Barbara Tucker
Mention the name, Barbara Tucker, and don’t be surprised if you hear the term, “dance music royalty” as one of the many positive affirmations that describe this unstoppable force. Barbara has gifted the dance music community with uplifting anthems such as ‘Beautiful People’, ‘Precious Love’, ‘I Get Lifted’, ‘Deep Inside’, ‘Stop Playing With My Mind’, and countless other floor fillers. As well as being a powerhouse vocalist, Barbara Tucker is also an activist and advocate for dance music. Hosting parties in New York and Ibiza, consulting with artists, staging, producing, dancing, and tirelessly serving the music industry and aligning with a “higher calling” has led her to a life of purpose and service which is well respected by the pioneers of house music. All this from someone who had her sights set more on being a teacher or a flight attendant! After contributing the vocals for the Harlequins Fours ‘Set It Off’ club banger in 1985 “doors just kept on opening”, as Barbara puts it.
Barbara has several new projects on the horizon, is still very active in her community church and is genuinely an all-round inspiration to the entertainment industry which is why I reached out and asked her to be my Q&A guest for Access All Areas. As we are increasing our distribution of Celebrity Magazine to Ibiza, I thought it would be a perfect way to pay homage to the legendary voice of house music.
Q&A with Barbara Tucker
What was the music playing in your household as a child?
As a child, some soul music was definitely playing.
What artists inspired you growing up?
One of my favourite artists was Gospel artist, Tramaine Hawkins.
What was your first job?
My first volunteer job was working with young children.
What was your first music release and who was it with?
My first music release was “Set It Off” with Harlequin 4 on Jus Borne records 1985.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m one who loves God, loves love. I tend to zone out in fantasy land of a beautiful world being a Pisces/Aries. On non-performing days I like to just be a hippy.
What is your favourite city in the world?
I’m really starting to like Charlotte, North Carolina.
What is one of your favourite holiday destinations?
Too many to describe but I do love being around water.
What was the last thing you googled?
A bible verse.
What emoji do you use the most?
“Yep”, that’s the one.
Do you have any new music or projects you would like to mention?
Definitely working on new music but currently with DJ Birdie and Milk Halkes aka Reach Up, “Free Yourself “. I really love this project.
What is your favourite food?
I love cooking my stew with pumpkin in it but blueberries are my favourite.
What’s your favourite dessert?
A good old fruit salad - watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries. Yes and yes!
Tea or Coffee?
Definitely tea.
What’s your usual wake up time?
7am EST to get prepared for morning prayer
What motivates you to keep performing?
I want to be a “happy place person” with inspiration and love through music.
What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
Maybe to have gone to school to have the technique behind me. But once I hit the ground with my artistry, the doors kept opening.
What are two of your favourite songs to perform live?
Definitely “Free Yourself “ and a new version of “Beautiful People” reworked by Jose Burgos and Jerel Battle (it’s not released yet).
With all that is happening in the world right now within the political system, policing, banking system, BLM, Me Too and all other events simultaneously, what are your views or visions for the future of humankind?
I believe God the father is allowing somethings to happen because of a lot of evil in the world - hate. Racism. paedophiles, oppression and more, so as it’s cleansing by any means necessary I believe many will be shocked. The world will come back stronger and if we turn to a God and prioritise him, and stop making things, places, people, and money the God, God will preserve us. In the meantime, what’s in the darkness of the world from politics to banking and even entertainment and religious leaders is coming to the light. #prayfulwatchfulhopeful