Susan B. Kay
Susan B. Kay AKA Mistress Bawd Grew up on a hobby ranch Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in what was then known as a quaint little farming community. Horse back riding was her greatest passion...
She started singing at the age of five when her Mother took on the role of Director of the children's choir at their Lutheran Church. That is also where she got her start in theater as the children's choir would put on musicals, directed again by Susan's Mother...
Susan first competition was for the school talent show at the age of 10, and won 2nd place for her and her friend Madalyn Martins"s rendition of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"!
"My first experience in a recording studio was when I was 10 as well! Our music teacher and one of my mentors, Shari Stephen, thought we were good enough to record, and two of my friends and I were asked to sing a descant on "Battle Hymn of the Republic. I still get a laugh remembering how they had forgotten to turn on our microphone, but you could still hear us above the choir!"
By the age of 13 Susan was starting to learn the Guitar, as she loved singing and wanted accompaniment but couldn't find anyone who wanted to join her playing the music she loved, so she had to do it herself...
One of her listeners recalls her playing her guitar and singing on the bus to and from school, practicing for the school talent show when she was 14, and has been a devoted fan ever since... That was way back in 1973... Now that is truly a dedicated fan!
"I started writing music back in 74... And a few of the songs I have written I have sung in friends weddings, at parties, and around the camp fire... Others, I have recorded at one time or another, on CD & Tape. My favorite is called "Raggedy Blue" I hope to record it on my next album if I don't stick with all Renaissance music, again... My second Favorite is "Angel of my life." (Susan wrote that song for her long time friend and voice coach Janice Kimes... And it is recorded on the CD "Give Back My Bordello")
Before Susan started performing at Renaissance Festivals she had already taken Foil Fencing and Archery classes after falling in love with the stories of "The Chronicles of Narnia," by C. S. Lewis in 73, then fell in love with England while on her first trip there, touring the Castles, Cathedrals, and Abbeys in 79.
Wanting to go back to England to live . . . her sister told her about the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and of how it is always set in merry old England! So, she joined the cast of that Fair in the fall of 1980... and learned the art of Improvisational Theater.
In 1981, she created the Character known as: "Mistress Bawd."
"I Created Mistress Bawd as a way to be able to sing the "Bawdy" pub songs that I loved... Women were not doing that at the time, We were singing madrigals mostly, but I saw how much fun the guys were having and thought to myself; I can do that! But, in those days, the Entertainment Director said otherwise... Women just didn't do that! He said! I said I don't believe that! What if I were an Inn keeper? Nope! He said... OK I will be a lady of the evening, but, not just any girl . . . a "Madam," with Class! And that was how he thought of the name "Mistress Bawd," from a Shakespeare Comedy, "Pericles, Prince of Tyre!"
In 1985 while Susan was performing at the Texas Renaissance Festival, she recorded her first audio recording, "A Touch of Renaissance," and if you still have a copy of it it could be worth something today since she had extra tracks on it that are no longer on her remixed / rerecorded CD of that same title...
Susan took some time off from entertaining at Renaissance Festivals after the 1986 season and concentrated on Classical, Choral and Pop music and on getting the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for the US Olympic Festival, singing with a womans choir and singing Solos in Hawaii, performing in an Opera, as well as countless weddings, private parties, pubs, corporate events and conventions, and she even tried her hand at being a "DJ," "KJ" and stage lighting tech with another other DJ. Community theater productions and back up vocalist for other artists on their recorded works... She also coached others in voice and stage presents... And still does! As well as being a Recording coach, producer, director, Choreographer and Graphic designer.
In 1997 She got the Renaissance itch again and joined the Minnesota Renaissance Festival... In 1998 she was discovered by "Hot Springs Records" of Minneapolis / St. Paul, and then things really "took-off!"
"I had re-recorded "A Touch Of Renaissance" at Logic Recording Studio, in MN, and a copy of the tape landed in Steve Hecklers hands, by way of net working with a coworker, and even though his label was all Jazz and Blues music, I guess he liked my sound! He said the recording was great! I just needed help with Mastering, packaging and distribution of a CD. I had a great time with Hot Springs Records! They were very good to me... And, I am, and will alway be, very grateful to everyone involved with that company, which now is called the "Hot Summer Jazz Festival" in the Twin Cities..."
Since 1999 Susan has been busy recording her second album "Give Back My Bordello," traveling the country (and the World) on "Tour," gaining new listeners everywhere, from Japan to Ireland! Now is your chance to hear her sing!
Stay tuned for more updates to this information!!!