Sheila, Barbara, Caroline & Elaine are the four women who sing in the band.
Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester
Remember the legendary 50’s & 60’s girl groups like The Shirelles, The Teddy Bears, The Drifters, the Doo-Wop era and the Motown sound? Then add #1 hits from Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Leslie Gore, The McGuire Sisters, the beautiful harmonies of the Everly Brothers along with many unforgettable vocalists like Bobby Darin, Johnny Rivers, Paul Anka & Roy Orbison. The quartet includes vocalists Caroline Haines, Barbara Jansson, Sheila Jones Schrank and Elaine Persons. On stage they re-create the signature vocals of the ’50′s & 60’s era when girl groups captured the heart of Motown & American Bandstand “We try to make each song we sing bring the audience back to a magic time to the music we often associate with the more romantic times in our youth”.
You’ll hear songs of both the one hit wonders and songs of legendary, vocal artists, like Patsy Cline, The McGuire Sisters, Little Peggy March, The Chiffons, The Ronettes, The Dixie Cups, The Angels, Bobby Darin, Elvis, The Fleetwoods, Connie Frances, Skeeter Davis, Patti Page, and so many more. It’s a blending of four vocal talents on a sentimental journey as they perform under the name of “The Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester.”
Fingerstyle & acoustic guitarist, Sheila Jones Schrank, sings lead melody and alto harmony, selects and arranges the music for the group. Known as “Angel” in her younger years, she started singing out at age 14. Focused on seeing more female guitarists thrive, she went on to instruct guitar classes for 12 yrs. at North Shore Community College. Sheila now teaches the guitar privately in her home studio, occasionally performing with her husband , Ron Schrank, another fingerstyle guitarist, forming the duet, Second Wind.
Barbara Jansson is a lead vocalist and harmony singer. She often infuses the music on stage with percussion and harmonica. The songs of the The Shirelles, Crystals, Ronettes & Brenda Lee are some of her favorites. Barbara began her musical career at age 11. She continues to solo & duet and has performed in bands and rock groups too numerous to mention. Barbara also has a variety of cd’s to her merit.
Caroline Haines sings both lead and harmony vocals. She has diverse musical interests and can be seen performing Celtic tunes, church solos, and her original versions of “Witty Ditties” created for special occasions. She is a founding mother and performer with Cape Ann’s a capella ensemble Leven. She has also performed with chorus North Shore and the National Head Start Choir.
Elaine Persons is truly the Patsy Cline voice for the group, singing Walking After Midnight, Crazy, Sweet Dreams, I Fall to Pieces as well as Crying by Roy Orbison and ….well,we do have to save a few surprise songs. Her keen ear for harmony changes helped the group revive signature songs from the past. Elaine and Sheila also sing as a duet, known as the Everly Sisters. Together, they bring the vocal harmonies of these two legendary voices back into everyones heart.
Sheila concludes “each walk in life we take and the memories we create along the way are all surrounded by music”. Songs bring us back to treasured memories and “first times”, where and when we experienced something never before felt or imagined; a new and wonderous feeling like our first date, our first crush or that first kiss. We perform in hopes to revive all the happiness felt when these “remember when” feelings surface within you too. Let us take you on that sentimental journey you’ll want to remember, always.
