Jan Preston is a pianist, composer and songwriter, known as Australasia's Queen of Boogie Piano due to her mastery of the 1930s
boogie-woogie
Boogie-woogie is a genre of blues music that became popular during the late 1920s, but already developed in African-American communities since the 1870s.Paul, Elliot, ''That Crazy American Music'' (1957), Chapter 10, p. 229. It was eventually ex ...
piano style. Originally classically trained, she has released over ten solo albums, often featuring her boogie-woogie piano playing.
Preston has been a member of bands, including
Midge Marsden's Country Flyers,
Coup D'Etat (with
Harry Lyon) and, in Australia, The Tribe. She sang lead vocals on the Coup D'Etat single ''No Music on my Radio.''
She worked with theatre cooperative
Red Mole,
alongside their backing band Red Alert. Her work was documented by
Sam Neill
Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile acto ...
in the film ''Red Mole on the Road''.
Preston has composed music for films such as ''Illustrious Energy,'' ''Home by Christmas'' and ''My Year with Helen,'' as well as music for 'hundreds of documentaries'. She collaborated with her sister, filmmaker and director
Gaylene Preston
Dame Gaylene Mary Preston (born 1 June 1947) is a New Zealand filmmaker with a particular interest in documentary films.
Early life and family
Born in Greymouth on 1 June 1947, Preston was educated at Colenso High School (now William Colenso ...
to compose the scores for Gaylene's films ''Home By Christmas'' and ''My Year with Helen''.
In 1988, she received the Best Music award at the
New Zealand Listener
The ''New Zealand Listener'' is a weekly New Zealand magazine that covers the political, cultural and literary life of New Zealand by featuring a variety of topics, including current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, f ...
Film and Television Awards for her score for ''Illustrious Energy''.
In 2016, Jan Preston broke both of her wrists in an accident; once healed she continued to tour Australia and New Zealand with her band Jan Preston's Boogie Circus.
References
External links
Personal website.
Living people
New Zealand musicians
Place of birth missing (living people)
Year of birth missing (living people)
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