background

Where it all began

My story so far.....

I was born in Birmingham into a rich musical heritage. My uncle being the ukelele paying, gap toothed film star George Formby and grandfather George Formby Senior who was the highest paid music hall star in the country at his death in 1921. My mother was a fine classical singer but didn't really want to turn professional. One of my earliest memories was watching my mum try and show me how to sing with a low breath!! I couldn't have been more than 6 yrs old - but the image stuck with me. My first stage performance however was a little earlier when my father pulled me up on stage to meet the audience during one of his music hall performances age 3! As I recall I wasn't a bit nervous and danced away to my father's uke playing!!

Like many my school years were full of nativities and concerts (but I never made Mary! - I was robbed!) then at age 13 my father died after a long battle with Emphysema. That blow was only lessened slightly as I was performing the lead in a musical called "Greater than Gold" by Roger Jones. The impact of that loss overshadowed my latter teenage years and I threw myself into music. Although I had started taking singing lessons with the baritone Gorden Clinton at 17, and later a pupil of his, I had begun to discover the joys of rock music! Namely Bon Jovi 1987! That led to walking into a recording studio in Cardiff (too long a move to go into here) at 21 saying "take me on!" to my now husband!! to which he replied "we've only ever had 1 woman in here and she lasted 12 weeks, beat that and I'll take you on!"

There were no music tech courses back then so I learnt to engineer the hard way - by Paul leaving me to do it after setting up and going over to the pub! I recorded everyone from death metal bands, vocalists, blue grass all the way to Cerys Matthews (Catatonia) when they were still singing in Welsh and a very young band. I had the best time!

Backing vocals and guitar drops (old fashioned reel to reel) were not quite enough for me so I went back to my original passion of wanting to learn to sing properly so secured a place at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. What a lot of tears, tantrums and a heap of good times was had there! Not all by me! I developed a new taste for opera and french song but found it difficult to get onto the lottery of an opera course because not everyone is ready or developed at the same time. So like many I did every job going and auditioned and did a bit here and there, all the while trying to make the rent.

I joined with a friend to put on corporate and and theatre shows and Waxing Lyrical was born. Not long after I had the opportunity to go to the US to study, so to my mother's dismay at not seeing me for 9 months off I went to Texas. Along with the culture shock I learnt how to drive on the wrong side of the road and buy loads of shoes!! Oh yes and begin to put some of my early church choir training to good use by training and working with a large gospel choir. At the tail end of my stay I worked with New York Philhamonic conductor Delta David Gier in the opera Gianni Schicci - just inspirational.

Back in the UK I set about finding and working with as many good teachers and conductors to iron out some vocal crinkles. I took courses and worked and performed at every opportunity. Forget the dishonest biographies! I'm telling it like it is. I struggled with tensions, bad breathing technique and overworrying! and was simply desperate for someone to see the potential in me! I almost gave up several times during the whole process and thought I should just get a proper job and work up the career ladder.

I finally started turning the corner vocally but I would say that a singer is always learning and adjusting. I fell into teaching by helping choirs, that led to a few asking for help - It quickly became obvious that I had a gift for teaching as people began getting quick results. I have had to walk the same hard road that many of you reading this may have walked in finding and cultivating my voice. I often see people's confidence soar when they realize they are capable of producing great sound!

Due to my studio background I began working with the University of Glamorgan at the start of their Popular Music degree course and from there writing and teaching workshops in singing and performance. I have worked with thrash metal singers, actors, lead vocalists, classical singers as welll as beginners and late bloomers! I actively continue my own teacher training with well respected methods such as Estill and Speech level singing as well as using my performance and engineering background.

I have had to find my voice........ I can help you find yours!
I'm looking forward to meeting you

Angela x