DANA GILLESPIE

DANA GILLESPIE, a quintessential artist with an adventurous and creative spirit, has lived a life full of musical and theatrical exploits. Born in 1949 and raised in London in an era of unrivalled experimentation and artistic rebellion, Dana began her recording career at 15 with Pye Records.
By 1968, she was signed to Decca/London releasing two albums including Box Of Surprises, showcasing her songwriting prowess, with a steadfast trajectory further solidified by her 1973 release Weren’t Born A Man which included David Bowie as part of the production team, having written the song Andy Warhol especially for Dana.
Her journey in entertainment is marked by significant milestones, including being the first actress to play Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, and she worked and collaborated with icons such as Bob Dylan and Elton John.  Despite challenges, including the implosion of management company MainMan, Dana’s ability to pivot was an enigma of that time, showing a resilience that led her to a successful acting career that ran through the 60s, 70s and early 80s, featuring in various notable films.
Dana’s revered status in the industry is especially of note considering the context of her early career and no female artist was writing all their own material at that time except for Dana. In 1982 she released Blue Job, reaching a new career milestone by venturing into the Blues world and she founded and ran the Mustique Blues Festival for 20 years. Dana had her own radio show that ran for 11 years across Europe called Globetrotting With Gillespie.
Dana also has a spiritual side, recording 10 Sanskrit bhajan CDs since becoming a follower of Sri Sathya Sai Baba (all the while adding devotional music to her extensive discography).
An esteemed performer of music, stage and screen, Dana Gillespie’s illustrious career as a gifted entertainer is detailed in her 2021 memoirs called Weren’t Born A Man, epitomising the adventurous spirit of a true artist. In 2023, she made her debut at the SXSW Music and Film Festival, a significant addition to her already impressive portfolio.
On her latest studio project First Love, Dana takes on the unlikely reimagining of certified and newly established classics with her unique and contemporary style. Exuding the confidence and conviction of the master of her craft, First Love re-asserts Dana’s place in Art-Pop history. 
With a career spanning 6 decades Dana remains a significant figure in the music industry, enchanting audiences with her unique blend of Blues, pop, and spiritual music

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