About Sheila
Sheila is a UK based vocalist, composer and band leader with a style that draws upon jazz, blues, soul, folk and Latin influences. Working in all musical settings, from a piano duo up to a 17 piece Big Band, Sheila can be seen performing at jazz venues, events and festivals throughout the Country and overseas. She regularly guests with many of the UK’s top Big Bands whilst performing with her own band.
Sheila is the youngest of seven sisters, many of whom chose music as a career path. Sheila’s love of music and singing started at a very young age and was largely influenced by her Irish Mother who also came from a musical family, her encouragement and guidance resulted in Sheila’s first festival performance at the tender age of eight. Sheila went on to win the title of All England Champion in Traditional Irish Singing on four occasions with a subsequent live performance on Radio Eireann. Growing up in a large musical family, Sheila was exposed to many genres of music but she fondly remembers listening to the big band sounds of Glenn Miller and many of the jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Peggy Lee. Sheila continued to perform at festivals and events in England and Ireland whilst also studying piano with the London College of Music.
Sheila has established herself on the UK jazz scene and enjoys collaborations and performances with many of the UK’s top musicians. She has performed at London’s Jazz Cafe, The Millennium Dome, CBS Arena, Ronnie Scott’s and has been a regular favourite at the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival.
Studio Albums:
2013 – Album ‘I Wish You Love’ – Graham Dent, Steve Street, Mike Green, Andy Davey, David Williams.
2015 – Album ‘Reverie’ – John Hodgetts, Adrian Litvinoff, Federico Girlando, Gary Barnacle, Ian Chalk, Alan Wakeman, Si Hayden.
2019 – EP ‘A Better Place’ – Richard Jones, Matt Ball, Wayne Matthews, Mike Green, David Anderson, Jim Bashford, Tom Voce, David Williams, Rebecca Rose, Julianne Bourne, Bryan Corbett, Chris Aldridge.
2022 – Album ‘Every Sunrise’ – Richard Jones, Dean Stockdale, David Williams, Matt Ball, David Anderson, Jim Bashford, Fino Lopes, Chris Gibbons, Wayne Matthews, Tom Voce, Mike Green, Bryan Corbett, Chris Aldridge, Rebecca Rose, Julianne Bourne.
In 2016, due to ill health, Sheila had to take a break from live performance, it was during this time that Sheila began writing her own compositions. The solo project ‘Every Sunrise’ was written during a period of six months, the first studio recordings of this new material took place in 2019. The songs tell stories of loss, self discovery, hope, gratitude, love and belief. In that same year Sheila released a selection of these recordings in the form of a 5 track EP – ‘A Better Place’.
Sheila is delighted to have completed the ‘Every Sunrise’ project – the full album was released in December 2022 and is available on all major platforms and to purchase here!
2024 is proving to be a very creative and productive year ….. Sheila is collaborating on several new projects and looking forward to releasing new music!
