Gloria profile picture

Gloria

About Me

Been a pro musician since 1979,in various bands and musical combinations.Now working mainly solo and in duos.Released 7 solo albums and various band things.Toured U.S. twice and Europe many times....blah blah.. but all that was under a pseudonym.Now I have moved into uncharted territory.I only really began performing live as Gloria,my transgendered identity,about 3 years ago - firstly in London,to try it out under cover of anonymity,then up north where I belong. Basically I just didnt know if it would work musically and artistically,or how audiences would take it.In fact it has been a revelation.I wrote some tg material for the tranny scene.I still do some of it,like Canal Street,which is a work of staggering genius of course, but much of it I am leaving behind and tranny world isnt that interested after all.Just walking out of my door as Gloria is an adventure,to some extent ( not always what you want of course).The real world,people who listen to and make music have been wonderfully welcoming though.So I now write and perform more for them - after all,there are more of them.But I still like to look at gender - its an interesting subject,but I do it more through story-telling than polemic or theorising. Things move on - I'm looking for,and finding,new places to play,and this year I have released my first album - "Living For Me" When I stepped outside my former boundaries it felt almost like a new life being revealed,an ecstatic experience.That it appears to have some relevance generally,judging by peoples' reactions to what I'm expressing,is really gratifying.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 05/04/2006
Band Members: Just me
Influences: Martin Carthy.Nic Jones.Joseph Taylor.Harry Cox.Han Shan.Issa.Beatles.Kinks.Robert Johnson.Richard Thompson.Dylan.Van Morrison.Michael Marra.Robert Burns.John Clare.Wm Shakespeare.Cher.D.J.Sammy.... but mainly Anonymous.
Sounds Like: Unique!
Record Label: Unknown Indie
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Guitars

I resurrected one of my guitars this week.Its a very good instrument - handmade in Honduras mahogany and Brazilian rosewood with an ebony fingerboard, but somehow it has sat in its case for a couple o...
Posted by on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:25:00 GMT

Party time

Nearly the end of another year, and party time is in full swing.Last night was my fourth this week - and it was a late one - 4 a.m when I got to bed.Anyway, last night's do was notable for the fact th...
Posted by on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:39:00 GMT

new album

.. I have finally got my new cd,Living For Me,in my hands at last.I finished recording it in april, but the production company were formidably useless,so it took a lot longer than expected.Never mind....
Posted by on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:18:00 GMT

charity gig

Did a charity gig on saturday,run by my good friends at addingham acoustic.It was held at a golf club - so there was the added excitement of whether I would be allowed in at all! They always have a dr...
Posted by on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Leap Year

February 29 - not many of them about. Had a good night at addingham acoustic on tuesday,from which my present photo is taken.Good to see Lesley and Richard there again,as well as Dave Speight - s...
Posted by on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Recording

I see I havent blogged for ages.Well the guitar cd is now out,and I sent a few off for review yesterday.Those who've heard it have liked it - but then theyre mostly friends anyway,so they would say th...
Posted by on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:10:00 GMT

recording

  Today I have at last sent my guitar cd off on its way to be made ready for production.Its taken me about 6 months to record,off and on,and its now probably as good as I can get it.Even then,the...
Posted by on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:36:00 GMT

Performing

I see I havent blogged for ages - too busy living I hope. I've played quite a lot of gigs locally in the last two weeks - even occasionally getting paid.I did the Primrose twice last week.Its a s...
Posted by on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:24:00 GMT

Ending Of The Year

As the year draws to a close the temptation to look back and review it is inescapable. My life in male persona has almost stood still,if that were possible - the only thing of note I can think of (and...
Posted by on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:39:00 GMT

Pride

Been playing a lot in the last two weeks - probably about 20 live performances,partly because I'd been booked at a festival. On saturday I rushed over to Manchester where they're having the Pride...
Posted by on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:59:00 GMT