We’re pleased to announce that Kiki Dee will be joining us for the 2013 Concert at the Kings.
Kiki Dee’s impeccable vocal abilities have established her impressive credentials as a musician during a career which has spanned some three decades. She has covered all bases – from classic interpretations of soul hits, to a repertoire of live and recorded material which includes eight UK Top Forty hits as well as masterful performances in major West End musicals.
It was in Bradford during the 60′s that Kiki began her career as a vocalist with a local dance band. In 1964, her debut solo recording of the Mitch Murray song ‘Early Night’ led to a series of Phil Spector style tracks before Kiki moved on to cover contemporary US soul hits. These skilful covers attracted the attention of Tamla Motown’s executives and Kiki became the first European artist to be signed to the label.
However, despite widespread critical acclaim, commercial success remained elusive until 1973 when Kiki Dee signed to Elton John’s label Rocket Records. The time was right, and the anticipated commercial success suddenly materialised.
‘Amoureuse’ (1973), the first single from the Elton John produced album ‘Loving And Free’, became Kiki’s first Top Twenty hit and remained in the charts for thirteen weeks. Following singles were ‘I Got The Music In Me’ (1974) and ‘You Don’t Know, How Glad I Am’ (1975).
1976 was Kiki Dee’s year. ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, the duet with Elton John, became a surprise number one single in both the US and UK. Subsequent chart hits for Kiki in the 70′s and early 80′s include ‘Loving and Free’ and ‘Amoureuse’ reissue (1976), ”First Thing In The Morning’ (1977), ‘Chicago’ (1977), ”Star’ (1981) and ”Perfect Timing’ (1981) taken from the album of the same title.
Rising to a new challenge in 1984, Kiki took her first singing and acting role in the West End hit Pump Boys And The Dinettes. She went on to star in Willy Russell’s award-winning Blood Brothers for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.
In between Kiki Dee took time out to work on an album with Dave Stewart in 1986 and to record vocals for Elton’s studio album The One. In 1993 Kiki took the chart by storm again with ‘True Love’, the duet with Elton John.