dana Gillespie *Artist spotlight*
Introducing queen of the blues: dana gillespie
For over six decades – yes, that’s right – blues diva Dana Gillespie has been an astonishing force on stage and screen and we’re absolutely thrilled she’s going to come sing some songs for us. What a voice. What heart.
Aw, we can’t resist some throwaway lines. Gillespie cut her teeth in folk in the mid-sixties while rubbing shoulders with David Bowie. He wrote the song Andy Warhol for her. She sang backing vocals on his It Ain’t Easy. Mick Ronson produced her 1973 album, Weren’t Born a Man. Jimmy Page played, uncredited, on her debut album, Foolish Seasons. She played the original role of Mary Magdalene in the London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. She was once a member of the Austrian Mojo Blues Band and also played with the London Blues Band. She’s recorded more than 70 albums – ranging across folk, pop and deep blues.
Oh, and here’s another gem: Bowie once said on the BBC’s John Peel Show that Gillespie is “a very, very, very, very, very, very excellent songwriter.”
Beyond her own career, Gillespie helped shape the blues scene itself. Alongside Basil Charles OBE, she co-founded the Mustique Blues Festival in the West Indies, which has been running for three decades and is celebrated for bringing together world-class talent in one of the most atmospheric settings on earth.
Bring on those blues-soaked ballads, Dana!
Have a listen to one of our personal favourites here:
Check them out on socials
Website: https://www.dana-gillespie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaGillespieOfficial
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ByNLjVXoWReywbr6LjDw5?si=_2Tl1sJNSbqpH_q11ETnzQ