Justine has been singing professionally for over 30 years now and has worked extensively in theatres and on national TV, she is also a much sought after session vocalist for some of the biggest record labels in the UK.
In her early career she could be seen treading the familiar cabaret scene as a dynamic vocalist and could boast knowing over 5000 songs, becoming a human juke box at venues.
In 2002 that her career would change direction. After winning ITV’s “Stars in their Eyes” as Anastacia, her tribute show “Justine is Anastacia” was in great demand and she spent the next 6 years performing as her around the world. When Anastacia stopped releasing albums and her popularity waned, it was time to change direction again.
Having been told on many occasions she really sounded like Tina Turner, Justine set herself the challenge to become the closest copy she could be. But this was going to take some transformation! After hours of scrutinising video footage, watching mannerisms and movements, hand making the all important wig, deciding which costumes to copy, listening to patter and hundreds of versions of the same songs from different decades, Just TINA was created.
As with Tina, Dancers would have to be a big big part of this and surprisingly none of the band complained! A troupe of professional dancers were hand-picked, choreography based on Tina’s live shows and our own unique creations were created and the whole production was rehearsed, tweaked and rehearsed again.
“I’ve been myself a lot longer than I’ve been a tribute to any artist and its strange sometimes to transform into my big alter ego. But you get away with an awful lot with being TINA!” Her sheer presence, her energy, her humility and dynamite vocals. If I can’t achieve success in my own right and her fans aren’t too upset, I cannot think of anyone I would rather pay homage too. I’ve never thought of myself as an impersonator and in no way ever think I can replace the legend that is Ms Turner, but I hope if she ever sees the show she will appreciate the hard work and sacrifice we have put into it just so we can keep spreading her name to her fans.
