The West Coast, and particularly Los Angeles, is known as one of the country’s major music markets. Okay, so that’s one of those statements that’s practically a cliche, and you’re probably wondering why it’s used to start this article. Well, transgender musicians are becoming more and more an important, creatively viable part of what’s happening […]
This month, Transvocalizers features Part 2 of our interview with Beth Isbell. Ms. Isbell is best known as a solo artits, who has several albums out under her own name. She is also part of the band The Dead Prophets. She lives in Oklahoma, where she is a practicing attorney who specializes in gender rights […]
Last month’s column was Part 1 of our introduction to Ms. Desiree HInes, a classical musician from Philadelphia whose instrument of choice is pipe organ. She is also instrumental in getting the local GLBT festival known as The Traverse Arts Festival organized. This has been described as a multi-disciplinary showcase for GLBT artists and their […]
Beth Isbell is a singer/songwriter who has been musically active for many years, but who will no doubt be a new name to TGForum readers. She lives in Oklahoma, and is originally from Georgia. Her father was in the military, which means the family moved all over the U.S. and even lived in Germany for […]
Gospel music done by a drag entertainer? Hey, why not. Although, please don’t call Our Lady J a drag queen. She’s been known to take serious issue with that. She makes it clear that she’s a transsexual, thank you very much. Our Lady J is best known as a singer/songwriter/keyboardist, who has been described as […]
Lucas Silveira isn’t your standard fare for this column. While our initial focus was on drag entertainers who sing in their own voice, Lucas, as a transman, certainly doesn’t fill that bill. No matter, though, because this is a transgender artist who is beginning to make an international impact, and will help to advance positive […]
Any musician whose career has a lasting shelf-life has learned the art of reinventing themselves. The best examples are probably Madonna, Elton, and David Bowie. Granted, that’s a short list, but you get the point. The question that comes to mind after awhile though is this: what’s more important—the public image or the actual music? […]
Suzy Wedge is a musician/singer with a mission. Her chosen vehicle for that mission happens to be surf music. Okay, so what’s so unusual about that? After all, there is a renewed interest in that genré. What makes Suzy Wedge unique is that she is a transgender Canadian who is originally from Istanbul, Turkey. She […]
“People need to know you can be a trans woman of color and still have a successful career,” said Tona Brown. While that might read like an overly obvious statement, coming from a minority individual who is part of yet another minority, it belies the talent and tenacity that is the foundation of who Tona […]
This month Pamela DeGroff profiles a talented transman vocalist from the San Francisco area who is making a mark for himself in the dance and hip hop worlds. Joshua Klipp is his name and he has released two CDs since 2006. One of his songs is a mix of his current male voice singing with […]
I’m either getting old (and let’s not go there), or transgender artists are getting way younger all the time. Case in point is this month’s featured Transvocalizer, Johnny Boy. She is from Philadelphia and is all of 18, but is already establishing herself through an incredible array of videos on the Internet. She raps and […]
There must be something in the Guinness in England. When you start to list all the incredible musicians whose talents have not only influenced our lives but have changed the course of popular music…well, there’s not enough space in an article of this length to make a comprehensive effort. There’s the obvious ones…The Beatles, The […]
With the posting of this installment of Perpetual Change, the column is officially ten years old. And quite honestly, that’s a sentence I never thought I’d write. I never believed I could do this for ten years. Long time readers of Perpetual Change (both of you) will probably note some of the changes that have […]
“I don’t like being referred to as ‘she’ necessarily,” said Miss Guy, well known DJ and former lead vocalist for the band Toilet Boys. “I’m happy being a pretty boy. I get mistaken for a girl sometimes. More on the street during the day with no make-up on than I do when I’m painted and […]
Pam DeGroff chats with gay musicians and TG allies Robert Urban and Nick Ganato about the state of Internet radio.
The word “fickle” could have been created with the music business in mind. The industry as a whole is notorious for changing everything from formats to genres to hairstyles. Fans can be worse…even brutal at times. Whatever is today’s musical genré du jour will be considered (within about a month…) “classic tracks.” So, anyone who […]
Christmas Music plus I was sort of wondering what could be done with this new Transvocalizers feature to keep in line with the holidays. Given the extent of our economic downturn (duress, even…), the gift of music is still a highly affordable way to celebrate the season, regardless of your personal beliefs. In our main […]
Vicki D’Salle is the type of artist who can expand her musical horizon without going too far afield from her chosen genre’. As a musician, she’s developed a repertoire based around a jazzy piano style, which also includes healthy doses of boogie and more melodic playing. Her set contains everything from standards to original material. […]
There was a time, and not too long ago actually, when if the words “transgender” and “music” were found in the same sentence, it had something to do with heavy metal, goth, or glam rock. In other words, stuff that was heavy and a bit on the dark side. (…sort of like a refreshing pint […]
by Pamela DeGroff Ever encounter the word “definitive” used to describe a certain aspect of an artist’s career? The definitive album, the definitive song, or the definitive sound? For actors, there’s always that one career defining role in a movie or play. So, can this concept of something being all defining translate to one specific […]
It’s one of those months when our musical column author, Pamela DeGroff has gathered together several short bits and pieces from press releases and other sources concerning the activities and artistry of TG muscians. In this edition of Perpetual Change she brings us news about The Cliks, jazz bassist Jennifer Leitham, some sad news from […]
Melissa Clark is a singer/songwriter from the Schenectady, New York area. She is a retired U.S. Postal Service employee who has been living full time since 2002, and whom also has just released her first recording, an EP entitled Coming Out. She is also a cancer survivor who is adamant about health screening and uses […]
Donna Austin (plus some odds and ends) The interesting thing about doing this column on what I’ve begun calling “transgender representations in popular music,” is that I no longer know where it will lead me. By saying that, I don’t mean that there isn’t a clear vision for each installment. No, it’s just that over […]
