Clare Teal
Background information
Born	May 14, 1973 (1973-05-14) (age 34)
Genre(s)	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Jazz vocalist
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1995 - present
Label(s)	Candid, Sony
Website	http://www.clareteal.co.uk/

Clare Teal (born May 14, 1973) is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording-deal by a British jazz singer.

Biography

Teal was born on 14 May 1973, and brought up in the market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire. She developed an interest in jazz from an early age, through her father's collection of 78rpm records, becoming "obsessed" with big band singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Loss. She took music lessons (first on the electronic organ, then more formally on clarinet), before going to study music at Wolverhampton University.

While at university, Teal found herself without clarinet for an unexpected examination. Deciding to sing instead, she not only got her "best grades ever", but discovered that she loved singing in public. After graduation, she started a career in advertising, singing in her spare time with various amateur and semi-professional bands.

Personal life

Teal recently lost about 3 stone (42 pounds) in weight after discovering that she is affected by Polycystic ovary syndrome. She considers herself lucky because her record company Sony never asked her to lose weight. She says

I think it’s quite exciting that in this day and age, and in an industry where there is so much pressure to be thin... They’re just interested in my voice and my music.

Since losing the weight she has started wearing clothes on stage designed by Antony Price.

Teal came out as a lesbian while she was at university. She lives in Bath with her partner and manager Muddy Field, and Field's son. Although she has lived in Bath for more than a decade, she still feels like a Northerner, saying she's "never not from Yorkshire".

Career

Teal's break came when she was asked to stand in for Stacey Kent at a weekend festival in Llandrindod Wells. This led (after some determined self-promotion, in which she drew upon her advertising skills) to a three-album contract with the jazz-specialist label Candid Records. Her popularity soared, with appearances on radio and television bringing her to the attention of a wider public. This eventually led to her being signed by Sony in what was the biggest recording deal by any British jazz singer.

In live performances, Teal performs with a band led by pianist/music director Simon Wallace. While the majority of her recordings are standards, earlier albums feature many original songs, including post-swing material, most notably a cover of The Mamas and the Papas' California Dreaming. This cut attracted the attention of BBC radio presenter Michael Parkinson, garnering significant publicity during her period with Candid Records.

Her 2004 album Don't Talk reached number one in the UK Jazz Chart and number twenty in the mainstream UK Albums Chart. In 2005 she won the award of British jazz vocalist of the year, and in 2006 the award of BBC jazz vocalist of the year.

Discography

• 1995: Nice Work
• 2000: Messin with Fire
• 2001: That's the Way It Is (Candid)
• 2002: Orsino's Songs (Candid)
• 2003: The Road Less Travelled (Candid)
• 2004: Don't Talk (Sony)
• 2007: Paradisi Carousel (Sony)

References