend who has taught me about the
business of music as well as the art of singing and embellishing what
I have as a vocalist. Cynthia has her own songs out respectfully, and
has worked and written for such artists as Gladys Knight, Bootsy
Collins, George Clinton, and Michael Jackson. Her work and artistry
are timeless. I don't expect anything as it is in God's hands, but I
hope to achieve the status as an artist the world loves to see and
hear, because reaching out to people is what I love to do.
Tell me about the EP 'The Real
Thing', how it all came together, who you used, is it a regular band,
is it a precursor for an album, what stage are we at, what's the
initial responses.
The Real Thing came together in
increments as it was all the genious idea of Cynthia and her ability
to write a song around me. We worked with Craig Lane (arranger)
formerly with the R&B group One Way,and Anthony Jones who as a
drummer and engineer has worked with various major acts in the studio
just to name a few. It was'nt a regular band, only certain musicians
were needed depending on the song. We've currently finished 5 songs
which will eventually turn into a complete CD, but it was very
important for Cynthia and I to take baby steps and not put just
anything on the CD. The response since the completion of the CD has
been incredible! I have'nt received a negative response yet, and if I
did, it would be respected as everyone has different tastes in music,
but I really feel that one would like something off the CD.
You've got different mixes, you
covering the clubs and R'n'B. I don't like categories but where do
you put yourself.
I guess I would say R&B/Alternative
but I could cross over to Pop.
Are you gigging right now, what
promo are you doing. Any word across the country or is it mainly
local right now.
Yes I am doing gigs in Detroit, Canada and
Las Vegas. We are currently sending out promo to people as
influential as yourself and anyone that would possibly be able to
help with my career and going to the next level.
What about the UK.. Ever
been?
I've been to London briefly but only through the
airport as I was going overseas, but I would really love to come and
perform in the UK as I feel people would enjoy my show. And I also
hear the UK is so beautiful.
What other interests do you
have, what do you get up to
I love to exercise , and read
with a great love of travel. I wake up to any music that's playing on
the radio.
Anything else you'd like to add
Yes. I like to say thank you so much for your interest in me as an artist and allowing my music to be played. I thank God for people like you. And to the music fans in the UK. I'M COMING!
GOD BLESS YOU MIKE
Visitors: