Vancouver Singer

Gwen’s Dad played sax in dance bands during all her growing up years and music, especially singing, was an integral part of her life from early childhood. Little opportunity was available to use her singing until after high school, and after a two year involvement in a musical production, she married and had her family, temporarily leaving her music potential in the past.

Once her children grew up, her desire to sing led her to explore her natural vocal talents by joining the cast of the North Shore Light Opera as well as a Musical Theatre where she was showcased in many challenging Broadway style roles, such as ADELAIDE in “Guys and Dolls” and MONA (the madam) in “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas”. Here she also developed her comedic skills in numerous skits, plays, etc. This brought about introductions to many local artists and musicians and the start of being a single performer. Musicians were quick to recognize her talents, which brought about an invitation to join a seventeen piece band as their vocalist, performing in major hotels and clubs in the Greater Vancouver area.

Other musicians kept her busy with many featured performances in legions, pubs and clubs. She then went on to perform for five seasons on various Pacific National Exhibition stages and also was featured in several venues during British Columbia’s “Music 91″ event.

Her love for Patsy Cline Classic Country music led her to compete in the 1991 British Columbia Music Awards where she became a venue winner. Click here to view a photo of her award.

In 1993 Gwen was a featured singer in the annual ‘Time Of Your Life” event held in the Hotel Vancouver. Performing for four Christmas seasons at the New Westminster Armoury’s ‘Festival of Trees’ event, she was billed as “Vancouver’s Own Vera Lynn”. Click here to view one of the ads run at the time.

Prior to that, visits to Waikiki brought about many appearances as a guest singer with pianists in major hotels, where she was referred to as “The Doris Day Singer”, and while guesting on stage in Las Vegas, she received rave reviews for her renditions of Patsy Cline songs.

Gwen has also appeared as a guest singer on the Cruise Ships Norwegian Star and Holland America’s Ryndam and Zaandam.

Gwen’s desire to support herself by succeeding in the music business gave her the initiative to take on anything that would allow her exposure and a chance to hone her skills, which included hosting karaoke in a popular local pub, house vocalist for restaurants, forming her own trio for dances and traveling throughout the Greater Vancouver Area, performing almost daily.

Her versatility allows Gwen to venture into many different genres of music.