The Tina Live Family
We work with some amazing people here at Tina Live, and you can find out more about them by reading below…
Julie Nevada - Tina Turner
Julie has been performing as Tina Turner for over 20 years. The unmistakable vocal, moves and mannerisms of the Queen of Rock has been perfected over many hours and years of preparation. All this hard work has taken Julie all over the world as Tina and she has had several mentions by the Official European Tina Turner Fan Club. Julie and the show have won the par excellence European tribute awards in 2019 presented in Belgium. Her powerful vocals and stage presence are uncannily like the great lady herself.
Julie was a child star performing in London’s west end in The Sound of Music (Louisa), Annie (Kate) and Bugsy Malone (Telula) and was also at The Royal Ballet school performing at Sadlers Wells and The Opera House Covent Garden. Julie also had a scholarship at the Urdang performing arts academy she has worked with many named acts and comedians.
To read more about Julie, click here
Matt Whitworth - Keyboard & Musical Director
Matt is our musical director and we consider him to be one amazing musical genius. Not only does he play the piano and keyboards, but he’s also as choir musical director in his spare time. He knows everything there is to know about harmonies!
At the age of 12, he achieved a grade 8 in piano and at 21 years old he achieved a BMus degree from The Guildhall School of Music. He then became the resident pianist at The Washington and Hilton Hotels in London and has toured extensively in Austria, Germany and Italy. Matt is a very laid-back and modest guy who would never tell you that he is the one who arranged every song and harmonies in Tina Live. The only time he’s not laid back is if we do it wrong… then he roars like a lion.
A little-known fact about Matt is that he speaks fluent Italian. Matt says he loves being in Tina Live, just slightly more than he loves McDonald’s, and he really loves McDonald’s.
Piers Walmisley - Rhythm & Lead Guitar
Piers is our guitarist, but he’s actually a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and in-demand session player. As a vastly experienced musician with over 30 years in the industry, Piers has played all over the world with top function and events acts.
He has worked and collaborated with a range of artists including ‘Tony Hadley’ (Spandau Ballet), ‘Lamar’, ‘Kenny Thomas’, ‘Peltsman’, ‘Eye High’, playatmidnight and more.
Piers loves being part of ‘Tina Live’, playing in a live theatrical show with an extremely talented group of musicians, singers and dancers.
A little known fact is Piers has a penchant for a good single malt and wine gums…
Graeme Turner - Saxophone
Graeme has been playing the Saxophone since the age of 7 and from a young age has been very successful making radio and TV appearances with ‘The Glen Miller Youth Orchestra’. In his teenage years Graeme moved from his Jazz upbringing, to his real passion. Soul, R & B, Pop and Rock & Roll. This change of style led to live performances, recordings, media appearances, theatre shows and extensive arena tours and concert halls.
Graeme is heavily influenced in his style of playing by his idols ‘King Curtis’, ‘Sam Butera’ and ‘Junior Walker’. He performed alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry, including ‘The Four Tops’, ‘The Temptations’, ‘Martha Reaves’,’Alison Moyet’, ‘Jools Hollands Blues Band’, ‘Jeff Beck’ and ‘Robert Plant’.
We feel very privileged to have Graeme onboard with Tina Live, and we know he is happy to be here.
Clint DeSouza - Drums
Clint is a multi-instrument musician, songwriter, and producer who has been playing the drums since he was 6 years old. Clint comes from a musical family with his Father being a session guitarist.
Born and raised in West London, Clint is heavily influenced by the musical genres of Mo-town, Country, Soul, Rock and Reggae. He has worked with various UK artists such as Nora Blu, Damon Sawyer Producer/Session Drummer (Hundred Seventy Split) Zalon and Will Hunt.
Clint has drummed with some of the country’s top function bands including The 20/20’s, Soul City, The Mo-Town Collective and the 35mm. Clint has also played for many tribute bands such as The Artic Monkeys, UB40, Royal Blood and Jamiroquai.
Clint says he’s very excited to be a part of Tina Live, he’s always been a big fan of the real Tina Turner the iconic Queen of Rock.
Gavin Cooper - Bass Guitar
Born & raised in Carshalton, South London, Gavin first picked up a guitar at the age of 14 and the bass at the age of 16 (it was at this point that Gavin & Piers met for the first time and actually formed their first band together), going on to gain worldwide touring and recording experience, performing with world class renowned singers such as Paul Di’anno (Iron Maiden) in ‘Killers’, Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper) in ‘Lionsheart’, Gary Barden (Michael Schenker Group) in ‘Statetrooper’ & Bob Catley (Magnum) as part of his solo touring band.
He is a versatile performer who is influenced by and enjoys playing different genres of music in very much of a supporting role as a bassist, with the sole quest of making each and every song sound as good as it possibly can. Gavin feels that ‘Tina Live’ acts as the perfect platform, providing him with a privileged opportunity to play and emulate such classic bass lines of timeless quality songs.
* Gavin uses & endorses ‘Cosmic Ears’ custom in-ear monitors.
Sheila Feaver - Backing Vocals
Sheila is our longest-serving backing singer. She discovered her love of singing when she joined the school choir and then started singing professionally once she left school.
When she is not singing with us, Sheila is a vocalist in her own right. She is part of the duo ‘Sugar and Spice’.
Sheila loves being part of Tina Live, and always brings us delicious cakes she makes herself.
We love having Sheila with us, not only for the cakes but for her talent and professionalism too.
Andy Locksley - Backing Vocals
Andy has a vast vocal range and has been performing for over 30 years all over the world.
In his early career, Andy worked as a session singer for major labels. During that time Andy worked alongside many big names including Dennis Stratton (‘Iron Maiden’), Eric Burden (‘The Animals’), ‘The Village People’, Jimmy Helms and ‘The Four Tops’, to name a few.
Andy also opened for top comics such as Bobby Lee, Jimmy Jones, Dave Lee and Bradley Walsh. He is a songwriter and has had a couple of minor country/soft rock hits across Europe.
Andy says he’s a big fan of Tina Turner and being part of this show is the next best thing to working with the real Tina Turner especially as everyone is so precise and so professional.
Siobhan Kenny - Dance Captain & Choreographer
Siobhan started dancing from a very young age and attended various theatre schools in her youth. She then went on to do a 3-year dance diploma at Reynolds Performing Arts.
Since graduating Siobhan has performed in various shows around the world, including Cyprus, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Madeira and Ireland.
Siobhan regularly performs at the 02 in London, in music videos, in TV commercials, with Bollywood celebrities and at fashion shows.
She also choreographs shows and teaches dance to children and adults of all ages.
Siobhan says she’s loving every minute of performing in Tina Live.
Charlotte Ridd - Dancer
Charlotte started dancing from a very young age at Essex Dance Theatre. After leaving school she went onto study at Performers College in Essex and completed a three-year diploma in professional dance.
After graduating, Charlotte’s first professional dance job was in Cyprus at the Louis Phaethon Beach Hotel where she also learnt to perform aerial silks. Charlotte then moved to Morocco where she worked as a dancer at Iberostar Founty Beach hotel.
Disneyland Paris was her next stop as a dancer for the ‘Pirate & Princess’ season and their spectacular Halloween show. Charlotte then hit the sea and started dancing onboard MSC Seaside as a dancer before returning to Disneyland Paris for the busy Christmas show season.
Charlotte loves chinchillas and has one called Max. She joined the new Tina Live show in April 2021.
Emily Merritt - Dancer
Emily was just three years old when she began her dance journey at her local theatre school. Throughout the following 13 years she performed in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Disneyland Paris. She then moved on to complete a three year Diploma in Performing Arts.
After graduating she began her professional career with a dance contract in Morocco. This then led her on to performing in various shows all over the UK. Recently she has just completed a four month contract in Egypt where she was a part of a top resorts production show team.
Emily is now excited to begin a new journey with Tina Live!
Jess Bass - Dancer
Jess grew up by the sea in East Sussex and was passionate about dancing from an early age.
Her dance teacher Mechele Lefkaridi was her inspiration growing up. She was awarded a scholarship to train as a Junior Cecchetti Ballet Associate in London. She also trained in various other styles of dance and fell in love with theatre jazz.
She completed three years full time professional musical theatre training at Reynolds Performing Arts. This was invaluable and she went on to perform in theatre tours, music videos and hotel shows in the UK and abroad.
She is excited to be part of the UK theatre tour of Tina Live and grateful to her family and friends for their continuous support.
