Currently based in Devon England, I was born in Wales and grew up in Canada. After spending two and a half years travelling around the world, I settled in London, co-founding the women’s band OVA (see below). Now I mix a variety of musical activities: writing and recording as a singer/songwriter/composer. After running music workshops with adults with learning disabilities and Korsikov’s syndrome, leading ‘Singing for the Brain’ sessions for the Alzheimer’s Society,running percussion workshops, playing rhythm guitar in Dire Traits, the UK’s foremost Dire Straits tribute band, fronting the Country Rock Band ‘Stormy Monday, I am now performing solo and concentrating on writing music. My book ‘Finding Relly – My Family, The Holocaust and Me’ was published in December 2018.
Education
1989-1992 BA Hons. Degree in Music at Dartington College of Arts Devon, majoring in Composition, with guitar and percussion as second and third instruments respectively.
Professional Experience
Formed the band ‘OVA’. Wrote and performed songs (electric and acoustic guitars, percussion), touring both nationally and internationally across England Scotland Ireland, Holland, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia; and the USA. Co-wrote and Co-produced four full length recordings with OVA.
While continuing to perform in England and abroad, also developed and worked for the OVA Music Studio in London (now called ‘Overtones’).
Ran residential drumming and percussion workshops in England and Germany and produced teaching package for drumming (an instruction book and 30 minute recording entitled Drumātrix).
Fronted the country/blues/rock band Stormy Monday from 2000 – 2005.
Rhythm guitarist with Dire Traits, the Dire Straits tribute band from 2002 – 2014 .
Performing/recording as a solo artist with own touring bands in both England and Germany Wrote and produced full length solo recording ‘AWAY FROM HERE’. Wrote and produced EP CD ‘better day’.
Occasional lecturer at Dartington College of Arts in the Performance Technology Center. Part-time lecturer in Music and Technology at Estover Community College. Plymouth. Occasional lecturer in Music at South Devon College.
Ran Creative and Therapeutic Music sessions for adults with learning difficulties. Have recorded two CD albums with residents of the Rivendell, Home Farm Trust community.
Ran ‘Singing for the Brain’ sessions for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Publishing a book ‘Finding Relly – My Family, The Holocaust and Me’, available December 2018.
Currently working on a rock opera and new album.
