ABBEY
(Saxophone, Keyboards, Congas)
Abbey is a well-known face in the Johannesburg theatre scene and has performed in more than twenty musical theatre productions. These include The Rocky Horror Show, Motown Gold, Roll Over Beethoven, Route 77, I’m All Shook Up, Feeling Groovy Too, Undressed, What a Night, Bits ‘n Pieces, Glory Days and Girl Talk Nite Out. She has toured through Africa with PJ Powers and through South Africa with Little Sister. Abbey’s musical experience does not stop at theatre, having played as a soloist and ensemble member in orchestras, and having a vast jazz background. This includes performances with Bruce Cassidy, John Davies and Denzel Weale.
With her knowledge and love for music, Abbey quickly moved up the status ladder to Music Director for Richard Loring with the hit shows Girl Talk 2000, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and most recently, The Young Ones. She was also Musical Director for Caesar’s Casino with Sisters in Song and bandleader for performances aboard the Symphony Cruise Liner, which took her to Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Israel and Egypt. She also directed and produced various productions in Durban including Off the Record and Can You Feel It.
At present, Abbey is the Musical Director, Arranger and Co-Producer for a classical guitar album for BMG Africa, and an album for Tove Kane that will both be released in the new year.
ERIKA
(Guitar and Vocals)
Erika studied at Pretoria Technikon where she completed her Nat Diploma Music degree. She has taught guitar at Reddam House, St Mary’s School, Waverly and King David, and currently teaches a number of private guitar and music theory students. Erika featured in the original cast of Richard Loring’s hit show Girl Talk. The show performed live at Nelson Mandela’s 80th birthday party, which was broadcast internationally, and also featured on the original CD recording of Girl Talk. She also performed in Richard Loring’s Girl Talk Nite Out. Erika has toured with Ashton Nyte as lead guitarist, performed with the original blues / rock band Feather Doctors, played with various jazz musicians and has performed at various venues around South Africa.
Erika has written music and lyrics for three educational theatre productions (one of which is currently being performed around Gauteng) and has also written music and lyrics for the artist Rea, whose CD Hou My Vas was released by Gallo Records in August 2004. Currently, aside from teaching, working as a freelance musician with a number of bands, she is also the bandleader, arranger and vocalist for jazz band The Starlight Trio, and composer for various artists, theatrical productions and radio/TV jingles. Erika is Director, Co-Engineer and Producer of Burnt Bread Productions Recording Studios and is currently working on various recording projects.
SILVER
(Bass and Vocals)
Silver Smook, who has been performing since the age of 5, studied contemporary music and management (vocals) at Allenby Campus for 2 years, and in her final year at Allenby, featured as the lead vocalist and bass guitarist in an original rock band.
Silver also featured with local group Twistyle on M-TV, their track making it to the Number One slot on the World Chart Express Show. In 2002, Silver performed in her musical theatre debut in Richard Loring’s Girl Talk Nite Out at The Sound Stage and in Richard Loring’s The Young Ones in 2003, in which she received rave reviews for her rendition of “Rocket Man”.
Silver is a vocal teacher at the National School of Arts in Johannesburg.
SHERENE
(Drums and Vocals)
Sherene Hustler was born into a very musical family, her grandfather was a drummer and her grandmother a pianist, choral and opera singer, so naturally Sherene started playing drums when she was just 14, having convinced her parents to buy her a drum kit for her birthday.
Having played in various rock cover bands and featuring on backing vocals with various artists, her first original band Echelon was formed in 1996. She has also featured on drums, percussion and backing vocals for The Red Gecko Session project. Not only was she awarded a bursary to study song writing at Wits Technicon, but she was also offered a bursary to study Bass at Allenby Campus.
Sherene formed a second band Left of Centre Middle and featured on drums, guitar, bass and vocals. During 2002 she joined up with SAMA award winning rock band Sunways and with them, completed various tours around South Africa, played at major South African festivals, toured the United Kingdom and recorded three albums.
Currently working on her solo album, she also runs a candle manufacturing company called Chromatyde Candles “candles for conscious lining”, and has a photography business called Inner Eye.
REPERTOIRE
Their repertoire is varied, vibey and adaptable. It covers artists like Tina Turner, the Corrs, Gareth Gates, Cher, Aretha Franklin, PJ Powers, Alicia Bridges, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Mary Mary, Tom Jones, ABBA, Robert Palmer, Billy Joel, Gloria Gaynor, Gloria Estefan, Kool and the Gang, Herbie Hancock, Enrique Iglesias, Miriam Makeba, Diana Ross, Norah Jones, Santana…..the list goes on.
SHE
is a professional, high-energy corporate show band
and is sure to enhance your corporate evening.