Yvonne J. Singer/Songwriter

Bio written by John Fitzgerald.

Yvonne was born and raised in Dundee, Scotland in a household where music was ever present and it was only natural that, exposed to this environment, the girl was singing from an early age. There is an earthy grittiness in the Scots which spawns great, soulful voices. Annie Ross, Frankie Miller, Rod Stewart, the list is endless and Yvonne J is certainly no exception to that list. At the age of 16 she turned professional singing Lead with Ray King and the Flamingoes, a few years later she left the band and went to live in London for a year. After returning to Dundee finding the band had broken up and some members formed a new band called Rokotto. Yvonne joined some new/old  members once again   She took the stage name Susan Childe and fronted the new band now called the Susan Childe and the Flamingoes and began another residency in the JM Ballroom, which at the time was Dundee’s premier nightspot. She signed a contract of Management with Murdoch ( Murdo ) Wallace. 

Almost instantly, the diminutive teenager with the huge, soul drenched voice and dynamic stage act was packing the nightclub. Her followers were of both sexes. When she was bathed in stage lights, the audience in the darkness of the nightclub.  From the springboard of the new residency Yvonne “Susan Childe” performed there until transferring to The Palais Dance Hall while the JM was being renovated into The Barracuda where they did a residency there for a few more years then began performing throughout the U.K. 

Radio and TV appearances quickly followed appearing with major Scottish celebrities on regional TV stations, moving to the major national stations and eventually worldwide appearances. She did the Pilot show “The Best Disco in Town” produced by Harry Rabinowitz (‘Chariots of Fire’) for a major national network and the Pilot spun into a 7 series show. She has also appeared on Ulster T.V. and Canal Sur, Spain. She opened for Billy Ocean in a club in St Hellier an island off the coast of France. Opened for Bill Fredricks of The Drifters and opened for Rose Royce and Frankie Vaughan and many other Artists.

Yvonne has developed into the consummate artiste, who through her range and depth of experience knows how to relate to and command attention from her audience. Great stagecraft is not a gift from God it is a painstakingly, sweating, sometimes disappointing journey, some bad gigs and double deals, some great gigs and much deserved acclaim. "I was pushed hard to hone my craft by some great musicians” says Yvonne. “I have had a wonderful career and hope to continue to do so”.

On meeting and marrying Tony Jenkins, who was serving in the U.S. Navy, After leaving Scotland Yvonne took her name back and travelled extensively throughout Europe and USA, all the time fine tuning her craft both vocally and performance. Yvonne’s career took a new direction with new destinations and gave her opportunities to focus on other aspects of  entertainment. Yvonne lived and performed in Washington DC for 3 years then 3 years in Puerto Rico where she also performed. Then for 7 years  lived in Spain and worked as the Entertainment Specialist/Coordinator for the entire Mediterranean region for USO/DOD providing entertainment for all Military and Families stationed overseas and worked closely with AFARTS  ( Armed Forces and Radio Transmission Station)   She also hosted a live feed radio show from Puerto Rico while stationed there. When Navy days were over Yvonne and Tony settled in Tucson Az and after some years recently moved near Dallas, Texas. 

Yvonne has immersed herself in writing songs and recording them at home teaching herself recording & engineering using Pro Tools more than 15 years ago now. Yet the best has still to come. In the last year or so she has been working with other musicians to augment the sound of her tracks notably with David Clay, Rod Williams, Norm Peterson, Larry Talbot, Sam Hankins, Gino Goss and Gary Fuston, Peter Pearson, JC Smith to name a few. These musical collaborations have led to live appearances as a core member of IAF ( Independant Music Festival ) She is part of a worldwide colab team of musicians from all over the world.The release of Yvonne’s CD ‘It’s All About Love’ which has already made rising appearances in soul charts in U.S.A. and the U.K.The music is sometimes, staggering, witness the sax solo in "Sunrise to Sunset" over a spacious electric piano and fantabulous chords changes. Yvonne wrote the lyrics to the song working with DC Jazz (David Clay). “Dreams” is a beautiful song of loss and reflection exhibiting Yvonne voice quality at the very best. “After the Sun Has Gone Down” is a lovely Blues with Yvonne caressing the listener’s ears. Not on the CD, but also check out "Dark Blue" (Lyrics by Dave Wilson) where Yvonne sings notes which come from a dark place somewhere inside.

She is a prolific songwriter, writing and arranging all her own backing tracks and possesses a voice which wrenches emotion from your heart. We hear a soul which, is drenched in emotion, love, pain, joy, loss, anger and commitment. A commitment to deliver nothing less than 100%. This is a voice which has been honed by experience not copied note for note from a favorite singer. We hear a voice, a sultry voice, which solidly and soulfully delivers some great songs. There’s a great “feelgood” affect in much of her work. Listening to her sing, it’s not difficult to imagine yourself on a sun-soaked beach in Brazil or at other times sipping cocktails with a beautiful partner and gazing into the blazing sunset.

 “Only For You” is an amazing compilations of songs Produced by Emilsam Velazquez Yvonne wrote all but 2 of the songs.  Emilsam is an amazing Maestro and Grammy Award winner for multiple works throughout his career.

If you like your soul, smooth, sultry and sexy a copy of any of her CD's or Single's are a must for your collection. Yvonne is currently the Lead singer for a 23-piece Big Band Jaz ensemble Maxwell Hall Jazz.  As Yvonne says “I Love this ‘Musical Journey’ I am on. Long may it last, God willing.

♫ Music is food for the heart and soul ♫.