Simpson, Kerri

Kerri Simpson is a respected and versatile singer who has travelled through a number of musical styles across a large portion of the globe.

Having toyed with singing for a few years, Kerri joined a band named Five Aces, an R&B outfit formed by Ken Farmer (of the The Paramount Trio) and Steve Purcell (who would later go on to form Swinging Sidewalks). At that time, a handful of R&B bands had taken to playing impromptu on Melbourne's streets and the Five Aces could often be found busking around town. A direct result of this was Kerri's participation in both Jumpin' Jive, a sultry Soul and R&B combo, and Sophisticated Boom Boom, bands that recreated the musical ethic of classic 50s "girl groups", and as a result Kerri became a much talked-about member of the local live scene.

Kerri then left Australia on an open-ended overseas journey that first took her to New Orleans. While in the process of investigating the city's musical diversity, Kerri met and befriended some of the local musicians and was soon singing on stage with them. The inspiration of her surroundings also led Kerri into songwriting, a process she had dabbled in before but never taken especially seriously.

After a time in Chicago, Kerri eventually left the US and travelled to London, meeting up with Melbourne band The Bachelors From Prague, who were in England touring. After singing with them in London for a while, Kerri travelled onwards into Europe and once again found herself singing with local musicians almost everywhere she went. She busked in the streets of Barcelona for a short while before meeting some musicians and singing with them in the city's jazz clubs.

During her years overseas, Kerri had spent a great deal of time refining her singing voice, gaining greater control and using her accumulated musical experience to great effect. Upon returning to Melbourne, she reacquainted herself with The Bachelors From Prague and did a long stint as a guest singer with them, as well as many performances with Swinging Sidewalks.

Deciding to put her own band together, she gathered musicians such as percussionist Ray Pereira, John Betros, Tony Norris, Dean Hilson and local musical identity Gus Till, and formed Vamos A La Gig, a unique outfit playing original songs that touched upon elements of Salsa and Latin Funk, a style that was unique to Melbourne at the time. Her musical partnership with Gus Till saw her performing with Sam Sejavka and John Murphy with Index and forming the EXP songwriting team with Gus and Ollie Olsen. Exploring yet another musical sphere, Kerri joined Ken Farmer, his wife Chris and Ron Tabuteau in The Mudcats, a blues jam outfit that took Chicago and Country blues as a starting point and added a distinct Cajun and New Orleans flavour.

In 1989, Swinging Sidewalks were invited to become the house band on the weekly national television comedy program The Big Gig, which broadcast live to air from Melbourne every week. The Swing Sisters, Kerri along with Shelly Scown and Rebecca Barnard, soon became a popular part of the show not only singing but performing with other artists on the show as well.

It was from this work that Kerri was asked to put together a collection of bands in various styles for a recording project. Out of that project the Peaceful Anticipation Social Aid and Pleasure Club was born. Kerri invited 12 local singers including Chris Wilson, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, and Joe Geia, and presented Gospel music a capella. It was something that had never been seen in Melbourne before, and was a huge success both at live venues and on various television programs. Around this time Kerri was invited to write a song for the Mushroom Razor compilation Razor Cuts. A pounding dance track with spectacular gospel-influenced vocals, Higher became a nightclub favourite both in AUstralia and in London and was released as a single followed by 'Kiss Him Goodbye'.

After a short time playing with Melbourne band White Cross, Kerri ventured into the studio to record some of her own material. The resulting six-song CD, titled Veve, was released in early 1993 to critical acclaim, and showed a musical maturity matched by extraordinary vocal performance. Veve was followed by the full-length album The Arousing in 1995, and Kerri's third album, Speak, was released with much critical acclaim in 1996.

In April 1998 Kerri travelled to Haiti and New Orleans to make field recordings of Voudoun rituals and compose songs for her forthcoming Songs of the Spirits album. Later in 1998 she recorded Confessin' The Blues with a host of the country's finest blues performers. The album received airplay in the US, Canada and Australia and was nominated in the 1999 ARIA awards. After the bands showcase perforemance at the East Coast Blues and Roots festival, Kerri supported Dr John and Keb Mo on their Australian tour.

As a result of that release and her previous work in New Orleans, Kerri was invited to perform with Norman and Ricki Caesar, Jason and Aaron Neville Jnr at the 1999 Jazz and Heritage festival. Kerri is one of the few Australians to appear at the prestigious festival and the first Australian female to perform there.

Singles

Albums

Compilations

Everything Copyright © 1995-2003 Craig Smith except where noted. All rights reserved.
Last Changed 5 Mar, 2003