JANICE SLATER

Janice Slater born in Sydney in 1947 was one of the leading figures in Australian pop music in the 60’s and 70’s. She became a member of Sydney's Little Sammy and The In People during 1966-67 and 1969-70. With Janice on co-vocals the band became very popular with residencies at Adelaide's Big Daddy's and Kings Cross Whisky A Go Go. The group probably stood out more-so than most of the acts at the time. Also, in Australia during the 1960s, she worked with Billy Preston; Bobby Day; The Easybeats; The Four Tops; George Chakiris (West Side Story); The Hollies; Johnny O’Keefe; Lesley Gore; Lou Rawls; Phil Silvers (Sergeant Bilko in The Phil Silvers Show); Sammy Davis, Junior; Shirley Bassey; The Three Degrees; and Trini Lopez. Janice recorded on the Phillips, Spin and Polydor labels 

In the UK she worked on numerous recordings. From Cliff Richard to Cleo Laine as well as Olivia Newton John, Cilla Black and Petula Clark. With Glenn Shorrock, she was one of the founding members of the acclaimed 12-piece progressive rock band Esperanto Rock Orchestra. That band released an album on the A&M label in 1973. In the mid-seventies, still based in Sydney she formed a trio with her cousin, Rod Slater, guitarist who now lives in England and a bassist John Blake. Later she remained in the music business for a further ten years - but as a session artist not a performer. She also appeared on The Graeme Kennedy Show, The Ernie Sigley Show and Bandstand.

In 1979, the Australia Council for the Arts awarded Janice a grant to study contemporary vocal techniques for singers and actors. She trained in the US, the UK, and Australia with renowned voice coaches like Cicely Berry of the Royal Shakespeare Company. In Australia, she attended workshops with Kristin Linklater, author of Freeing the Natural Voice, and Rowena Balos, author of Tune-Ups for the Speaking Voice.

Now working as a vocal coach, soundscape composer, and script editor, Janice has served as a dramaturge for numerous theatre productions and as a script assessor for the Australian National Playwrights Association, Playworks, and ABC Radio, Drama, and TV. She was also the vocal coach for Starstruck, the Australian film directed by Gillian Armstrong, and for the Griffin & Sydney Theatre Companies’ production of Kafka Dances, written by Timothy Daly and starring Cate Blanchett.

Janice has led vocal workshops for a wide range of groups and institutions, including The Actors Centre, Colin Offord, The City Acting Studio, Drama Action, and The Drama Studio, where she served as principal voice teacher. She’s also worked with The Entr’acte Theatre Company, The Griffin Theatre Company, The Janice Breen School of Dancing, Leisa Shelton, Meryl Tankard, and Nectar’s Therapy through the Arts program. Her experience spans NIDA (The National Institute of Dramatic Art), The Nimrod Theatre’s Teachers’ Workshop, The One Extra Dance Company, The Performance Space’s Voice in Performance program, Side Effects at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Adolescent Unit, The Sidetrack Theatre Company, The Spoleto Fringe Festival, SUDS (Sydney University Dramatic Society), SWIM (as both a founding member and teacher in the Sydney Women in Jazz program), The Sydney Acting School, The Sydney Performing Arts Centre’s Voice Production and Musicianship program, and Theatre of the Deaf.

SINGLES

''Wanting You / Summertime'' 1965 Philips
''I'm Gonna Live / He Really Cares'' 1965 Philips
''Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood / Let The Love Come Through'' 1967 Spin
''Lullaby / Die Like A Kelly'' 1974 Polydor

''Affluence / Mamma Maria'' [with Bobbi Marchini, Terry Kaff and Mickey Leyton] 1974 Festival

''To Know Him Is To Love Him / So Tough'' [as The Hooter Sisters] 1974 Alberts

References

Janice Slater