LADY BIANCA
Lady
Bianca is an American electric blues singer, songwriter and arranger. She
studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and, in 1972, played the
role of Billie Holiday in the San Francisco stage production of Jon Hendricks’ Evolution of the Blues.
She has worked with John Lee Hooker,
Willie Dixon, Sly And The Family Stone (Heard
Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back, 1976), Taj Mahal, Lamont Dozier, James Ingram,
Van Morrison (Beautiful Vision, 1982;
Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart,
1983; Live At The Grand Opera House
Belfast, 1984; A Sense Of Wonder,
1985; and No Guru, No Method, No Teacher,
1986).
In 1984, she met Stanley Lippitt, a
songwriter and, later, her husband. Together they formed Magic-O Records, with
their own production and publishing company. She has released a number of solo
albums, including three which were nominated for a Grammy: Best Kept Secret (1995), Rollin’
(2001) and Through A Woman’s Eyes
(2007).
She and the Magic-O Rhythm Band have
appeared at many blues music festivals and, in 2009, she appeared with Van
Morrison at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
You can find out much more about Lady
Bianca on her website at ladybiancabandzoogle.com
Between November and October 1976, Lady
Bianca toured North America with FZ – singing and playing keyboards with the ‘cute’
band. During his lifetime, Frank sadly only released the one track recorded
during her tenure: Wind Up Workin’ In A
Gas Station on You Can’t Do That On
Stage Anymore, Vol. 6, which was recorded on 29 October 1976 at The
Spectrum in Philadelphia. Happily, the Zappa Trust posthumously issued the full
concert (as Philly 76 in 2009) and is
about to unleash further material from the tour recorded in Erie, Toledo and
Montreal on Zappa/Erie.
When I read that she was about to
perform Frank’s music again, with the Stinkfoot Orchestra, I pounced. And I
pounced again.
How did you
first meet Ray White?
I can’t actually
remember how I met him. I think someone recommended him to me and I hired him
to be in my band in Oakland, CA. I have of a black and white picture of our
group somewhere, but I can’t remember where I put it.
And then Frank asked me to recommend a
guitar player, and I recommended Ray.
So how did
FZ come to contact you about joining his band?
I don’t know
how he heard about me.
In your
liner notes to Philly 76, you said
you weren’t familiar with FZ’s music before then. What did you think of it?
I had just
left the Sly And The Family Stone band and I had very religious parents, and
those lyrics may not have been proper for my parents.
What are
your thoughts on the other band members?
I thought
them just plain amazing and highly talented.
During the
epic Black Napkins on Philly 76, it sounds like you can sing
polyphonically – or was some effect applied?
No, there were no effects applied – that was me.
Fantastic!
So, why did you leave the band?
I was sent
home for making a comment to the audience and not being agreeable to some of
the pranks Frank wanted me to partake in.
When I right my book, I will be more
specific.
Frank was
clearly keen to have a lady in the band at that time, as he had hired Norma
Jean Bell the previous year. Why do you think that was?
I have no
idea why he needed a female, but I was glad he chose me.
There is
some debate about what was your last show with FZ – do you recall?
The last one was in Quebec, right before he went on Saturday Night Live. That was devastating to me. I remember,
because Detroit was right across the line and I had family over there, so they
picked me up.
I never did understand why, because my
performances as you can hear were perfect.
Did you have
any contact with Frank after that time?
Only once,
in Berkeley CA, and it seemed like an apology but not really. I missed performing
with him.
I didn't fully answer about what I
thought of Frank Zappa: I didn't know of him but when I saw the lyrics, I
didn't let my parents know, ’cause at that time that was so risky – religious background
and all that [laughs].
Did you have
any subsequent contact with Ray or any of the others from that period?
Aha, here we
go! I had no contact with the other members.
Okay. The
Zappa Trust had pencilled you in as a special guest for the so-called Hologram
tour. Did they contact you about that?
Yes, someone
did. And then I didn’t hear any more about the tour.
I know Ahmet
Zappa loves the Philly 76 release.
Have you heard the forthcoming Erie
album featuring your good self – including two separate renditions of You Didn’t Try To Call Me?
No, I haven’t.
I haven’t approved any vocal releases [laughs]. Maybe because they don’t want
to have to pay [ugh]. I am very proud of that work, but I don’t get any
residuals. Unfortunately. Even in this interview. But I thank you for
interviewing me.
My pleasure.
There’s a preview track from the new CD here.
That version was a little more subdued than the other ones I have heard. I was
so exhausted and upset, and emotional [laughs]. There was a lot of pressure to
stand my ground, no matter what.
Again, there is a lot more detail
which I will put in my book.
I look
forward to it.
Zappa wrote
one and never mentioned me at all. But the tapes don’t lie [laughs]. I wish I
could find the videos he took. They are lost they say.
Well, they
posted this short clip.
OMG. He was
upset. He said that I looked into the cameras and ruined the shot. Wow.
Hopefully
they will release more. You are about to guest with the 15-piece Stinkfoot
Orchestra, featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock. Have you ever met Napi before?
No, I haven’t
met Napi.
Well, I am
sure that will be a great pairing. What else are you up to these days?
Just trying
to keep afloat! I’m doing a few gigs on my own, in the Bay Area.
I
thank you much for your kindness.
No, thank
you. I hope to see you out on the road somewhere in the not too distant future.
Interview conducted on
Friday 6th May 2022.
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