Top tribute pens book on ‘crazy’ life
A GLITZY Shirley Bassey tribute act from Hinckley has put pen to paper on her “crazy lifestyle” to release her first book.
Joanne Copeman, from Merevale Avenue, has been performing across the world as Dame Shirley Bassey since 2002, including in America and the United Arab Emirates.
The 42-year old has also performed at events endorsed by the diva herself, including the auction of the famous singer’s gowns at London’s Cafe De Paris.
During the event, Joanne played the “Tigress from Tiger Bay” while singing the hit song Big Spender wearing one of Dame Shirley Bassey’s original gowns.
Joanne, who performs under the name Surely Bassey, has called her book Bling Boas and Balls, and describes it as a “comical memoir describing life on the road as a tribute act”.
The book is available to buy as either an e-book or a paperback from Amazon.
Joanne said: “Earning a living being a Shirley Bassey tribute act seemed such a crazy lifestyle and it took off to such an extent that I was travelling worldwide, so I really wanted to have something to look back on.
“I found myself in such comical situations sometimes and started to jot them down in a very basic diary fashion initially.
“In the end there was so much material - all 100 per cent true - that I really started to think about structuring it as an actual book. It’s taken a while but I’ve done it!
“This book will give you a glimpse behind those sometimes crazy scenes. It will offer an insight into life on the road as a tribute act and tells of the hilarious and totally bizarre situations that I often found myself in.
“From royalty to reprobates, the secret service to seedy sex joints. This tale describes my surreal journey travelling around the globe impersonating one of the world’s greatest and most respected divas.
“This is a laugh-outloud account of the trials and tribulations of a tribute act. I would be so grateful if people wo uld support me locally.”
Joanne will be at the Writers Fair 2017 at Hinckley Library on Saturday June 24 from 11 am to 3 pm, where she will be chatting to people and selling and copies of her book.
For more information or to purchase the book, visit https://www.facebook. com/blingboasandballs/, https://www.surelybassey.co.uk, or search for Bling Boas and Balls on Amazon.