Performing a song written by her father helped give Tiffany Porter all the drive she needed to not only capture her audience but to help win the prestigious “Excellent New Singer” award at the recent Penang – Shanghai World Star Quest.
Tiffany receives the 'Best New Singer' award from one of the Judges
And even today Neil Simpson doesn’t quite know what gave him the inspiration to pen “Every Time”, which was the only really light – hearted dance –type song among the 46 presented.
“It’s certainly something I couldn’t have written years ago,” he says.
Neil was there in Penang when Tiffany used the full range of her vocal talents to sing the song and is still talking about the reception the audience gave her.
“She literally had them dancing in the aisles,” he says with justified pride.
No stranger to music and the entertainment world himself Neil was a member of the popular local group “The Marksmen” in the 60s
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His interest in playing and singing came during his final year at school, but in those times the family couldn’t afford to purchase any musical instruments let alone pay for specialist coaching.
Tiffany showed an interest in music at an early age and would regularly join the family in singing around the house.
In fact, as a two – year – old Tiffany helped wind up a Christmas concert with a rendition of “Jesus Loves You”, and as Neil says even then she showed a maturity beyond her years.
Neil can recall his love for harmonies, particularly songs from The Beatles and The Beach Boys.
It was only natural, he suggests, that Tiffany also took an interest in harmonies, which she performed in church choirs.
Educated at Cedar’s Christian College at Farmborough Chase, Tiffany undertook a fashion design certificate, later completed her Higher School Certificate at Shellharbour TAFE, worked in Sydney as a part time model and then moved to the University of Queensland to undertake a course in fashion/journalism which offered her the chance to become involved in events management and marketing.
Neil, who is semi retired offers mathematics coaching to students, and he still believes Tiffany will one day soon follow a full time career in show business. The Lucky Break
They both agree that her opportunity to audition for a spot in the Penang venture came “out of the blue”.
Invited to perform at a special concert in Campbelltown, Tiffany came through with flying colours in what was her first appearance without the family and before a secular audience.
It was enough to get her the nod as the Australian female contestant for Penang.
Tiffany, who was only 22, was the least seasoned performer to travel to Penang and she certainly rose to the occasion.
Neil, who travelled there with her, says her first song was a ballad of sorts about a bad boy friend and an anger that resulted, believes it wasn’t exactly the type of love ballads the locals were used to.
And, although she didn’t win over the judges for the “Best Original Song” section of the contest she made up for it with her next on stage effort which, apart from capturing the audiences imagination, won her the “Best New Singer” gong.
Neil sees her future well and truly in show business, but Tiffany believes she’s still young enough to give more time to looking at what other careers might lay ahead.
But, as far as this father and daughter are concerned you can bet that music will continue to play a major role in their lives.
As Neil suggests there’s a lot of truth in the old adage “music soothes the savage beast”. | 
