A department store girl has scooped a £250,000 record deal after a top music producer heard her singing – behind make-up counter.
Beth Sherburn, 21, was singing Michael Buble hit ‘Christmas’ to herself in Debenhams, Birmingham, when she caught the attention of John McLaughlin.
Classically trained Beth was stunned when the music mogul behind Busted, Girls Aloud and Take That approached her and said she had a great voice.
She helped him buy some Chanel Noire fragrance for his wife before he offered her a record deal – leaving her gobsmacked.
Beth has now signed a contract with Purple Circle Records and is set to release a cover of Ordinary World by Duran Duran, her first single, in January 2013.
But Beth has refused to quit her job until after Christmas so she doesn’t have to leave her friends.
Beth, from Sedgley, West Mids., said her record contract is a “dream come true.”
She said: “I have always wanted to get in to the music business – I can’t believe it happened to me at work.
“I was just singing along to the shop music and this man came up to me and said I had an amazing voice.
“At first I thought he was just messing around, but then I started to realise he was serious.
“I couldn’t believe it when he said he was a record producer and he had worked with people like Girls Aloud.
“He was just rushing in to get his wife a present so I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
“I am always singing at work – I sing all the time my friends and family can’t stop me.
“It is a dream come true for me. My family and friends are really proud.”
Mr McLaughlin spotted Beth while he was buying perfume for his wife in the Merry hill Centre store in Dudley, while he was in the city for a meeting on November 28.
He later invited musical Beth – who also plays saxophone, clarinet, guitar and piano – to work with him in his studio telling her she had a “great recording voice.”
Beth has since collaborated with songwriter Jud Mahoney who has worked with some of the world’s leading artists including Michael Jackson.
And she is excited for the release of her cover of classic Ordinary World by Duran Duran on January 13, 2013.
When Beth was 14 she performed at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre with Matthew Kelly and George Costigan in Don Quixote.
And she performed in a gospel choir with Katherine Jenkins at The Royal Albert Hall, in five years ago
The soon-to-be popstar also won first place during the national songwriting competition, judged by Bee Gees legend Robin Gibb, four years ago
Beth, who has already penned over 50 songs, added: “My writing has really come on over the last two years and I can’t wait to finish my album later in the year.
“My style of songs are dance-pop, but I think I will go down the dance route more.
“I love all genres of music. I cannot wait to get in the studio and start recording my own songs.”
