This past weekend I had the amazing pleasure of attending a
fictional stage play called,
“Saul’s Juke Joint”, a theatrical dance musical
set in the 1930s. I know what you’re thinking…….I am not really a play or a
musical type of girl, but this particular play happened to be very fun & entertaining. And if you follow me on
Instagram, you know I was having a blast that night; posting all kinds of pictures from the show. Anyway, this period piece took place in Florida and was about a local “juke joint”, blacks and
whites could attend regularly to escape the racism of the time. It included a
mini-concert towards the end of about 10 songs and had a predominantly black
cast consisting of actors, comedians, dancers and singers all from the Tampa
Bay area.
The show had several talented singers, but it was newcomer
to the play, Diane Andrieux, (that played Suga
Mama, one of lead singers) that had the crowd wondering, 'Who’s that girl?' I
had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Andrieux after the show and learn a
little bit more about this talented singer.
How old were you when you started getting involved with
music?
I started at about 12 years old. I would sing all around the
house, everywhere I went. Then, at about
16, I started singing in church. I know that sounds cliché for singers to get
started in church, but it’s true.
How did you figure out you could sing?
I found out I could sing by my friends and family, telling
me “oh girl, you can sang!” Then I was told by my choir director of the youth
choir that I had a gift and that’s when they took me under their wing. I was
scared to sing for a while, in the beginning, because I didn't want people to
think I was showing off, you know?
When did you decide music was your career?
Oh, um, a long time ago! When I was younger, I use to write
letters to God asking him to make me singer. I just knew I was born to do it
and I always knew it was something I was destined to do.
Will you be doing more musicals like “Saul’s Juke Joint”
anytime soon?
Yes! Absolutely! I didn’t realize it was going to be that
much fun. The cast welcomed me with open arms and to be able to sing, dance and
act was a dream. I’m a chameleon. I want to do it all! So anytime they need me
for anything, I’m game!
Where do you hope to see your career in the next five years
or so?
Where do I see myself in the next five years, hmm, hopefully
I will be traveling the world on tour, writing for different artist because I
am also a songwriter, winning Grammy’s and just doing me. What I love to do.
This girl definitely has a humble spirit and she’s extremely
funny and naturally animated. It’s hard not to love her! And most of all, she
has an amazing voice. I look forward to following her career.
To find out more about Diane Andrieux or for booking information, you can visit her social media, FB: dianeandrieuxmusic, Twitter: @dianeandrieux and/or
subscribe to her YouTube page.
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| Diane in costume as Suga Mama |
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| The cast of singers from "Saul's Juke Joint" |
