Biography
Giovanna Westwood has loved to sing for as long as she can remember, and started playing the bass at the age of ten - listening to the radio and playing bass lines of songs that caught her ear on her Uncle's old guitar. Later, at the age of twelve, Giovanna's Mother, always supportive, bought her first bass and amplifier - a Hamer beginner's bass and a Univox amp from Sears - without question as to why she would choose that instrument and without any hesitation.
She played bass in church at an early age, which helped to reinforce her ear training and ability to transpose on the bass. She sang in church, as well, whenever she wasn't playing, but at that time, it was difficult for her to do both.
Later, she decided to put both the things she loved to do together and began to hone her ability do the two simultaneously. The first song she learned how to sing and play was "Boogie, Oogie, Oogie" by "A Taste of Honey".
Giovanna was one of the original cast members of the hit musical entitled "Smokey Joe's Cafe" which originated in Seattle and which went on to Broadway for a very successful and lengthy run. She played the part of a juke joint musician named "Willie West" and played bass to packed houses nightly at the "Empty Space Theater" in Seattle for an extremely successful month long run. Standing ovations were common on a nightly basis. She had the honor of meeting Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the powerhouses behind such legends as "Big Mama Thornton", "The Coasters","The Drifters", "Elvis Presley" and many others.
Her abilities have taken her all around the world to Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Italy, Sweden, Amsterdam, and all over the United States and Canada touring with road bands and performing with club bands. She has played bass for such notables as Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame member,"Solomon Burke", whose list of hits includes "Everybody Needs Somebody", a tune that is memorable from the original "Blues Brothers" movie;"Al Wilson" who performed the hit "Show and Tell"; "Brenda Halloway" of the Motown Sound with her memorable hit "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy", a song which Ms. Halloway wrote and later covered by the group "Blood, Sweat and Tears"; "Tre Hardson" from the rap group "The Pharcyde" with one of his classic rap hits being "Passing Me By"; and "Leroy Bell" of "Bell and James" fame, i.e. "Living It Up - Friday Night". She has also jammed with "Lou Rawls" who sat in with her band one night at the Sheraton Hotel in Tacoma, Washington.
She began doing vocal session work in Hong Kong for such large companies as "Coca Cola", "Martell's Cognac", "Asiana Airlines","Gatorade", "Diners' Club" and many more. Her portfolio was such that when she came back to the United States, she immediately began to do numerous vocal sessions here as well.
She also has done numerous bass sessions, especially upon her arrival to California, on rap projects for Haitian rapper "Won G" on his album entitled "No Better Than This" as well as other genres and styles of music. Giovanna's love for bass playing and singing are equal.
Giovanna is currently bass player and vocalist for the band "Justus".
In the studio, Giovanna has a wide vocal range that blends well with her own voice as well as the voices of others. She is very easy to work with and has an abundance of enthusiasm when working in the studio. She has a very good ear, is quick to pick up harmonies and visibly enjoys what she does.
She played bass in church at an early age, which helped to reinforce her ear training and ability to transpose on the bass. She sang in church, as well, whenever she wasn't playing, but at that time, it was difficult for her to do both.
Later, she decided to put both the things she loved to do together and began to hone her ability do the two simultaneously. The first song she learned how to sing and play was "Boogie, Oogie, Oogie" by "A Taste of Honey".
Giovanna was one of the original cast members of the hit musical entitled "Smokey Joe's Cafe" which originated in Seattle and which went on to Broadway for a very successful and lengthy run. She played the part of a juke joint musician named "Willie West" and played bass to packed houses nightly at the "Empty Space Theater" in Seattle for an extremely successful month long run. Standing ovations were common on a nightly basis. She had the honor of meeting Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the powerhouses behind such legends as "Big Mama Thornton", "The Coasters","The Drifters", "Elvis Presley" and many others.
Her abilities have taken her all around the world to Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Italy, Sweden, Amsterdam, and all over the United States and Canada touring with road bands and performing with club bands. She has played bass for such notables as Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame member,"Solomon Burke", whose list of hits includes "Everybody Needs Somebody", a tune that is memorable from the original "Blues Brothers" movie;"Al Wilson" who performed the hit "Show and Tell"; "Brenda Halloway" of the Motown Sound with her memorable hit "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy", a song which Ms. Halloway wrote and later covered by the group "Blood, Sweat and Tears"; "Tre Hardson" from the rap group "The Pharcyde" with one of his classic rap hits being "Passing Me By"; and "Leroy Bell" of "Bell and James" fame, i.e. "Living It Up - Friday Night". She has also jammed with "Lou Rawls" who sat in with her band one night at the Sheraton Hotel in Tacoma, Washington.
She began doing vocal session work in Hong Kong for such large companies as "Coca Cola", "Martell's Cognac", "Asiana Airlines","Gatorade", "Diners' Club" and many more. Her portfolio was such that when she came back to the United States, she immediately began to do numerous vocal sessions here as well.
She also has done numerous bass sessions, especially upon her arrival to California, on rap projects for Haitian rapper "Won G" on his album entitled "No Better Than This" as well as other genres and styles of music. Giovanna's love for bass playing and singing are equal.
Giovanna is currently bass player and vocalist for the band "Justus".
In the studio, Giovanna has a wide vocal range that blends well with her own voice as well as the voices of others. She is very easy to work with and has an abundance of enthusiasm when working in the studio. She has a very good ear, is quick to pick up harmonies and visibly enjoys what she does.
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SAG/AFTRA Affiliated
SAG/AFTRA Affiliated
