Vivian’s Versatile Voice

The name Vivian means ‘life’ or ‘lively’ and it’s hard to go past the lovely Vivian Ross of the group ‘Radiance’ and the production ‘Songs in the Key of Motown’ for liveliness.

This lovely lady is a radiant renaissance woman, a dancer, choreographer, singer, actress, songwriter and now a playwright of musicals with her first musical ‘When a Woman Loves’, a comedy about five women in love with one man having it’s US debut. Vivian says it was a challenge bring writer and producer of the musical as well as writing all the songs. Having no knowledge of the characters she was writing about she believes the ability to write them was God given. Now that Vivian has surpassed the triple threat I ask her what she should be called and humbly answers she is ‘just versatile’.

Vivian is starting out on her annual visit to Australia. The seven week tour will see her visit Tasmania once again. Vivian loves the Tasmanian audiences which she calls ‘outstanding’ and ‘ responsive’ to the energy that the girls including newcomer Yolanda, exude.

The ladies are indeed a class act, polished, groomed, styled and charm schooled with 8 costume changes of clothes and wigs, the ladies have got costume changes down to something of a science but apart from the slick production values, Vivian says the lyrics of their songs take you away from your day to day worries for an hour and a half, which is very therapeutic for everyone.

As much as Vivian believes in ‘girl power’ she says it’s nice to have some male input, so this year the ladies of Radiance are joined by the gentleman of Spectrum. The gentleman will perform the music of ‘The Four Tops’ and ‘The Temptations’ as well as ‘The Jackson Five’ among other legends of Motown.

An upcoming legend is Vivian’s own nephew who is now entering the business, Vivian says her nephew shows promise as a great lyric writer and recording artist. It is family that is the core of Vivian’s life, even though in her work she shares the stage with many superstars she has never forgotten her beginnings and is always happy to return to her family’s fold which consists of five older brothers! One of whom is celebrating his 60th birthday very soon and you can expect some powerful celebratory singing from Vivian at the event.

You can see Vivian perform as part of ‘Radiance’ with ‘Spectrum’ in ‘Songs in the Key of Motown’ at Launceston Country Club 10th July 8pm.
Paula Xiberras