From Wham! to Woo

Book excerpt: Janey shares how she got her break in the music business, the highs and lows of being a backing singer and what it was like touring with bands in the 80's and 90's. From being crammed in a minibus with Mari Wilson's band, to living the dream flying first class around the world, playing stadium gigs with George Michael and WHAM! Janey later became known as a co-presenter on Steve Wright in the Afternoon. Janey Lee Grace cut her teeth on the mic in the night clubs of Manchester and Birmingham and her first big singing break was with Mari Wilson and the Wilsations. After she was fired from the band for refusing to dye her hair canary yellow she was picked up by WHAM! Janey sang backing vocals with George Michael and Andrew Ridgely for all their tours including the infamous WHAM! China tour. Janey went on to tour/record with Boy George, Sinita, Kim Wilde and Natalie Cole and had her own UK top ten hit with Cola Boy and 7 Ways to Love - a dance floor sensation in the summer of love 1991. Janey moved from singing to presenting for ITV, VH-1 and Sky news followed by her own show on BBC Radio 2. After bumping into Steve Wright while she was a Virgin Radio Presenter, Janey became a co-presenter on Steve Wright in the Afternoonand regular stand in for Sunday Love Songs. She describes hustling her way into the world of radio presenting, both local and national - the pitfalls, the fun stuff, with lots of behind-the-scenes stories.