Sophisticated Lady jazz singer & entertainer Joy Parke Exeter Devon

<body topmargin="0"> <h1>Joy Parke, jazz singer and entertainer</h1> <p>My family was a musical family, with lots of singing, lots of instruments at home - Piano, guitars, tamborines, accordian, harmonica - my brothers and sisters all played an instrument or sang. My mother was a superb singer of gospel music. Father played the guitar, and I was raised in a gospel church, in Northampton, Northants.<br> I joined the Junior School Choir, participating in school concerts from a young age - approximately seven years old I think it was. I loved singing and performing and the audience seemed to enjoy it. So I carried on in school choirs through High School, and when I was 14 years old, the Head of Music, Peter Kneale, picked me out to sing solos at school and community events.</p> <p>In the 6th form, I was made Head Girl, which led to me participating in all main school events and concerts. I also started to enjoy fund-raising, and gave lunchtime performances with a 10p entrance fee - ! to raise money for various charities.</p> <p>Whilst singing at a school performance, I was spotted by the Lord Mayor of Northampton, and the Head of School was asked to ensure that funds were made available for me to have classical singing lessons. I was taught for about three years by Anne Griffin, and performed at classical music competitions, usually coming in the top 3.<br> In 1979 I toured the UK with the British Continental Singers, a large Christian choir.<br> In 1980 I auditioned for, and was awarded, the Cleo Laine Music Award, which sponsored me to attend the Wavendon Allmusic Plan Courses in Wavendon - jazz and all music, about three different courses run by Cleo Laine and John Dankworth. This led to me performing on TV with Cleo Laine in 1981.<br>  </p> <p>In the early 1980s, I joined a jazz band run by Bob Hunt, called Orange Blossom, based in Kettering, Northants. Bob is now a major name in jazz and is based in London.</p> <p>In the midst of all this activity, I made time to train as a nurse, and after qualifying in this profession, in 1991, I joined one of the top UK jazz bands based in the Midlands - Tad Newtons Jazz Friends, performing with this band until moving to Devon in 1994.</p> <h1>Jazz events</h1> <p>Presently, I am performing jazz regularly at the Bovey Castle Hotel in Moretonhampstead. <br> Tel 01647 445000 for information.<br> Also, at the Barcelona Hotel, Magdalen Street, Exeter. 01392 281000<br> <a href="mailto:info@aliasbarcelona.com">info@aliasbarcelona.com</a></p> <p><a href="march-show.htm">I have a special jazz concert booked in spring 2005, Rythyms 'n' Rumours, in Exeter, click here for more information.</a></p> <p>To see my <a href="itinerary-jazz.htm">jazz itinerary </a>at other venues, visit the itinerary section of my website</p> <p>I am also available as a <a href="entertainer-at-private-functions.htm"> jazz entertainer for private parties and functions</a>, weddings etc. </p> <p>I have also produced several <a href="jazz-cds.htm">jazz cds - click here to listen to samples and read how to order</a>.</p> <p>Thank you for reading my story - I hope to entertain YOU soon.<br> Joy Parke<br>  </p> </body>