Kiki Dee (born Pauline Matthews
on 6
March 1947,
in Little Horton, Bradford, West
Yorkshire, England)
is a highly successful singer/songwriter, with a career
that has lasted over 40 years. Her most famous song was a duet
with Elton
John, entitled "Don't Go Breaking My
Heart", which was released in 1976 and went to Number
1. (She later performed another duet with Elton John for his Duets
album, "True Love", which reached #2 in the UK.)
Kiki Dee began singing with a local band in Bradford in the
early 1960s. Her recording career began as a session singer. She sang
backing vocals for Dusty Springfield, among
others, and was highly regarded by other singers but did not achieve
solo success in the UK for many years. In the USA, her style was
admired and she became the first British artist to be signed by Tamla
Motown, releasing her first Tamla single in 1970.
In the days before Radio 1, Kiki Dee was a regular
performer of other people's hits on BBC radio, and she starred with a group of
session singers in the BBC2
singalong series One More Time. She even appeared
in an early episode of The Benny Hill Show on January
27, 1971, performing the Blood, Sweat, and Tears hit,
"You've Made Me So Very Happy". Nevertheless, it was only after she
joined forces with Elton John and Rocket Records that she became a
household name in the UK. Her first major hits were "I Got The Music In
Me" (1974)
and "Amoureuse" (1973)
[1].
She has released 39 singles, 3 EPs, 9 LPs and 2 CDs to date. During the 1970s and 1980s was regularly
voted the top UK female singer, with her powerful
and soulful voice equally suited to rockers or
ballads.
Kiki Dee has also appeared in musical
theatre - notably in the lead role in the West
End musical Blood Brothers.
She took on the role (originally played by Barbara
Dickson for the 1988
production and recording).
She also performed at Live Aid, reprising "Don't Go Breaking My
Heart" with John, and performing backing vocals on the other songs in
his set.
She still tours, and occasionally makes guest appearances on television
in shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
She has recorded with other artists such as Dave
Stewart and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri.
Discography
- 1968 Fontana LP (mono) Kiki Dee
- 1968 Fontana LP (stereo) Kiki
Dee
- 1970 Tamla Motown LP Great
Expectations
- 1973 Rocket Records LP Loving
& Free
- 1974 Rocket Records LP I've Got
The Music In Me
- 1974 Philips LP Patterns
- 1974 Music for Pleasure/Sound Superb LP Kiki Dee
- 1976 Rocket Records LP I've Got
The Music In Me (reissue)
- 1976 Rocket Records LP Loving
& Free (reissue)
- 1977 Rocket Records LP Kiki Dee
- 1979 Rocket Records LP Stay With
Me
- 1980 Warwick Records LP Kiki
Dee's Greatest Hits
- 1981 Ariola Records LP Perfect
Timing
- 1982 Ariola Records LP Perfect
Timing (reissue)
- 1986 Music for Pleasure
LP Perfect Timing
- 1986 Arista Records CD Perfect
Timing
- 1987 Columbia LP Angel Eyes
- 1987 EMI
CD Angel Eyes
- 1991 Rocket Records CD Spotlight
On Kiki Dee - Greatest Hits
- 1994 Rocket Records CD The Very
Best Of Kiki Dee
- 1995 Tickety-boo CD Almost Naked
- 1998 Tickety-boo CD Where Rivers
Meet
- 2005 Universal Records/Motown CD Love
Makes The World Go Round: The Motown Years
- 2005 Spellbound Records CD The
Walk Of Faith
External links
References
- Guinness Book
of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN
0-85112-190-X
- The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
