Numerous travels,trials and tribulations inspire me to write and perform.I have also developed a great interest in the recording process as well as collaberations with other artists in the field of music and art.I am also a self taught painter.
For my full bio please see my website at www.sherihawkins.com
More About SHERI HAWKINS
Sheri began performing live at four years of age, mostly entertaining at her father's company Christmas parties and school talent contests. Not only did she take home a prize every time, but she also received extra candy and gifts for such performances, and this was of course great incentive at four years of age.
Rumour has it that Sheri came out of the womb singing, and she remembers this to be true. During her latest live radio interview with Canoe FM Radio, Sheri stated that she graduated from candy and presents to cigarettes and beer in her teens.
At 11 years of age, Sheri began performing illegally in many popular Southern Ontario clubs on a weekly basis. At age 17, she began performing a lounge act with two of her greatest mentors, Gerry Jackson and Al Parish. They played live shows all over Southern Ontario.
In 1984, Sheri began touring Ontario with Cracked Actor, one of only two David Bowie tribute bands in existence. They were signed three weeks prior to their break-up to tour the U.S.A.
In 1985, Sheri attracted the attention of a local musician/studio engineer who financed her first original single entitled "What Will My Children See?” On the B-side was “Daddy It’s You.” The single did receive some airplay on local country stations.
In 1986, Sheri was hired twice weekly to perform at an “after hours” gambling and “booze can” with the well-known Campfire Caveman. He and Sheri called their show “The Caveman and Sheri Flower Power Hour”. Sheri states, “It was one of the best gigs I ever played. At that time of night, there was no lack of enthusiasm for entertainment, as all the patrons were well on their way to happiness and love. It was also the only gig where people were drunk enough to think I was a great guitar player!”
In 1987, after relocating to Northeast Ontario, Sheri performed with hundreds of bands, racking up to date over 3,000 live performances, playing with such groups as The Jaguars, Liberty Road, The Delinquents, The Rabid Dogs, Shylone, The Doug Cutler Duo, and many many more. Sheri states at this point in her life she became what she calls “a jobber”:
“We NEVER rehearsed; I was usually just hired to sing whatever they threw at me, quite often not knowing even what songs I would sing until I arrived at the gig. We all had to eat in those days, and it worked out well as I made my sole living from music.”
In 1988, Sheri signed a coveted House Contract with The Pinestone Country and Golf Club. The contract was a one-year term and required her to don an evening gown and lay atop the grand piano at various times.
“The manager used to get such a kick out of it. We loved the music as we got to play what we loved, which was all the old standards.”
That same year, Sheri recorded background vocals with the Rabid Dogs for the single "Catch The Drift" for The Sports Network to promote The Minden Sled Dog Derby, a world-class event. It received a lot of airplay, and proceeds went to support the derby.
During the next several years, Sheri continued to perform live weekly shows. Unbeknownst to her in 1994, an acquaintance of Sheri’s mailed in an old cassette recording of her to CKLY Radio as a contest entry.
“The cassette was in my husband’s old work boot in the dump truck, full of dirt and dust. I couldn’t believe I won with it.”
She was then asked to perform live on radio at the Lindsay Central Exhibition.
“It was a lot of fun in between on-air, as he Frank Proctor the DJ reminded me of Johnny Carson. He would wave his hand with that golf swing whenever we were back on-air.”
In 2000, while auditioning for a Global TV show in which Sheri was offered a part, but did not accept, she is discovered by a local well-known record publisher/producer and signs a record deal with his private label. She recorded a CD that was released in August 2005. It contains eight original numbers and four cover songs.
In 2002, Sheri began 15 straight weeks of Jazz performances in the Muskoka Jazz Series. Clubowners Jim and Laurel stated, “We’ve been bringing in more money on Sunday afternoons than some Saturday evenings.”
Sheri packed the house with record numbers Sunday afternnoon, excluding only three, due to bad weather.
“Most of our fans are over 80. You get to really love them all. You'd show up one Sunday and one wouldn’t be there, and you'd ask about he or she and someone would reply that he/she died. That’s the sorrow of playing that type of music. Then they brought in the no-smoking law, which meant they had to smoke outside. Some of these people were going outside in wheelchairs and walkers. What a ridiculous law! What a horrible thing to put an 80-year old through, even war veterans. But they loved the music as they never got to hear such songs live anymore. You know: Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald— God they were the best audience! What a shame it had to end.”
In 2004, Sheri signed on for the Orillia Jazz Festival, thereby establishing her in the local jazz scene.
In 2005, Sheri headed to Vancouver where she performed at various clubs throughout the area. “I was only there for six weeks, but WOW do they ever appreciate music. I think I had about three bands together without putting anything really together; everything just seemed to gel there musically.”
In the end of 2005 and early 2006, Sheri headed to Chicago for what she calls, “The most unusual characters, music loving and enthusiastic audiences I’ve ever met.” Unfortunately, Sheri was forced to return to Ontario when her home and all of her possessions were destroyed by a fire. Lacking any insurance, this put an end to any CD releases or promotions and will do so until summer of 2007.
However, Sheri continues to perform with her home-based band The Wiseguys and TOMB 55 locally.
“Thanks to the help and generosity of my pals, I now live in a beautiful, warm home and can carry on better than I ever did. Luck has ALWAYS been a LADY WITH ME.”
2007-Circumstances bring Sheri to Haywood Manitoba,located an hour west of Winnipeg.During her stay there she performed with many muscians including Duncan Wilson of Joey Gregorish and The Mongrols,Ari Ladhekorpi,Tony Barry Biegun,who she describes as the most talented drummer she has ever met.They formed a jazz quartet consisting of Tony on drums,Gord Keeley on bass and Keith House on keys(now with the Patsy Cline Tribute..The Inclinations).The band had booked its frist show when Sheri had the opportunity to return to Ontario and her homesickness caused her to accept.."I am greatful though"Sheri says "for the opportunity to become acquainted with Winnipeg"s music community.I am so very especially greatful for Duncan,Gord and Tony's friendship..for it supported me through my homesickness.
Sheri also became acqauinted and performed with Rheal L'Hreauex ..one of manitoba's top ten francophone guitar players."Rheal happened to be visiting Ontario to see his friend Burton Cummings there..and I managed to persuade him to come to Minden and perform a private live house concert...what a joy!!!what a talent!!"
2010 SHERI'S return to Ontario enabled her to reunite with her old band "The Wiseguys",this ensemble consisting of different parts of the same" as she describes it.the classic rock act performed August 2010 at the Haliburton Smilefest,a two day event with the Northern Pikes as the headline act.Some footage of the show maybe viewed on youtube under Sheri Hawkins.Sheri also returned to her regular peforming schedule.
The winter of 2010 also brought Sheri to the USA where she performed with many big names in the music industry,such as Duke Danger(formerly Jerry Lee Lewis guitar player),Bob Hanson,who plays backing guitar for many big 1950's acts and Tim Goodman,an incredibly talented key player who backs all the major acts which come to the Fort Meyers area,while she lived on a large sailboat sailing the Gulf Of mexico and Florida waterways.This inspired writing one of her future Cd's "Red Sky At Night",which she is recording now for hopefully 2012 release along with her other releases.
She also performed with a 21 piece big band orchestra which consisted of members mostly over the age of 90,including two which played with Glen Miller and Duke Ellington.Her travels also enabled her to perform at many USA venues as a guest singer.
After returning to her hometown of Minden,Sheri suffered a second uninsured housefire which delayed her plans for recording again and forced her to turn down a nine week venue in Morracco and many USA venues,though she was able to begin the project for her next CD later in the year.
In 2011 she also formed a partnership with local radio Dj and musician Shawn Chamberlain under her Tomb55 label.This is a piano lounge duo that performs lounge music,originals and jazz standards.To date they have played many venues in Haliburton County.They are also gearing up for a summer jazz series in her hometown.
Sheri also performs as a single act playing her folk,soul and bluegrass originals with her bango..this has earned her the name "Hacking Hawkins".
"I have never calimed to be a talenetd muscian,I use the bango,guitar and piano to write and record pre-production tracks so the REAL talented musicians can lay down their tracks later,but do play or test instruments at a particular open open stage night.I also use this venue to test new originals for response.The instrument that stole my heart is the drums,but I don't beleive I may call myself a drummer.I usually tell people to only hire me as such if they are desperate.I have done ONE paid gig as a drummer and YES they were desperate'!lol!
At present Sheri is recording her next CD and performing live with Tomb55Jazz and her classic rock-Motown band,while also fronting for other bands as a freelance artist.She is hoping for the release of her new CD's within the year of 2012 and to form another band to perform soley original material after the release of her CD.
Sheri has also created the "No business Like show Business Art Show and Sale""This is an idea that provides musicians from all over the globe with some unique venues for displaying "all" their talents and allowing them to peform in a different enviroiment.The show consists of works created by showbusiness talents exclusively and will be travelling to various venues across Ontario.Opening night is scheduled for July 6-7th,2012 at the Heritage House Cafe,Haliburton,Ontario,Canada.