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Interview:
Kaye Gordon, The Voice of Asia Pacific
1.
What is your Background?
A
little country girl, 1 of 16 children originally
from Gisborne N.Z. of Maori decent, Spanish and
Scottish heritage. Whilst working as P.A. to the
Head of the Te Puia hospital, I was selected from
the local Maori culture group by New Zealand's
Legendary– The great Late Prince Tui Teka
to be his protégée and thereby launching
my entertainment career in Australia. Starting
my extensive background in the entertainment industry,
I moved onto a solo career, taught Vocal tutoring,
stage performance, and life coaching in the Music
and Corporate Industry.
2.
What are you best know for?
Big
Voice performances. National Anthems at International
Sporting events, inspiring dynamic stage performances
at the smallest event to the Largest Corporate
functions and Conferences. I am also known to
be unflappable, versatile and extremely easy to
work with, keeping a good sense of humor against
all odds. I am a perfectionist, and make sure
everyone on stage with me, give their very best.
3.
Where have you been performing lately?
Recently
performed the New Zealand National Anthem at the
Bledisloe Cup in Brisbane, Australia. Early this
year performed on board the International Cruise
liner, The Pacific Dawn. The Rotary Conference,
Lake Tahoe, USA. After that, the yearly Rotary
major fundraising event in Gisborne New Zealand.
In October I was the Headline entertainment for
the Sydney Rotary District Conference, opening
at the Parliament House Premier Function, then
main function on Harbor Cruise, then the closing
ceremony at UTS Sydney. I have been performing
at many private functions, charity fundraisers
and corporate events. I am also a private vocal
tutor and just recently I was honored to be asked
to tutor and coach in performance, a Maori culture
group, Whai O Te Kotahi here in Sydney, preparing
them for the biggest Maori Festival competition
in N.Z. next Easter. As you see, it has been a
very bus year, but I have loved every moment of
it.
4.
What events do you have coming up?
To
finish the year, first time ever event, The “Spring
Fling” at the Oxford Hotel Sydney to raise
funds for Aids awareness. I am the Star female
performer for the Event. Performing songs from
the Great Legends, such as, Shirley Bassey, Tina
Turner, The Platters, Tom Jones, and more. 5th
December, I am starring at ‘Boots Restaurant’
Drummoyne Sports Club, presenting my Intimate
show with my 4 piece backing band “Tribal
Force”. I will also be featuring an up and
coming young Australian Star of the future, James
Willcox. My next solo performance will be as the
Star Guest Entertainer on the Cruise Liner Sun
Princess.
5.
What style of music do you love to perform?
Fortunately,
I have been blessed with a voice that can amazingly,
sing different styles and languages. Won 3 Gold
medals and 3 Best Performance trophies, being
the only representative for Australia, in World
Championships of Performing Arts Olympics in L.A.
against 39 countries. For example, I love to sing
in Spanish. One of the 3 Gold medals I won was
in the Latin category. I was the only non Spanish
speaking contestant. Of course, I love singing
in my heritage country language of N.Z. I have
a great affinity for languages and am able to
sing in any language if required. However what
really presses my buttons, are the big sounding
vocals, Big Voice Ballads. some raunchy, sung
in the style of Tina Tuner, Shirley Bassey, The
Platters. That Black Soul sound of the 60’s
and 70’s.
6. Who inspires and motivates you?
My
Mother and Father have always inspired me. As
a little girl at the age of 3 and a half, I have
always wanted to help children when I grow up,
because my entire childhood, my parents, especially
my mother spent her life teaching helping and
working with underprivileged, abused children.
My faith and love of God has continued to be the
driving force of wanting to help make this a better
world utilizing my talents and abilities. I am
blessed with my beautiful son James who loves
supports and encourages me every step of the way.
I also am constantly inspired by friends and involvement
with my Charity work. There are so many amazing
people in the world who suffer so much, who constantly
remind me of how blessed and fortunate I am in
comparison.
7.
Who have been your Mentors today and in the past?
I
have had truly amazing Mentors in my life. Starting
with the Great Late Prince Tui Teka, in my opinion,
the greatest male entertainer to ever come out
of New Zealand. Also the icon for our Maori people
of New Zealand, the Great Late Ngoi Pewhairangi.
My Vocal tutor in L.A, who was the vocal tutor
to the stars of Paramount Studios, vocal tutor
to the Black Stars and mother of Suzzaye Greene
of ‘The Supremes’, the late Ms Vivienne
Greene Hoyt. Again I must mention my mother, when
I am speaking of Great mentors. In Australia my
mentor on all things Rotary, is Joan Richards.
Rotary worldwide has many different layers and
Joan carefully steers me through them all. From
New Zealand, living here in Sydney, My universally
Cultural Mentor, The Maori word being, (Kaumatua),
is Dr Benjamin Pittman. Today, I feel very blessed
to have also as my Mentor who is always available
to me, with my Entertainment career, is Mr. Benjamin
Wright. Benjamin is a world renowned Producer,
Composer, Musical Director and Arranger who resides
in L.A. I just love the fact that these people
are all extremely close to me and I love them
dearly.
8. What will next year bring
for you?
I
am very excited to finally be able to announce
that an international project I have been working
on for many years, has finally come to fruition.
Mid 2009, I will be returning to L.A. to work
with the amazing Benjamin Wright to record the
demo CD for the Kaye Gordon Project, thus launching
‘Kaye Gordon’ the Artist on the World-wide
stage. A man that only works with the ‘Stars’,
Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Temptations, Destiny’s
Child, Toni Braxton, Shalamar, Joss Stone, Eric
Benet, Chaka Khan, Jamiroquai, and Mary J Bligh,
are just a few of Benjamins Credits to mention.
Everything I have achieved in my career so far
has been working towards this point and I am very
excited that for the first time in my life, I
can confidently say, “It is time”.
Website
Kaye
Gordon
Profile
Kaye
Gordon
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