There is a long list of famous performers who started out as buskers (see below) – maybe this is reason enough to support the new street performers we see on our streets. There is a chance you might be walking past the next Leonard Cohen on your way to work. He just needs a bit more practice, a bit more street sense before hitting the stage, a lucky break…
One such group that made the transition from streets to success is Wicked Aura – a samba drum group who started in front ofshopping malls in Singapore and ended up opening for Black Eyed Peas and making the top twenty on the BBCs ‘Ones to Watch’ in 2007 with their MTV music video:
We spent an evening in the Wicked Aura studio with four of the thirteen-strong group. We heard the whole story as Wicked Aura progressed from street to gigs to music fesitvals to albums and MTV, and were treated to a quick acoustic drum bashing:
Budi is their charismatic leader and now also teaches drumming and music at a local college. He admits that the boys have slowed down as they’ve gotten older, but they still love to jam together when they get the chance. To finish the evening we cruised the quiet streets of Singapore in the Wicked Mobile (think A-team without all the jumping in and out with guns) listening to CDs and pretending to be groupies.
You can see more of Budi and Wicked Aura on their website.
Famous Buskers: Amy Bell, Annie Raines, Barenaked Ladies, B B King, Beck, Benjamin Franklin, Bernie Mac, Bill Robinson (Mr.Bojangles), Billy Bragg, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blue Man Group, Bob Dylan, Bob Hope, Bon Jovi, Brian Jones, Champion Jack Dupree, Cirque Du Soleil, Country Joe McDonald, Damien Rice, David Byrne (Talking Heads), David Gilmour, Dixie Chicks, Django Reinhardt, Dolly Parton, Donovan, Edith Piaf, Eddie Izzard, Elliot Smith, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, The Flying Karamotsov’s, George Burns, George Jones, Gerry Rafferty, Glen Hansard, Hank Williams, Harry Anderson, Hayley Westenra, Huey Lewis, Irving Berlin, James Morrison, James Blundell, Janis Joplin, Jeremy Irons, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jewel, Jill Hennessy, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Joaquin Phoenix, John Butler, Joni Mitchell, Josephine Baker, Judy Collins, Kanye West, KT Tunstall, Kila, Leadbelly, Lena Lovich, Leonard Cohen, Long John Baldry, Lou Reed, Louis Armstrong, Madeleine Peyroux, Manic Street Preachers, Marcel Marceau, Mary Lou Lord, Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Q’Orianka Kilcher, Opera Babes, Patch Adams, Patti Smith, Paul Bettany, Paul McCartney, Penn & Teller, Pierce Brosnan, Rain Phoenix, River Phoenix, Rob Perry (Dead Can Dance), Robert Johnson, Rod Stewart, Rolf Harris, Ronnie Benice, Russell Crowe, Sheilds and Yarnell, Sheryl Crow, ‘Sid‘ (Roger) Barrett, Sophie Tucker, Spencer Davis, Stéphane Grappelli, Steve Martin, Stomp, Simon and Garfunkel, T-Bone Walker, The Pogues, Toby Keith, Tracy Chapman, The Violent Femmes, Wavy Gravy, WC Fields, The Wiggles, Wicked Aura, Woody Guthrie.
List taken from www.buskerworld.com (with a few additions)
Chris