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Yolanda and the Plastic Family Biography
Yolanda -http://www.yolanda.net(currently living in New York, New York) is a singer-songwriter, performance artist, visual artist, radical fairie, drag queen, psychic tarot reader,legal christian minister and storyteller. Billboard Magazine sums her up simply by saying "...a sincere drag queen with a rich baritone voice... a quirky and endearing lad named Yolanda." Sean Michael, a new age guru and channeler of energies that are extra-terrestrial, describes her as "... an energy transplant from the Plead Ian star system struggling to fit into the human experience by sharing songs and stories that spread light."
Whatever you want to call him/her, Yolanda is one heck of an entertainer. Given her powerful set of lungs and melodious vocal abilities, Yolanda can remind you of Elvis, George Michael, or Cyndi Lauper depending on the mood. Yolanda's original songs are a mixture of pathos, pleasure, ridiculousness, and sincerity influenced by pop, dance, R&B, and funk.
Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama (the hit recording capital of the world in the late 60's to early 70's) as Roger Anthony Mapes, Yolanda cut his musical teeth on gospel, soul, country, and R&B. "I used to hang out at the recording studios when I was a kid... hoping to get a glimpse of whoever was recording at the time. Everyone came to Muscle Shoals at some time or another... Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, the Stones... it was amazing. That experience fuels my desire to sing which stays with me today."
Yolanda was also inspired by the fiery musical experience of Pentecostal gospel church. "There is nothing in the world like being at a black Pentecostal church in full swing with people praising God, speaking in tongues, and passing out with the spirit. The music, the energy, and the power is awe-inspiring."
Yolanda also has a strong background in musical, dramatic, and narrative theater. Yolanda has played roles ranging from Amadeus Mozart to Marvin in "March of the Falsettos". Yolanda's first professional job in show business was as an Elvis impersonator at Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee.
In New York City, Yolanda has performed at Dean Johnson's amazing Queer Music night called HOMOCORPS at the world famous CBGB's, The Pyramid, The Duplex, Dixon Place, and as a guest performance artist with the Merce Cunningham Studio.
As a visual artist, Yolanda's work has been exhibited in the Soho art world scene, and on the covers of record albums and in Billboard Magazine.
Yolanda fully embraced Drag as a constant element in her performance work as a singer/songwriter/perfomance artist after meeting and becoming intensely involved with the Radical Fairies. The Radical Fairies are a tribe of spiritual gay men who incorporated the use of magic, ritual, and Drag to empower themselves and hopefully to make a radical change in the prevailing patriarchal culture. Yolanda joyfully incorporated Drag into her act to challenge the ideas of stereotypical gender roles. "It's just plain fun. I feel that gender discussion is the playground of the New Millenium. Try dressing in the clothes of the opposite gender; it is an enlightening experience."
Yolanda is busy these days performing with her band "The Plastic Family", working on her 2nd CD project, and accepting offers to travel and spread her special kind of magic to all who want to listen.
Whatever you want to call him/her, Yolanda is one heck of an entertainer. Given her powerful set of lungs and melodious vocal abilities, Yolanda can remind you of Elvis, George Michael, or Cyndi Lauper depending on the mood. Yolanda's original songs are a mixture of pathos, pleasure, ridiculousness, and sincerity influenced by pop, dance, R&B, and funk.
Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama (the hit recording capital of the world in the late 60's to early 70's) as Roger Anthony Mapes, Yolanda cut his musical teeth on gospel, soul, country, and R&B. "I used to hang out at the recording studios when I was a kid... hoping to get a glimpse of whoever was recording at the time. Everyone came to Muscle Shoals at some time or another... Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, the Stones... it was amazing. That experience fuels my desire to sing which stays with me today."
Yolanda was also inspired by the fiery musical experience of Pentecostal gospel church. "There is nothing in the world like being at a black Pentecostal church in full swing with people praising God, speaking in tongues, and passing out with the spirit. The music, the energy, and the power is awe-inspiring."
Yolanda also has a strong background in musical, dramatic, and narrative theater. Yolanda has played roles ranging from Amadeus Mozart to Marvin in "March of the Falsettos". Yolanda's first professional job in show business was as an Elvis impersonator at Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee.
In New York City, Yolanda has performed at Dean Johnson's amazing Queer Music night called HOMOCORPS at the world famous CBGB's, The Pyramid, The Duplex, Dixon Place, and as a guest performance artist with the Merce Cunningham Studio.
As a visual artist, Yolanda's work has been exhibited in the Soho art world scene, and on the covers of record albums and in Billboard Magazine.
Yolanda fully embraced Drag as a constant element in her performance work as a singer/songwriter/perfomance artist after meeting and becoming intensely involved with the Radical Fairies. The Radical Fairies are a tribe of spiritual gay men who incorporated the use of magic, ritual, and Drag to empower themselves and hopefully to make a radical change in the prevailing patriarchal culture. Yolanda joyfully incorporated Drag into her act to challenge the ideas of stereotypical gender roles. "It's just plain fun. I feel that gender discussion is the playground of the New Millenium. Try dressing in the clothes of the opposite gender; it is an enlightening experience."
Yolanda is busy these days performing with her band "The Plastic Family", working on her 2nd CD project, and accepting offers to travel and spread her special kind of magic to all who want to listen.
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