Audio

<p><strong>DeeJay Gosper has been performing for over 18 years. She has a reputation as Australia&rsquo;s Queen of the blues harp and songstress with an engaging and spirited stage presence.</strong></p> <p>After spending 2007 to 2008 recovering from breast cancer, DJ is&ldquo;performing with a passion that knows no tomorrow.&rdquo; (Bill Arnett, the Folkus Room, Canberra).</p> <p>Gosper says &ldquo;Before cancer I was a part-time musician with dreams of becoming full time.&nbsp; My career was just beginning to take flight when I was diagnosed.&nbsp; While the illness, surgery and treatment, has set back my career, it has also fired me up to live my dreams.&nbsp; I am now a full-time Musician, and as tough as it is I&rsquo;m loving every minute of it!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p> <p>Her professional musical career began in 1995 fronting <strong>The Dynamic Lifters</strong> as singer, harmonica and keyboard player (she studied Classical and modern piano for 11 years). This band exposed DeeJay to a range of music, from original songs to obscure Folk songs to Pub-rock and Blues-rock covers and helped her to begin her journey toward finding her own sound.&nbsp;</p> <p>As member of renowned vocal trio <strong>The Blues Cowgirls</strong> from 2002 &ndash; 2005, DeeJay played at various Australian Blues and Folk festivals. The independent release of &lsquo;Ask Any Woman&rsquo; was awarded "Best CD of the Year" by Canberra Roots Music.</p><p>She formed <strong>KarismaKatz</strong> (now called the DeeJay Gosper Band) in 2004.&nbsp; This group is one of Canberra&rsquo;s hardest working bands with a reputation for being original, versatile, quirky and thoroughly entertaining.</p> <p>DeeJay&rsquo;s harmonica, vocal and songwriting talents have been recognised over the years through various awards from the Canberra Blues Society including Best Blues Album &ldquo;Hot Flush Blues&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p> <p>Her distinctive harmonica style has developed over the years.&nbsp; Influences have included Sonny Terry, Jim Conway and Charlie Musselwhite.&nbsp; These days she doesn&rsquo;t try to sound like anyone else. She just plays!</p> <p>While DeeJay gains most recognition through her Blues music, she earns her living, predominantly through performing mainstream Jazz (originals and covers).&nbsp;</p> <p>Her vocal style has been influenced by many of the great Jazz and Blues singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Ma Rainey, Carmen McRae and Barbara Morrison.</p> <p>DeeJay has shared the stage with Fiona Boyes, Dutch Tilders, Jim Conway, Damon Davies, Damian Coen, Dave O&rsquo;Neill, Kate Meehan, Jan Preston, Glen Terry and the USA&rsquo;s Eugene Hideaway-Bridges and Austin Walking Cane.</p> <p><strong>Blues Awards</strong></p> <p>2005: The independent release of The Blues Cowgirls CD &lsquo;Ask Any Woman&rsquo; was awarded "Best CD of the Year" by Canberra Roots Music.</p> <p>2007: Canberra Blues Society Blues Awards: "Best Vocalist", "Best Instrumentalist" and "Best Song" (Burn Baby Burn, co-written with Christo Carlsen).</p> <p>2009: With a record number of entrants in 2009, DJ again scooped the Canberra Blues Society Blues Awards this time winning Female Blues Vocalist, Blues Song &ldquo;Baby Rose&rdquo; (co-written with Lynnie Gosper) and Best Blues Album &ldquo;Hot Flush Blues&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>