Maxine Warner chats to JLife’s Sarah Nelson about her extensive singing career and debut outing as an author.
“One night I would be performing for royalty in Edinburgh and the next I’d be whisked off to London to play at The Savoy.”
For many, this experience would seem a far stretch from their daily grind, yet for Maxine Warner – who stepped into the showbiz spotlight during her teenage years – it was a snapshot of normality.
She said: “I was six when I realised that singing was a passion of mine and the career route I wanted. I began performing when I could and entering competitions.”
But getting her foot through the door of the increasingly competitive industry wasn’t her only obstacle; Maxine’s father actively discouraged a career in the business.
“He used to tell me that the stage wasn’t the life for a Jewish girl and that I should choose a different profession.”
His concern, however, didn’t thwart her singing pursuits. Maxine obtained hairdressing qualifications and her dad bought her a salon on Park Lane, Whitefield called ‘Maxine Darren’, but “singing is in my blood and my parents had to eventually accept that.”
The persistence paid off and opportunities for success soon beckoned.
“When I was 16 the bass player in the band I was singing with had an uncle who was part of Freddie and the Dreamers and we were asked to play at his wedding. It was there that the manager Jim O’Farrell from Kennedy Street Enterprises stated that he loved my voice and asked if I would be interested in recording tracks.”
The platform granted Maxine the chance to perform at acclaimed venues – like The Golden Garter — and collaborate with fellow musicians; notably, becoming part of The Lemon Tree Band.
“I was part of the group for 35 years and we enjoyed tremendous success. We performed at functions all over the world and made lots of TV appearances, including BBC’s Children in Need.”
On a personal level, meeting the royal family and being invited to the prestigious Royal Garden Party is an enduring memory for Maxine. Nevertheless, when considering her most cherished career moment, it’s something else that comes to mind.
She said: “I remember being 11 and watching Dame Shirley Bassey play at the London Palladium on TV. I told my parents that I would do that one day, and with The Lemon Tree Band, I did!”
After having grandchildren, Maxine’s second career act as a children’s author was inadvertently prompted – she recently released the first book from her Tidderly Pops series, entitled ‘The Wibberly Wobberly Tooth’ as well as a cuddly singing toy and a Tidderly Pop singing tooth brush, all on YouTube (search ‘Maxine Warner’).
She explained: “My grandchildren inspired the stories. I would create songs to help them learn and make things easier for them, such as learning the alphabet and the days of the week. Over time, they developed into fun, educational plots which I thought could be enjoyed by other young ones and their parents.”
The book series focuses on Pippa and Nippa who live near the Tidderly Tree and are friends with all the Tidderly Pops, embarking on exciting adventures together. Meanwhile, ‘The Wibberly Wobberly Tooth’ itself tells the tale of the loss of Pippa’s tooth and the arrival of Hairy Fairy the tooth fairy.
Even better, the project welcomes the addition of music; an opportunity Maxine grasped.
“The book comes with a CD which features 12 songs specifically written to match the story. Former member of The Lemon Tree Band, Lynton Susman, helped develop my ideas into orchestrations, and I recorded my vocals with Barbara Hilton.”
Having forayed into both the singing and writing worlds – and discovered a love for both – Maxine has no intention of giving either up.
“My partner Brian and I (of 25 years) are involved in quite a lot of singing ventures in aid of charity – we have a Children in Need variety show coming up in November as well as a very big concert in January at the Middleton Arena. We love joining forces with The Nicky Alliance Centre, Manchester Maccabi, The Fed, and others.
“We also run Warner Entertainments, providing any type of entertainment, including appearances by all the Coronation Street cast and other celebrities.”
“As for the books and CDs – I’ll carry on putting them out there for as long as I can.”
To buy ‘The Wibberly Wobberly Tooth’ and for more information on the Tidderly Pops series, visit Thetidderlypops.co.uk. Find out more about Warner Entertainments at Warnerentertainments.co.uk.
