Dana Gillespie
b. 30 March 1949, Woking, Surrey, England. A former British water-skiing champion at the age of 15, Gillespie embarked on a singing career during the folk-boom of the mid-60s. She befriended Donovan, who played guitar on her 1965 single, Donna Donna, but was later drawn towards acting with roles in the Hammer film, THE LOST CONTINENT and the stage musical LIZ. Gillespie's 1969 album, BOX OF SURPRISES, presaged spells in CATCH MY SOUL and Jesus Christ Superstar. The artist was then signed to Tony DeFries’ Mainman management stable, which also included David Bowie. She was saddled with an overtly sexual image, dressed as a scantily-clothed, basque-wearing vamp on WEREN'T BORN A MAN and a male sailor scanning soft-core pornography, (of herself), on AIN'T GONNA PLAY NO SECOND FIDDLE, but this approach detracted from any musical content the sets had to offer. In later years Gillespie has continued to perform throughout Europe and the USA with the Dana Gillespie Blues Band, comprising of Dave Rowberry (piano; ex- Animals), Ed Deane (guitar), Charlie Hart (bass), Chris Hunt (drums) and Mike Paice (saxophone/harmonica).