SIMONE LAMERS – ALL THAT JAZZ

Born and raised in Vancouver, Simone Lamers  started singing, at the tender age of 12, at a teen night dance. At 13 she played her first paid gig: back-up singing for a woman she baby-sat for (who took a liking to the young girl’ssultry soulful voice). By the time she reached 21 she was avidly singing in R&B and pop bands in the city. Attending an after hours bar after a show she met Henry Young and fell in love with Jazz. Henry Young for those of you who don’t already know, was a reputable jazz artistwho shared the stage with Nina Simone, Martha Reeves, and Bobby Taylor, just to name a few.

For the next 20 years he took Simone under his wing. She opened for bass player Ray Brown (husband of Ella Fitzgerald) and found herself more than inspired.  You’re hard pressed to find anyone here that hasn’t grooved to her vivacious vocals at one time or another. She chose Salt Spring because with 4 children in tow she seeked an environment that allowed them to experience a childhood full of freedom and nature.A stay-at-home mom (until all the kids were in school), Simone really only left the house to play gigs: introducing herself to Barrington Perry and performing with him around the island. She worked at the old Purple Parrot Restaurant with Gary Lundy for over a year every friday and saturday night.  She has done everything from Real Estate to managing a Bistro. A “jill of all trades” you might say.She also found time to teach singing for a few years with Acoustic Planet Music School and really enjoyed working with young people which has now blossomed into her current project “So Kool Jazz School”. The program offers Jazz appreciation games and excersisesto children 5-8 and commences this July. On top of it all she manages to run a DJ companycalled “Events As You Wish”, on island, providing music for weddings and all special events. I myself have danced my face off to her alter ego DJ Mummy T at Mobys Pub numerous times and am pretty sure all the seats (and wine glasses) were empty by the end of the night…every time.

Currently she spends half her time in her Bungalow in Melaque, and the other half here on Salt Spring heading up Simone and The Soul Intentions. Accompanied by her husband Mike Lamers on guitar the band plays all over the island throughout the summer.
For information on So Kool Jazz School email simone at simone717@hotmail.com

honed her skills while enjoying her share of
concerts: including Stevie Wonder; Chaka Khan;
and Earth Wind and Fire.—

For the last 15 years Simone has been gracing
Salt Spring stages and you’d be hard pressed

including some of her favourites, Stevie
Wonder, Chaka Khan and Earth Wind and Fire
For the last 15 years Simone has graced Salt
Spring stages and you’d be hard pressed to
find anyone here that hasn’t grooved to her
vivacious vocals at one time or another. She

chose Salt Spring because with 4 children in
tow she seeked an environment that allowed
them to experience a childhood full of
freedom and nature.
A stay at home mom until all the kids were in
school Simone really only left the house to
play gigs introducing herself to Barrington

This Saltspring post has had 1,317 views