Jamie Vokes as "Robbie Williams"

A Musical Journey...
Music started early for Jaime. He recalls singing along to his fathers record collection and impersonating celebrities and television personalities as early as 5 years old.

From around the age 8 years old, Jaime began to take his music seriously and found himself performing in school choirs and stage productions.

At a young age of 11, Jaime began to play the drums thanks to a neighbour who needed to store his drum kit for six months whilst overseas. Jaime’s parents coaxed him into taking up the guitar after the drum kit was returned due to cost and room (but I imagine it was due to peoples ears in the surrounding neighbourhood!)

At twelve years old he landed his first lead role as ‘Tom Sawyer’ in the local Intermediate production.

By the time Jaime was thirteen, and attending secondary school, the world of music became of massive proportion and it was here that Jaime began playing in Dixie, jazz and rock bands. Barber shop quartets, ensemble choirs and a lead role as ‘Bugsy Malone’ in Rangitoto College’s annual production. The same year saw Jaime and friends perform in their first talent contest. They did get a prize, probably for the loudest act!

The next year Jaime played ‘Pontius Pilate’ in the school production as well as numerous small plays and dramatic productions for the Milford Little Theatre. In this year Jaime played his first public performances at pubs, weddings, 21st birthdays and local sports clubs in the covers band ‘Leon Rouge’ primarily as a rhythm guitar player and backing vocalist.

At the age of 16 Jaime auditioned for The New Zealand National Secondary School’s Choir and was accepted as a tenor. This involved several trips to Wellington for rehearsals and the culmination of three performances at the Wellington Town Hall.

A Well Seasoned Performer...

By the time Jaime had left School, he had formed ‘Mr Scary’ a hard rock band where Jaime once again played Guitar and sang backing vocals. Mr Scary enjoyed success playing regularly at Auckland’s Gluepot and Powerstation venues as well opening and touring for major N.Z. acts such as Push Push and Nine Livez.

When the hard rock scene died down, cover music in live venues began to become popular again. It was at this point Jaime an others formed ‘Channel Zoo’ playing top 40 and classic covers at venues such a the Takapuna’s Mon Desir Hotel and Howick’s Long View Lounge. Jaime began to sing lead vocals for the first time and his guitar playing became secondary.

In 1998, Jaime joined the well known Auckland covers band ‘The Tall Poppies’ as a lead singer, enjoying two years getting to know the Auckland market and performing at some rather large outdoor functions such as the Millennium New Year Concert in Mount Maunganui in front of 30,000 people. This was the point where Jaime knew this was he wanted to do for the rest of his life and was a cornerstone of his bid to become an entertainer as well as a musician.

In 2000, Jaime formed ‘Hands Off’ with Craig Stevenson, Darin Bayer and Scott Dilley with the view of becoming one of the top Auckland cover bands. Jaime took on the role of the bands manager and has enjoyed getting to know more about the industry. Along side ‘Hands Off’, Jaime has worked in musical duos and is often working in other bands.

Over the past five years, ‘Hands Off’ have secured residencies in popular Auckland venues such as ‘The Rose and Crown’, The Playhouse Pub’ and more recently ‘The Cock and Bull’ chain of pubs. ‘Hands Off’ have been regular performers at Auckland’s Sky City Casino and enjoy performing at many corporate functions such as ‘The Warehouse’, ‘Team Macmillan BMW’ as well as being the headlining act at the annual ‘Ohakune Mardi Gras’. They have also secured the services of Matt Walsham (guitar/vocals), Mike Curtin (bass/vocals and Mark Bennett (drums).

Everyone will enjoy Robbie Williams at your next function.

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