The Story So Far...
Maddie started her vocal training at the age of 10, singing light classical music, show tunes, jazz; which provided an excellent foundation for the career she, at that time, only dreamed of…
When she reached senior school she became one of the leading lights in their musical and dramatic productions, having the dubious honour of playing a lot of the male roles - the perils of an all girls’ school! Her acting roles included Prince Charming (Cinderella) and, her favourite, Mrs Corney (Oliver Twist), whilst she also took on the vocally challenging roles of Hansel in Humperdick’s operetta Hansel & Gretel and Yum-Yum in The Mikado.
Whilst continuing her (classical) musical training at Cardiff University she pursued every opportunity she was offered, including the strongly-contested and much-prized honour of being asked to sing solo in the annual Christmas Concert. Maddie was a stalwart member of the university Choral Society and Jazz Orchestra as well as playing a variety of instruments in the Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra from time to time. Cardiff University awarded her several prizes for both her academic work and her recital performances.
At the same time she was pursuing her love for popular music, competing in talent competitions. She was very proud to be voted South Regional Winner of Jumping Jacks’ “This Is Your Moment” and Cardiff Winner of HTV Wales’ “Karaoke Queen”. As part of a small renegade group of musicians she broke through the boundaries that had previously been set within those hallowed walls, performing jazz and pop songs regularly in concerts. This is the point at which “Clockworks” was born. With renowned keys player Liam Holmes at her side they took pop music to another level – rearranging well known rock, pop and jazz songs for voice and piano, featuring both their virtuosity and versatility.
Since graduating university and returning to her home of Southend-on-Sea, Maddie’s musical career has gone from strength to strength. In 2004 Maddie successfully auditioned for The Show Providers and was offered a place in their 60s/70s production show, Red Hot Chartbusters; singing, dancing and playing tenor saxophone. For 2006 Chartbusters was revamped into Red Hot Flashback, a fully fledged “Rock, Pop & Soul” Show “where the excellent Maddie Cole [can be heard] belting out Kate Bush’s brilliant Wuthering Heights”. [Derek Smith, The Stage].
Having completed three years with Flashback, she returned to her roots, entertaining audiences throughout the South East with her one-woman cabaret, as well as depping on saxophone and vocals for numerous function bands including "Musik Express", "The Alvin Jones Band" and "7th Wonder".
In recent years, Maddie has explored her love of musical theatre, performing in Stage One's productions of Buddy, Sweeney Todd and BatBoy and her favourite role to date, that of Scaramouche in We Will Rock You. She also created the role of Lulu La Belle in "Let's Do It... Let's Fall In Love" , a brand new, through-sung Cole Porter revue, written by fellow Floyd Effect member Garry Tyrrell. She has since joined Southend-on-Sea's mighty Little Theatre Company, performing in their productions of Buddy, Stepping Out and Mack and Mabel.
In 2008 she recorded her first original song, written for her by Yiannis, "I Won't Take It Anymore" and in November 2009 she was awarded first prize in the Actz Factor talent competition at the Circus Tavern for her performances of Somebody to Love and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Currently, as well her solo and duo work, Maddie is a member of soul band "Soul Desire" and Pink Floyd Tribute "The Floyd Effect".
It's a busy life, but there's always room for more... what will be next??
