Jill Saward (singer)

Fusion Orchestra

Saward performed with the British progressive jazz rock band Fusion Orchestra, from 1969 to 1975.^[3][4] She wrote the music and sang.^[5]

Having gained a following of fans, the Fusion Orchestra secured a record deal with EMI, producing their first album Skeleton in Armour.^[6] It received critical acclaim upon its debut and is now a collector's item.^{[citation needed]} After Fusion Orchestra split in 1975, Saward became involved in a new all-female group, Brandy, produced by Polydor, it was active for around three years, before disbanding in 1976.

Cats Whiskers and Citizen Gang

Saward was spotted by band leader Nicky North who invited her to perform in the big soul funk band, Cats Whiskers. She also worked as a session singer.^[7] Saward also had a brief stint with an all-female musical group, Citizen Gang and collaborated with the Nicky North Band.

Shakatak

It was in this period that she met Nigel Wright and Roger Odell, who are still components of the jazz-funk band Shakatak.^[3]

It was through Shakatak that Saward was able to record some vocals on an experimental track of a song called "Steppin'", and after nine top ten hits Saward was invited to be a permanent part of the group and started to tour worldwide.

She has been lead singer for Shakatak for over 35 years. The band is still touring and recording and still popular around the world, especially in Europe and the Far East. They usually publish a new album every two years for JVC Records and Secret Records.^[3]

Outside of Shakatak, Saward has developed new projects, and still continues to write and record new material.^[8]

In 2008 Saward starred in Living TV's Pop Goes The Band, a reality TV show which saw former musical stars from bands including Bucks Fizz, Bananarama, Visage, Cleopatra, 911 and Chaka Khan, undergo surgery in a bid to relaunch their careers.^[9]