|
JEFF SCOTT SOTO
|
|
On 12 December 2005, Jeff Scott Soto could be heard on BBC Radio Kent doing an interview for the Charlie Crocker Show. He talked a little about his life – born in Brooklyn, but brought up in L.A. from the age of 8, he started singing young. His brother, a little older than him was a drummer, but became a graphic artist. JSS first got to be a lead singer when he was called in as a replacement at a school gig at the age of 12. Up to then he had been playing keyboards and trumpet and doing backing vocals. He uses his knowledge of instruments now to write songs for his solo albums. But he has also sung with groups, his first professional gig being in 1984, when he was 18, playing with Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. He has also done sessional music for films and commercials, but in his 21-year professional career, the UK was really his ‘last port of call’. He first performed with the SAS Band in a fan club party for Freddie in 1999. This started the Queen connection because Brian May was making a guest appearance. He also performed in 2002 at a party when Queen were awarded the star in the Hollywood Hall of Fame. JSS has a number of diverse influences, including Motown, Soul and R&B, but sings Queen songs at SAS Band gigs as former chart artists are singing their own well-known songs on such occasions. Although he would have loved to be involved in further live collaborations with Queen, it was pointed out to him that such an undertaking would have been more about Queen than him. I’ve personally found it quite surprising that people have suggested that JSS might have done what Paul Rodgers is doing – he is, like Paul, ‘his own man’, but that is the strength he should be building upon in his own way. Indeed, JSS stated in the interview that he felt he was now on the cusp of something actually breaking out… For an exclusive interview conducted with a Brazilian Queen site, click here. I especially like this quote: ‘ "Freddie
taught me there are no boundaries in music or in life, live it to the
fullest & create from the heart no matter what others might think of
you. This is a huge lesson I wish more bands & artists would live
by, then again, I wish fans could also live by this rule". I think that’s what I’m attempting to do here! Queen Fan Club Convention 2005
Me and Jeff Scott Soto, SAS Band gig at Bisley, 8 Dec 06 Photo: Frank Tunney
|
