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Love’s got everything to do with it

By Pirjo Raits Sooke News Mirror Oct 10 2007

Tina Turner provided inspiration for tribute artist who performs her works What started out as a joke turned into a full-blown musical extravaganza based on the life of rock legend Tina Turner. Luisa Marshall, the star of TINA – A Rock and Roll Journey, was performing a lot of Tina Turner’s songs and she was constantly being asked to wear a wig for fun. “I said, ‘no way,’” she said , but she kept getting pestered by promoters to don the wig. For a performance in Dubai in 1995, she finally went to a novelty store and bought a cheap wig. The rest is history.

“I hate wigs, miniskirts and high heels, but I did it,” she said. “I really looked funny – like a poodle – but I did it for one song, “Proud Mary.” The people just went wild, they were screaming, I just couldn’t believe it. They kept asking for more songs. This entire musical started as a joke.” The Lower Mainland-based Marshall is Filipino and bears a striking resemblance to Turner. This led her to perform live for the audience on the pre-show segment of the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005. “I met Tina Turner, I was really nervous, my knees were shaking. It was amazing,” Marshall said, adding that Turner kept winking at her and giving her the thumbs up.

In fact, she was scolded for fooling one woman in the audience. “A lot of people thought I was her.” Marshall said she’s always been a Tina Turner fan, not just because of the music, but for the way Turner lived her life, overcoming obstacles to get to where she is today. Many people relate to Marshall’s show and the life story of Turner, she said, because they too have been through hard times and bad relationships. “It’s a musical biography of Tina, her life story told through her own music. This has never been done and everybody is quite psyched up about it. You’ll see Tina’s transformation, her varied looks and costumes through the years, re-lived on stage. The show includes Turner’s hits “What’s Love Got To With It” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” as well as cover songs such as “Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “Disco Inferno” and her signature tune, “Proud Mary.”

“I’ve got a gorgeous ensemble of dancers and a big screen with astonishing video imagery as stage backdrop,” Marshall added. Written, choreographed, co-produced and directed by accomplished screenwriter and stage director Leandro Mendez, TINA – A Rock N’ Roll Journey takes the audience on a musical and visual voyage through the four decades of the reign of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Portraying Tina from her days with Ike Turner to the breakthrough, Grammy-winning album Private Dancer and her recent greatest hits collection, Luisa Marshall promises her own inimitable, explosive style and only the best in this new ground-breaking show.

For the show Marshall dons 12 different pairs of shoes, goes through seven wig changes and numerous costume changes – all without missing a beat. “It is stressful,” she said. “It will move you. I’m proud of this one. It is just little me trying to do a project that inspires me. “It just shocks me how people from all ages and races respond to Tina’s music. I have performed all over the world, from Japan, Dubai, Israel and even Bosnia... and in all these shows, there’s always this excitement and energy that I feed off from the audience from performing Tina’s hits... “I’ve always felt that Tina has signed some sort of cosmic contract stating that she agreed to sing for the world and show off those famous legs of hers in action, like – forever? But I guess that’s asking too much.” TINA – A Rock n’ Roll Journey comes to the MacPherson Theatre this Saturday (Oct. 13), at the Edward Milne community theatre in Sooke on Oct. 14 and in Sidney at the Mary Winspear Centre on Oct. 15. Tickets are available at the theatre box offices. editor@sookenewsmirror.com Fuente: http://www.oakbaynews.com/

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Only in Hollywood : How my classmate became Tina Turner

By Ruben V. Nepales
LA Correspondent
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: March 30, 2008

LOS ANGELES—Among the girls in my University of Sto. Tomas AB Communication Arts class in the mid-1970s, Luisa Mendez stood out because she always wore the reddest lipstick and full makeup.

Students of communication arts (termed mass communication in other colleges) are always looked up to or looked down on as “show biz na show biz.” No one was more show biz-y even back then than Luisa. She had already appeared in a Repertory Philippines production of “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off.” She went to auditions to join show bands (eventually landing a spot on the last generation of The Ambivalent Crowd). In class, and this will probably be the first time that she’ll hear this, we called Luisa the “Wella Girl” because, well, when she was called on to recite, she always began with “Well, ah … ”

When Luisa joined the Hall of Fame show band, I occasionally saw her at Manila’s watering holes. Cut to many years later—a classmate, Babsie Amurao, who is based in Manhattan, told me that another classmate who lives in Vancouver thinks that a Tina Turner tribute performer named Tiny Tina could be none other than Luisa. This classmate, who saw Tiny Tina in a Vancouver TV show and read about her in a local newspaper, decided to watch her show. Later, she found that it was indeed our Luisa, who won the title, “World Rock and Roll Tribute Artist Champion,” in the first World Tribute Artist Championship held in 2003.

Last January, I formed a Yahoo e-mail group to reconnect with the UST Com Arts Class of 1977. I convinced Luisa to join.

Meeting the star

Late last month, when I visited and interviewed on the set of “The X Files 2” in Vancouver, I grabbed the chance to meet Luisa. My wife Janet and I had a blast seeing Luisa and her Canadian husband, Steve Marshall, who is also her manager and drummer. The couple has two daughters, Kim and Zenia. Over wine and dinner, we reminisced about those giddy days in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Luisa wasn’t born to hold a 9-to-5 job. After gigs at Manila’s five-star hotels, Luisa and the Hall of Fame band performed in Japan, Malaysia, US, Canada and Dubai, where she began her Tina Turner tribute act one fateful night in 1995. She has entertained audiences in Canada and the US and peacekeeping forces in Europe, Egypt and Israel. About five years ago, she dropped the stage name Tiny Tina. Now known as Luisa Marshall, she is taking “Tina, A Rock ‘n’ Roll Journey” on the road, including stops in Europe next year.

This theatrical production, directed by Leandro Mendez, Luisa’s youngest brother, is a multi-media show complete with dancers, live band and costumes.

Check out Luisa’s websites, www.luisamarshall.com and www.tinajourney.com. Below are excerpts of an e-mail interview with Luisa:

You sang in college but you probably did not imagine you’d someday win a World Rock and Roll Tribute Artist Championship as Tina Turner.
In our college days, I wasn’t even aware of Tina Turner. I was a snooty, boring musician whose focus was on Broadway musicals and jazz songs. Living in North America since 1989 changed my view on a lot of things. I have a more fun, open perspective.

How did it all start in, of all places, Dubai?
My band, Hall of Fame, which consisted of three white males and two Filipina singers (that’s me and my sister), did a really cool gig in Dubai in 1995. A British fan suggested I wear a Tina wig when I sing “Proud Mary.” Impersonating somebody wasn’t my thing so I ignored this guy. For several weeks, he kept begging me until finally I considered it. Hesitantly, I marched out to hot downtown Dubai to look for a Tina wig. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like magic: a Tina wig at a novelty store in a posh, high-end mall. When I decided to wear the wig, to secure it, I cut a hole right in the middle top so my own hair was showing. I didn’t know if I looked like Tina. I felt like the big sister of my neighbor’s poodle.

But my first Tina impersonation went through the roof. People screamed and clapped as though I was the real Tina.

How long did it take for you to finally be satisfied with your Tina impersonation?
I learned the hard way through my shows in front of a big audience. Then I started to really get serious by watching Tina’s live concerts, mimicking closely her big voice and nasal tone, hiring a professional wig maker to weave the perfect Tina hair for me (from a cheesy $10 wig I bought in Dubai to a serious $2,300 pro wig), copying every little detail of her facial contour with the help of a professional makeup artist, and practicing her somewhat awkward mannerisms. But most of all, I had to have Tina’s powerful strength and stamina throughout my show. Aside from the wig, I have to wear the dreadful five- to six-inch spike high-heeled shoes, the very short skirts and mini sequined dresses to convince even myself that I’m actually Tina Turner.

How competitive was the tribute championship that you won?
It was super competitive. I never expected to win. I just performed Tina’s hit songs, “The Best” and “Proud Mary.” There were lots of tribute artists from all over the world who participated. I enjoyed every minute of it. But I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t think all the Elvis impersonators liked me.

Which aspect of Tina’s life or career do you empathize with the most?
I understood her vulnerability during her younger years. She loved Ike despite his abuse of her ... Why she stayed so long in the relationship with Ike was remarkable. She was hoping for a miracle to happen. Didn’t we all do at one point in our lives?

Which of Tina’s songs still make an impact on you whenever you perform or hear them?
“The Best” and “I Don’t Wanna Fight.” I will never get tired of these songs.

How do you maintain the high energy level since you really sing, not lip-synch, while dancing and acting?
I do a full cardio workout six days a week. This really helps regain my diminishing youthful energy and stamina so I can sing and dance at the same time for two hours.
(To be concluded tomorrow)

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport

Only in Hollywood
Turner impersonator mistaken for the real thing
By Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:16:00 03/31/2008

LOS ANGELES—“Spectacular” was how one Canadian critic described the performance of Luisa Marshall, a Vancouver-based Filipina who is making waves with her Tina Turner tribute act.

In this part two of our column on Luisa, my former classmate at the University of Santo Tomas, whose maiden name is Mendez, we cite some reviews by British Columbia, Canada critics of her show, “Tina, A Rock ‘n’ Journey,” which she has been performing in Canada and will be bringing to the US, Europe and, hopefully, the Philippines.

Kerstin Renner wrote: “A dazzling ride … Luisa Marshall and her troupe of dancers recreated the amazing journey of Tina Turner, showing people how the talented young singer Anna Mae Bullock turned into the queen of rock ‘n’ roll. The performance was anywhere between a concert, musical and multimedia show and done on an incredibly high level … Perched on dangerously high stiletto heels for the entire show, Marshall mastered every detail of the performance, from the typical bowlegged stance to the characteristic, slightly choppy arm movements and robotic dance steps. Her voice had the signature sound with its powerful and slightly nasal quality … Like the original Tina, Marshall proved she could command an entire stage with her presence.”

Shaun Thomas, raved, “The writing and pacing of the story truly captured the life of the unique performer. Just as spectacular … was the performance put on by Marshall and her dancers. Marshall truly owned the stage and, more importantly, the role of Tina Turner the performer. Her powerful vocals and stage antics mimicked those of Turner herself, and the variety of costumes and looks she brought to the show helped bring across the different eras and evolution of the singer.”

In yesterday’s column, I wrote that I recently reconnected with Luisa and several classmates from UST Communication Arts, Class of ’77. I hope that, with this piece, I’ll hear from other classmates as well (Please contact me at my e-mail address listed at the end of this column.).

What have been some of your unforgettable experiences when people assume or believe that you are the real Tina Turner?
There are so many but the most recent one was … at the surprise birthday party of a multi-billionaire in New York last January. This was one of the most expensive events, if not the most expensive, I’ve ever been. The honoree’s favorite singer was Tina Turner. His wife hired me and even gave me an $8,400 dress for that night. I was introduced this way: “Here she is … she’s simply the best!” Everybody went nuts and gathered around the stage with cameras flashing like lightning. After four songs, they were screaming and asking for more. I did one more and then made my grand exit with my supposed bodyguards.

I mixed with the super rich guests from all over the world until I realized that most of them thought I was the real Tina. Even the birthday celebrator thought so. The party was disrupted when everybody wanted their pictures taken with me. Some were hugging me and some were teary-eyed! Others wouldn’t let go of my hand. Several recalled the time they watched Tina’s concert and insisted I had met them before. Some said I was their biggest inspiration. How could they not know? But I couldn’t let them down … they were all so happy to see me and talk to me! Isn’t this what the impersonation business is all about?

Tell us more about that $8,400 dress.
That made my other Tina dresses look ordinary. The celebrator’s wife sounded so casual when she said her friend would make a dress for me. At first, I thought, what if I don’t like it? I got the dress before Christmas last year. Wow, I couldn’t believe my eyes—though I still had to bring the dress to my wardrobe maker so he could shorten it a bit. He called me late one night, nervous about chopping the gorgeous dress because he did a little research and found that it was made by the famous C.D. Greene, who created all of Tina’s dresses for her 1996 “Wildest Dreams” concert tour. It blew me away when I found out how much it cost! I had nightmares that the dress got wrecked.

What are your funniest experiences onstage and offstage as a tribute act?
I’ve had tons in eight fun years. The most recent one happened last year in a huge theater in BC (British Columbia). I had so many quick wig, shoe, accessory and costume changes. One scene has Tina as Aunty Entity, proud Queen of the Australian desert, in the movie “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” I was supposed to be fierce, vicious, powerful and proud. I marched on stage in my warrior queen costume, sang a few lines—then, deep into my song, “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” I looked down and saw I was wearing one black shoe and one gold shoe. I almost cracked when I saw the horrified faces of my dancers!

What have been your most memorable performances as Tina?
In 2004, I [went to] Sarajevo to entertain the UN Troops. The warm reception and the great camaraderie of the whole tour cast made it exceptional. Educating myself on what happened there changed my view of life.

Performing at the Lester Centre, Prince Rupert, BC was the biggest time of my tribute career. I finally did it, the tribute show of my dreams, after years of planning. The excellent cast and crew made it amazing. I felt like an accomplished stage actress.

When you performed early this year in the Philippines, was that your first time to bring your Tina tribute act back home?
Yes, I finally brought my craziness home for the first time. I was really excited to do my Tina act at a fundraising benefit for Unicef at Club Ascend. Lots of Tina fans came. I was flattered by the response of the so-called “conservative” Filipino audience. I wasn’t too worried about the foreigners; it was the demanding Filipino audience that terrified me. I know, because it’s hard to please myself. If you can please the Filipinos, you can perform anywhere. I was so glad that my former UST classmates and best friends, Cleo Mangulabnan Webb and Marichu Mañago Ramos, came to watch their crazy friend raise money for Unicef. How cool was that?

Tell us again how Donovan Clay, one of Tina’s most avid fans—he watched her in over 25 concerts in various cities—was very impressed with you.
This guy is a riot! He e-mailed me when he saw my website. I invited him to my show while I was on tour and he flew over from Dallas, Texas. He was a ball of fire. I invited him on stage to sing and dance with me. The people went wild; he was a super performer like his idol. We became good friends and still keep in touch. We saw each other again in Vegas and Chicago. Fans will likely recognize him as the one who once went up the stage with the real Tina Turner and danced the entire “Proud Mary” routine. He’s amazing.

How do you handle hecklers?
I particularly remember one heckler, a soldier. I’ve had a lot of experience handling drunk and rowdy people like him. Heckling me was his biggest mistake. I invited him to come on stage. When he started harassing one of my dancers while he did “Proud Mary” with me, I pinched him in the ear and walked him down the stage. I kicked his butt with my heels and told him, “Get off my stage!” The commanding officers had a field day and my military escorts cheered. They called me Luisa the Warrior. They talked about this incident for weeks. That heckler will never forget me.

What about overzealous, male fans? Has Steve been tempted to throw his drumsticks or the entire drum set at an aggressive dude in the audience?
Steve and I are a mature and professional couple. We’ve worked together since 1990. He’s always cool. He’s not allowed to get jealous of my male fans but I will kill him if he flirts with female fans. That’s being fair. It’s my rule.

Some folks are probably amazed when they discover that you are not black, and maybe impressed that you are Asian, a Filipina.
My not being black is not a problem for most of my audience. Most of the time, they have no any idea what I am. I’m just so proud to be the little brown girl who fulfilled her dream of doing what she enjoys most—while the world watches. I’m grateful for all the blessings.

Are there times when you wish you could perform as yourself?

Yes, but what I do always comes from my heart and soul. I can’t help it that my own character and personality still shows. To make it easy on myself, I’ve had to make it my own. I don’t lay down boundaries or restrictions. People appreciate the fact that I sometimes go beyond Tina. My goal is to entertain to the best of my ability and to enjoy every second of it.

If you had the chance to do a duet with Tina, which song would you do? And what can you say about Beyonce’s introducing Tina as “the Queen,” which incensed Aretha Franklin?
Should I have the great pleasure of performing with Tina, I would pick “The Best.” This is her own song and it’s better than all the rest. As for Beyonce’s introduction, it shouldn’t be a big deal really because Tina is “The Queen”—of rock ‘n’ roll). At that given moment, Beyonce was right! And Aretha? She’s also “The Queen”—of soul.

Who else are you itching to portray/perform in a tribute act?
Good question—how about Amy Winehouse? That would be outrageous.

How do you think the nun professors at UST would react if they saw you prancing around onstage in a super mini dress and that spiky blonde/black wig?
Amused! They have failed to make me a full-time missionary. They may nag me to repent for my sins or go to mass just like the good old UST days. Or they will give up and pray for my speedy recovery from insanity.

Are your legs insured?
Ha ha ha—too late for that now.

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.

Simply the Best Luisa Marshall winning acclaim portraying the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll
Published Date: 2005-05-19 Time: 08:48:25 By Shelley Arnusch

Who: Luisa Marshall as Tina Turner
Where: Pemberton Legion
When: Saturday, May 21 2002 Tickets: $15

     The raspy voice, the wild bed-head, the legs up to there set off by an extensive wardrobe of rock ’n’ roll micro-mini skirts, and hit after hit after hit. Tina Turner is a true rock icon. Once you gain that status, even your quirks gain a certain degree of cachet. With Turner, it’s a certain gawky signature dance move similar to shaking one’s forearms dry. And it’s just one more thing that Vancouver-based Tina Turner impersonator Luisa Marshall says comes naturally. Told over and over again that she looked and sounded like the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll, nightclub singer Marshall was flattered. Not so much when it came to the dance move. "When she dances, she’s got dead arms," Marshall laughs. "I had those! But it was a good thing when I started doing the tribute. It’s kind of hard to fake that." It’s kind of hard to fake a world-class arena rock act too, but Marshall was born to play Tina.

    The act found her during a running gig in a British nightclub in Dubai in 1995. One club regular suggested he’d like to see her perform her bring-down-the-house rendition of Proud Mary in a Tina Turner wig. Marshall eventually found a suitable wig and a star impersonator was born. "The people just went nuts and that was it!" Marshall says. Enthusiastic response aside, Marshall says she had no intention of pursuing a career as a Turner impersonator on her return to Vancouver. But her passion for Turner’s music added to the remarkable likeness (and don’t forget the innate dead arm dance move) made every Tina Turner cover song she sang a crowd favourite. More and more Turner songs were added to her repertoire over the next five years until there were enough to do an entire Turner set. From there, it was just one long-legged step to the costumes, wigs and Hotlegzz backup dancers.

      Marshall’s take on Tina went on to win the 2003 World Tribute Artist Championships, held that year in Fort Erie, Ont. But the true measure of her success as an impersonator happened this past January when she was invited to perform on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show featuring Turner. The experience brought Marshall face to face with her idol. "I was numb!" she exclaims. "I still haven’t recovered from that. She’s a goddess. She’s amazing. Very striking and charming. An amazing woman. And she’s cool." The Oprah performance featured Turner’s mega-hit "Simply The Best," which is also Marshall’s favourite song.

      For the time being, Marshall shows no sign of tiring of the Turner gig. The next big thing on the horizon is a musical production called All Hail The Queen, which she says is aiming to open on Turner’s birthday in November of this year. As the years add up for her career as a Turner impersonator, Marshall insists she’s not worried about losing her own voice as a singer. "I’ll be honest with you," she says confidentially, "I really sound like her! This is my own voice! I can still sing a lot of other songs that are not Tina, but somehow it will sound like Tina because it’s my real voice." The one thing Marshall has yet to achieve is a personal shoemaker. One night after a show Marshall had the chance to meet Turner’s tour manager of eight years, who revealed that at every performance the rock diva has endless identical pairs of her trademark spike heels at her disposal – all custom made to feel as comfortable as sneakers. Marshall says her response was: "Cheater!" "I wear the real ones and they hurt! They really hurt!" she exclaims. But abuse of her feet is a small price to pay to play her idol. "She’s very uplifting," Marshall says. "Every woman in the world should listen to her music."