Rhonda Janes reflects on a musical life
by Kathy Dumbleton
Rhonda Janes has been singing as long as she can remember, and from early gigs in her brother’s band she’s built a career in music and theatre.
Rhonda (centre) as Killer Queen in Rockhampton’s production of We Will Rock You.
“I started out in music from a very young age. I think I could sing before I could talk,” Rhonda remembers.
The youngest of four children, Rhonda has fond memories of growing up in a household filled with music.
“Whether it was Mum whistling, singing or playing the piano, and Dad was often singing something. My two brothers played guitar and sang and the stereo got played on a regular basis.”
Gigging in the ‘80s.
The self-taught Rockhampton-based singer grew up listening to a variety of musical artists from Pink Floyd, Santana, Creedence to Dusty Springfield, Motown and disco, and singing was an everyday part of her family’s life.
It seems Rhonda was always destined to follow the musical path, and at 16 her brother formed a band and asked her to join.
“This was the start of my fabulous life as a performer and singer,” Rhonda said.
“My first time on stage was at the Kalka, where my brother’s friend’s band was playing and they asked me to sing. I performed Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.
“Our band was the resident band at Barletts Club Tavern. They were the most fantastic times.”
Being a part of the Rockhampton music scene in the 80s was very different from today - especially when it came to adding new releases to your set list.
“We would buy the record, learn it, and play a song that had just been released at our gig. So different to now where you can hear a song on your phone.”
Ronda meets Wendy Matthews.
For two decades Rhonda gigged all around Rockhampton, rubbing shoulders with professional bands and singers.
“In the 80s we were the support band for The Eurogliders, and a couple of years back I sang with Wendy Matthews.”
In 2001 her singing talent took Rhonda to the stage when she was cast as the Baroness in a local production of The Sound of Music
“A new door had been opened into the theatre world.
“Gigging in a band is great but performing on stage in a theatre is magical.”
Since that first casting Rhonda has been involved in over 16 musical and theatre productions including Cats as Grizbella, Judy Garland in The Boy from Oz and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.
Rhonda as the Baroness with some of the local cast of The Sound Of Music.
The camaraderie within Rhonda’s theatre family has also given back to the local community with a number of shows donating proceeds to charity.
“Over the years my muso and theatre friends have performed in our O Wot a Nite shows where we dress up and impersonate artists,” Rhonda said.
Plans for another show like this are in the works for June 2020 - keep an ear to the ground for details!
