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Hey ya'll! Well where do I start? It's really weird having to talk about myself but here it goes...........I was born in Perth, Western Australia, the middle child of Mike & Glenda Papalia. I have an older sister, Susanne & a younger brother, Michael. While mum and dad owned and ran various businesses, my dad was and still is, a singer/guitarist who goes under the name of Mike Preston, so music was always a big part of our family. I can't remember a time when I wasn't singing! At about the age of 6, dad started taking me along to his gigs & I would sit impatiently waiting for him to call me up to sing. He'd prop me up on a stool so I could strum the guitar & sing for everyone. I'd sing songs like, "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "That'll be the day," or a duet with my dad, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." After doing this, I became hooked.....I knew what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life & I always felt most comfortable when I was on the stage.

At the age of 7, my parents decided to pack us all up & move to Brisbane, Queensland. It was around this same time that I told my mum & dad I wanted to start doing my own shows. They suggested that my sister & I start working on a whole set of songs, so that we could do our own 'spots,' as a duo & get paid for doing what we loved. Mum was brought up on a farm & was heavily in to country music so she enjoyed finding us great country songs to learn & would take us out to the farm so we could stand on the hill & sing out to the cows & make as much noise as we wanted. She would sew us the most amazing, country outfits, with fringing & rhinestones.....the whole bit! We called them our "Cowdy" outfits. We really looked the part. Before long, Susanne & I were supporting lots of major acts that would come to Brisbane.

At the age of 9, I auditioned for a children's TV show, called "Hi-Hello Show." I had a successful audition & began singing & dancing on a major TV station, every Saturday morning for 3 years. The show was pre-recorded so I got to experience staying up really late while we recorded all our vocals in the studio & then I would get a day off school to record the show! I thought this was the most awesome gig. I wasn't much of a dancer at this point so I started having lessons to help me with my performances. It didn't come naturally at first, but I was determined I was going to master this dancing thing! I loved it! I did Jazz, Tap, Classical & Acrobatics for about 10 years & ended up winning a 1 year scholarship for all 4 styles of dance.

Well, that's how I got my start! I have been singing professionally ever since. Over the years I have done solo gigs, been a part of various duo's, trio's & also bands. I have sung everywhere from Clubs, Pubs, Outdoor venues, Stadiums, Arenas, Casino's, TV, Radio & anything else you could think of. I have also sung for crowds of 1 - 50,000. I have been a back-up singer for Major Recording Artists, Cabaret Acts and even an Elvis Impersonator. I have also done various jingles for radio & TV, in Australia, including 'Eagle Boys Pizza,' 'Slip Slop Slap,' 'Apollo Patios' & 'Outdoor Furniture Specialists,' just to name a few.

In 1990, I won an audition to front my High School Rock Band, (MacGregor High School.) We entered the Queensland High Schools, Battle of the Bands & out of 100's of Schools, we won, Best Band (our set included an original song) & I also won Best Vocalist in the Comp. Some other highlights include singing the National Anthem at the State of Origin Grand Finale in 1990 (Televised), Invited to sing on The Lord Mayors Christmas Carols in 1992 (Televised), Sang the National Anthem many times at the Brisbane Bullets Basketball at Boondall, in 1989 & 1990, & was also a part of the 'Bundy Big Band' who entertained the crowd at all Bullets games. Toured Australia with Greg Doolan from 'Wickety Wak' for many years from 1990, toured Australia as a backing singer for pop recording artists 'Anieki,' - No.1 song "Please to meet you," I wrote & produced the early demos for Lisa & Jessica Origliasso, better known now as the 'Veronica's.'

I have also won many awards, in Queensland, over the years. They include: - Best Female Country Vocalist, Best Female Cabaret Artist, Duo of the Year - (These were won many times over the last 15+ years & finally, Entertainer of the year in 1999. They were awarded to me at the "Queensland Variety Wallaces' Awards" & were voted for by my peers.

It was while I was involved in the Elvis Impersonator Show, that I had the pleasure of meeting & working with DJ Fontana (Elvis Presley's drummer) & Charlie Hodge (Elvis' scarf guy/right hand man).

TO READ MORE, PLEASE GO TO MY WEBSITE: www.elizabethpapalia.com