They’re household names in New Zealand since coming together in 2005 to perform as The Lady Killers at charity concerts, but since then, singers Suzanne Lynch, Jackie Clarke and Tina Cross have gone from strength to strength.
And now they’re back, ready to entertain and uplift Kiwis around the country as part of their show Divas.
Audiences can expect high emotion and energy, as they belt out favourite tunes from icons such as Whitney Houston and Adele.
“Divas is our celebration of musical superwomen who have made their mark in the music world,” says Tina. “It’s our opportunity to pay tribute to iconic women who we admire greatly and who have influenced each of us stylistically, particularly in our early careers.
“We are three singers, quite different from each other in approach and style, and yet when we combine our voices in harmony, there’s a quality and magic that’s difficult to describe.”
The trio shares what they’re most looking forward to and why they’re not ready to slow down.
Jackie Clarke, 58
My top five songs and why I love them…
1. Tell Laura I Love Her: It reminds me of being a kid in the mid-1970s in Kaiti in Gisborne, me and my twin sister Robyn, barefoot and in matching seersucker dresses, running around in the garden singing it at the top of our lungs.
2. Wuthering Heights: It’s from the late ’70s, and this song and video made me realise you can be yourself – you don’t have to look or sound like anyone else. Kate Bush inspired me to briefly take up interpretive modern dance, but I soon tired of the leotards!
3. Luck’s on Your Table Tonight: Seeing Sharon O’Neill on a TV talent show, I realised New Zealand makes superstars too. She wrote songs, wore white jeans and a shark’s tooth earring. She was so cool!
4. Fernando by ABBA: My hero Frida finally got a solo.
5. Stuff and Nonsense by Split Enz: Such a tender, nuanced and honest love song from my favourite New Zealand band ever. Tim Finn was my first pop crush: arty and complicated. Swoon!
The best thing about being on stage…
Knowing you’ve prepared as much as you can in advance, so you’re able to be 100 percent free, letting the music fly and the moments roll. That’s where the magic comes from – it’s the fountain of eternal youth
The advice I would give to my 16-year- old self…
It’s okay to be too much, too loud, too exuberant and too smart. You do you, Jackie!
For women over the age of 50, my advice would be…
Make sure you put your own needs first at least once a day. Everyone needs you – parents, children, partner, friends and work – but you need to take care of yourself so you can care for all these other parts of your life.
People would be surprised to know…
I’m pretty shy and awkward at parties and in large groups of people. I guess that’s why I like the stage, as you don’t really have to make small talk.
Tina Cross, 65
My top five songs and why I love them…
1. Begin the Beguine/ Ngā Whakaro E: This is the first Māori song my dad taught me as an eight-year- old. It’s taken from an old jazz standard, Begin the Beguine. I have combined the Reo and English into one song. I often do this song early in my solo shows.
2. Nothing But Dreams: My Pacific Song Contest-winning song from back in 1979. I’ll put this in my solo show anytime.
3. Too Young for Promises: My Koo De Tah number six hit from 1985. I recently performed it in a solo show and it went down a treat.
4. Memory: My favourite theatre song of all time. I’ve been a Grizabella twice, in 1995 and 2009. I’ll often include this in my solo show.
5. Titanium: This is one of my personal favourites that I sing with the Lady Killers. We can use our backing track, guitar-only or add me on ukelele. The vocals stand up, no matter what.
The quote I live by…
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” To me, this simply means you have full power over yourself at any given time. The choice is yours alone. The other important phrase alongside it is: “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t have done to yourself.” Being good, true and honest is the side effect of living by these two quotes.
One of my most memorable moments from previous tours…
I was catching a flight out of Wellington to meet the Lady Killers in Whangārei for a Waitangi Day performance. I was running late and jumped on the plane which was an Air NZ Saab, without dashing to the loo beforehand. Who knew that this Saab had no toilet, and it was an hour and a half flight? I’m pretty sure I almost burst my bladder. I should never have told Jackie about this because she gave me a hard time throughout the show and the audience loved it! Go figure. There are no boundaries with an outdoor Lady Killers concert.
If I could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, they would be…
My dad, Joe Cross. He passed away when I was 22 years old. I’d just love to have known him as the man he was, and not just as my incredible father who loved me to the moon and back.
Dolly Parton because she’s brilliant! She’s a country/pop singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor, philanthropist and hugely successful businesswoman. I’d love to hear her story face to face.
Jane Fonda. I went to An Evening with Jane Fonda a few years ago and apart from admiring her obvious success as an award-winning actor, activist, successful businesswoman and philanthropist, I was struck by her naturalness. I love, too, that she’s always been a health advocate and to my eye, she’s had a little bit of work done, but not a lot. She’s aged beautifully and gracefully.
People would be surprised to know…
I have two ceramic hips. What a difference!
Suzanne Lynch, 73
My top five songs and why I love them…
1. The Hucklebuck: This was The Chicks first big successful single when I was 14 years old and my sister Judy was 16.
2. Sunshine Through a Prism, which was written by Shade Smith from The Rumour when I went solo. It was arranged and produced by my new husband at the time, Bruce Lynch.
3. Our Last Song Together, or any song on the live album by Neil Sedaka. I was in his backing vocal group and this album was recorded live with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, shortly after I had arrived in England in 1974. Neil was so good to work for. He asked Bones, the vocal group I was in for many years in London, to carry on performing with him, and sing on his upcoming tour of England and Europe. Of course we said yes!
4. Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens. Jacquie Sullivan, Joy Yates and myself made up the vocal group Bones and sang on many artists’ records while in England.
5. Colour of Summer: My first solo album for many years, produced by Eddie Rayner. I love the song Ray of Hope written by Neil Finn.
My favourite song to perform…
I Feel Like a Woman… and I do! When I’m on stage with our fantastic band, and my besties singing alongside me, I really completely do Feel Like a Woman!
The best thing about touring…
The camaraderie we all have with each other. We spend a lot of time rehearsing to get things “right”, drinking coffee, and laughing, but also supporting each other in moments of need. We always have each other’s backs. I admire them both as people and as performers.
If I could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, they would be…
Yusuf [Cat Stevens], which he promises me will happen next time he’s here in New Zealand.
Sam Neill, just because.
My good friend Chrissy Blue, a go-go dancer from the C’mon days.
My advice to any woman over the age of 50…
Enjoy life to the fullest. Always have a purpose and sing like there’s no tomorrow. I only ever admit to being 29! My kids know never to put that 30th candle on my birthday cake.
People would be surprised to know…
I wanted to be a vet when I grew up. I still love animals.
The Divas tour heads around the country from Friday, October 4 before finishing on Saturday, November 2. For more info, head to divas.co.nz
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