Jamie Cutler

To call singer/songwriter Jamie Cutler Harper a well rounded entertainer is something of an understatement according to Tracker Magazine, Western Heart Promotions, and Canadian American Records. Not only does she sing and perform, she writes and records her own material primarily, plays the guitar, flute, acts, and bangs on a variety of percussion instruments as well. Jamie has performed in Broadway shows in New York City and Florida, and has won numerous awards for her ability to create original lyrics and breath life into a song.
In fact, (before her children Todd and Jessica arrived in this world) Jamie’s life has always centered on music, writing, and performing. It was at Camp Seneca Hunt in the Pocono’s that and outgoing eight-year-old Jamie Cutler made her first appearances on stage. It was there that she wowed her fellow campers with her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” That year she entered the school talent show with Jamaican Farewell and she remembers loving every minute of it. During this same time period Jamie was playing classical piano recitals and dancing ballet and jazz in Philadelphia. It was in these early days that Jamie was hooked.
Under the guidance and watchful eye of her adopted Uncle Benny Davis, she kept writing songs, and her love and appreciation for music grew. Benny Davis penned several classic hits including “Baby Face”, “Margie”, “Where the Boys Are”(Connie Francis), “Don’t Break the Heart that Loves You”(Brenda Lee and Connie Francis), With These Hands (The Temptations), and many others. Uncle Benny would say, “You’re supposed to tell a story with the words and make every song your own when you perform it.” Jamie recalls that he used to get a piano player every Christmas and make me sing Baby Face and other songs for everybody.
When she wasn’t singing at camp or school or at family dinner parties, Jamie kept her vocals developing by performing in choirs throughout her school years. While she was at Penn State University she was chosen as a Penn State Singer and a soloist and started her first rock bands (Mother Goose, Andalusia, Mystery, Pugh Street). Jamie’s enthusiasm and her ability to entertain crowds landed her a position on the cheerleading squads at Lower Merion High School and Penn State University. Hesitantly she left the squad following the recommendations of her vocal coach and mentor Raymond Brown who did not want her to destroy her voice. “When I was singing with the bands in college a number of our regulars made me try out for a musical.” I said to them, “I’m not an actor!” to which they replied,
“That’s what you think.” This led to the development of Jamie’s other love, theatre.
It was during this first stint at acting that led Jamie to New York City to enroll at HB Studios, and Lee Strasburg’s Actor’s Studio, and eventually New York University and Hunter College. Jamie performed and studied music, acting, dance, and writing with many friends who became big stars. There was a class at HB with this wonderful man Bob Elston for singers and performers to work on their material. Barry Manilow was our sometimes pianist, and Bette Midler developed in that class. We would take turns singing and acting out our songs for each other. At the time Jamie sang at all of the popular New York City Nightclubs, Catch A Rising Star, the Improvisation Club, the Bottom Line.
Another finely tuned ability of Jamie’s is her gift to give her all on stage. “I guess I’m just a natural born entertainer. I love making people laugh and or bring a tear to their eyes, as long as I leave people feeling better about themselves, then I’m happy. Whether it’s singing, songwriting, acting, or just performing, it is clear that Jamie Cutler Harper is the complete package. As for her goals for the future, Jamie says it best :You can never dream to big.” Her favorite quote is that of Kermit the Frog “Life is a movie, write your own ending.”