Joan Stevenson

"As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be on stage. I think it was my way of saying: 'here I am, look at me!'" As early as the age of six, Joan began modern dance classes at Wayne State University. She was usually in musical progams and plays in elementary and middle school. In high school, Joan was a member of the choir, played flute in band and got straight A's in drama. In her freshman year, she was a member of the Michigan State Vocal Association Honors Choir. In her sopohomore year, she got to perform with Stevie Wonder in a concert that he gave at the school. As a graduating senoir, she was awarded a scholarship to School of the Arts music camp and toured New York City as part of a musical revue.Joan became heavily involved with community theatre, acting in as well as being vocal director for several productions including: Little Shop of Horrors, Gypsy, To Kill A Mockingbird, and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Joan Also snagged a few awards for her performances in these productions. In addition to the stage perfromances, IN 1994 Joan also appeared on local TV station WDIV's "Super Singer Fireworks Contest", a "Star Search" type of contest where the winners are chosen by viewer call in. She walked away with the grand prize. Always looking for new challenges, after a couple of years, Joan left the band to look for new venues and began performing in several gay nightclubs in the metro Detroit area. "A good friend of mine introduced me to Sybil, the MC at Granny's in Belleville, and she gave me a job! From there, I got bookings at Gigi's, Stilletos, and my home sweet home, the Rainbow Room. Thank God for the gay boys who don't look at me like I'm from another planet then I start into some Linda Eder or some Streisand, and I love it when they sing along! The Gay community has always supproted me and I have always been there to lend my support whenever it's needed." Joan has contributed her talent to several causes and organizations including the Triangle Foundation, a human rights organization that serves the Gay community. For two years in a row Joan was also awarded Best Female Vocalist and Female Entertainer of the Year by the Performers Awards of Detroit, an organization that recognizes entertainers in the Gay community.A few years ago, Joan began a recording project of her own with singer/songwriter, producer Marq Speck. Joan and Marq have worked together off and on for about ten years on various commercial projects, including special presentations for Ford Motor Company. Another such project was a recording of one of Marq's songs that appeared in the independent film "No Two Masters" Marq's band Sweet Crystal recently released a new album, Still Standing, that features the song "No Two Masters". (you can hear clips and read the reviews that feature comments on Joan's performance by going to CDBaby.com)In 2004, Joan was a finalist winner in WDIV's Gimmie The Mike, an American Idol type Competition, Formerly with the After Midnight band, currently she is entertaining at clubs around the metro Detroit area."I look forward to the future. My major goal was to release a CD. Now that my CD is finished, I look forward to making the next one, now the goal is to sell a few and get enough gigs to keep me working and that's what I REALLY want."Create or get your
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