Victoria Hart
“The Singing Waitress”
This is the remarkable story of Victoria Hart, who at the tender age of 18 has become internationally known as the “jazz singing waitress” - the girl who wowed George Clooney at the “party to end all parties” in Cannes on the 22nd May 2007 and who, just weeks later, signed a million dollar record contract with Decca/Universal Classics and Jazz.
Victoria Hart was born in California in 1988 and moved to England at the age of 3, before settling in France during 2000 and then returning to London in 2005.
Victoria is a well-travelled individual, with gypsy feet, a multi-cultural background and the ability to sing in three languages. She’s a young girl with a huge sense of fun and a natural performer, who boasts a seductive combination of Marilyn Monroe looks and a silky voice which has been compared to such musical giants as the late great Eva Cassidy.
The background to her whirlwind rise to fame began in the summer of 2004 when Victoria was living in the Alpes Maritimes (South of France). She was 15-years old and about to do her final GCSE year. She had always loved singing in front of friends and family, so during the school holidays she would perform at parties or get-togethers.
At one of these events, an informal jazz picnic near Cannes, hit songwriter Geoff Gurd first encountered Victoria. “I don’t think I have ever heard such an impressive raw talent” he remarked - and immediately invited her over to his recording studio near St Tropez to try out some demos.
Two weeks later Victoria put on a pair of headphones and recorded a couple of songs. It was the first time she had ever been in a recording studio but as Geoff said it was as though she had been doing it all her life. So was born a lasting musical relationship between a 15-year old singer and an experienced writer/producer.
Having left school, where she achieved straight ‘A’s in her GCSEs, Geoff encouraged her to move to London to enrol in the ‘Vocal Tech’ college, which broadened her musical education. At the same time her family was offered work in the USA and they moved from France to New York.
Arriving in London alone at 16 to start this new phase of her life, Victoria began her shifts at the Naked Turtle restaurant as a jazz-singing waitress, earning just enough money to keep her going during her college year.
The Gurd and Hart partnership developed a raft of songs during 2005-6 and made their own record with the help of “friends and family” investors. Decca/Universal have signed Victoria and released this debut album, entitled “Whatever Happened To Romance”, on 9th July 2007.
Decca’s press release makes a bold statement. “40 years ago we missed out on the Beatles - Decca may well have finally righted that wrong!” says Mark Cavell, vice-president - describing Victoria as “the Lily Allen of jazz!”
With the exception of one song, a jazzy version of Sunny Afternoon by Ray Davies, the album’s material has all been written by Geoff and Victoria. The lyrics are based on the way Victoria sees the world (see her likes/ dislikes below) set to a backdrop of pop, jazz, swing, blues - even salsa!
Victoria’s original musical style and irresistible personality attracted some first class musicians to play on the album. Pianist Neil Drinkwater was Van Morrison’s musical director (listen out for his tinkling on Have I Told You Lately). Paul Robinson who was the late Nina Simone’s drummer. The Kick Horns recorded the brass during their break from Eric Clapton’s World Tour.
21 different musicians played on Victoria’s album and they all had a ball recording in a Cotswolds Studio during the sweltering summer of 2006. Even her vocal coach, the legendary Verona Chard, was invited to the recording sessions to get the most out of the vocal performance.
Victoria is at her happiest singing before a live audience. No venue is too big or too small for her. Until recently she could still be found at the Naked Turtle in London, singing jazz standards in between waiting tables, but now that fame has called she is more likely to be found performing in front of thousands at venues like Glastonbury or the Shepherds Bush Empire.
Click here to visit Victoria's website...