Valentina

Name:Valentina I. B. Johansen

Singer:Pop, Rock & Country

Record Company:CC Records | JGS AB

 

Valentina was born and raised in Radnevo, Bulgaria, a town 30 kilometers south of Stara Zagora.

She grew up with her parents and three sisters. It was her father, a musician, whom introduced her to music when she was 10 years old.

When Valentina was 14 years old, the guitar was her greatest love, and Suzi Quatro was her prototype. The schools orchestra was her first debut!

As an 18 year old, Valentina began to sing and play professionally with a Bulgarian band. The band played for tourist centers by The Black Sea. She played for The Bulgarian President twice. After a while, she acquired much experience and got an entertainers job in a music hall. Russia would be her next tour!

In 1991 she first came to Norway with "The Smile Band". They played together for 15 years around Norway and Europe, and had many great experiences together.

In 2001, she sang and played together with one of her favorite artists, Bonnie Tyler. She received a compliment, that she will always remember, "You sound more like me, than I do"!

In 2003, "Smile Band" broke up and Valentina began to tour as a Troubadour.

At Oset, Norway in 2006, she had the pleasure of meeting Bobby Bare. He invited her to be on stage to sing and play together. It was a dream to stand before so many people and entertain! There, she also met Pam Tillis and Paul Young.

Another great pleasure was when she played and sang together with legendry country singer, Lynn Anderson!

In 2007 she put out her first CD, "Why Not Me". It sold over 16,000 copies and the first Gold Record was hung on the wall.

Now the second CD is completed, "Comin Down the Road". Valentina directs her efforts as a Genre country-pop-rock singer. She and Stephen Acles sing a duet together, "Until a Tear Becomes a Rose" on the newly completed CD.