This is long, are you ready?....Sheela Tucker known to all who hear her as "the little lady with the big voice" has a Cinderella story unknown to most when it comes to her history of singing in and around Syracuse. Her experience has included many different accompaniments proving there is no limit to the type of music she is able to sing.
Two of her most memorable performances are a piano accompaniment of "Wind Beneath My Wings" for nationally known W.J. Usery, Jr. at a private birthday celebration held here in Syracuse. This was "their song" and Mr. Usery presented it as a special surprise to his wife in front of close friends and family. W. J. Usery was the U.S. Secretary of Labor under Gerald Ford and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor-Management Relations under President Richard Nixon. (read more info on W.J. Usery at www.library.gsu.edu ) The other memorable one was at the 2003 PGA Nights at High Falls in Rochester, NY opening for national singer/songwriter, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers). He approached her as he walked off stage and complimented her on Patti Labelle's "Lady Marmalade", telling her "that was excellent...keep singing".
Sheela admits to being extremely shy when it came to singing in front of people but in 1996, after she a heartfelt performance as a dedication in front of staff and students of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Her performances at school events include "Unforgettable", "If I Could" by Regina Belle, "Sweet Thing" by Chaka Khan, and even an acapela of the Star Spangled Banner. Discovering karaoke years later, Sheela found it to be a useful, (free) and positive resource to overcome crowd shyness and stage fright. It launched numerous singing opportunities and she was nicknamed "Little Miss Dynamite".
In 2001, her personal demo of "Don't Leave Me This Way", "Boogie Oogie Oogie", and "Lady Marmalade", was played during a mother's day contest live at the Y94fm studio on air with Big Mike and Cathy Rowe.
2002 was a year of more doors opened and opportunies taken: Offering to sing for the "disco night" at newly opened "Downtown Manhattans" in Hanover Square, she earned two more gigs there for a corporate party, the other opening for 8-Track All Stars. Sheela performed at wedding cermonies at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse and St. Mary's in Cortland. Accompanied by church organ and grand piano, Sheela sang songs such as: From This Moment, The Wedding Song, When I Fall In Love, Evergreen, The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, and The Theme From Mahogany.
She won first place in a local singing competition, sending her on to Nevada to compete in the nationals. She earned 14th place out of 200 contestants in attendance out of 22,000 who entered nationwide. She competed and won a grand prize of opening the show for Y94fm's Disco Reunion at the New York State Fairgrounds with a performance of her winning/signature song "Lady Marmalade" in front of a record crowd of over 1500 people. While backstage she also had the opportunity to meet and chat with Musique, and the ladies of Chic. 2002 was also the year she began her busy 4 year journey as the female lead singer for one of Central NY's favorite horn bands, Atlas, traveling throughout NY performing at hundreds of weddings, corporate parties and events singing such great classics as "AtLast", "Can't Take That Away", "Beginning To See The Light", "L-O-V-E", "The Best is Yet To Come", "Someone to Watch Over Me" in addition to dance tunes that included Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You", "Once You Get Started" and "Ain't NoBody".
Shortly after leaving Atlas, Sheela became the lead singer for another horn-band, The Critics. Looking back on all she had experienced, she followed the advice of others to lead her own band. Choosing a name was simple...the name of the band had to have personal meaning as well as describe the song selection, yet not compete with the numerous bands out there. She also knew that she could express her love of singing tunes by male artists and not just female artists. Sheela wows the crowds with songs by Journey, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Def Leopard, Hewey Lewis, Lionel Richie and more.
Sheela's love of all types of music is shown not only through her singing, but also through her support of other bands. Her versatility and ability to sing just about anything has been heard in many crowd-pleasing performances with musicians such as Marc Copani; Kim Fetters & Andy Rudy; The Mario DeSantis Orchestra (featuring Maria DeSantis, Keith Condon, and Israel Hagan); AfterFX; John Puma Band; The Custom Taylor Band; UBF; The (original)State Street Band; Syracuse's own-The Blacklites; The Chris Terra Band; Stroke; Jimmy Cox; Pinky; Souled Out (Connecticut); The Swinging Johnsons (of Myrtle Beach, N.C.); Kane; Elephant Shoes; Emerald City, 50/50, MC3, KatTale, Loren Barrigar, Mojo.
