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Christine McVieEnglish rock singer
Date of Birth: 12.07.1943
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Christine McVie
Early Life and CareerChristine McVie is an English rock singer, pianist, and songwriter. She is best known as a member of the British-American rock band "Fleetwood Mac", but she has also released three solo albums. She is known for her contralto voice, the lowest female vocal range.
At the age of eleven, Christine began taking classical music lessons. She studied sculpture for five years at an art school in Birmingham, with the goal of becoming an art teacher. One day, she met fellow musicians Stan Webb and Andy Sylvester, members of the band "Shades Of Blue", who mainly performed in bars. They invited her to join the band. However, the group disbanded after five years, by which time Christine had completed her art school education.
In search of work, Christine moved to London and found a job as a window dresser in a department store. In 1968, a friend informed her that her former bandmates from "Shades Of Blue" had formed a blues orchestra and were looking for a pianist. She immediately wrote them a letter expressing her interest, and a few days later, she received an invitation to join the group. The band was called "Chicken Shack", and Christine played keyboards and occasionally sang. They recorded two albums, and one of their songs, "I'd Rather Go Blind", became a hit and reached the British top 10. Christine received the "Melody Maker" award for "Best Female Vocalist of the Year".
Joining Fleetwood Mac and Solo Career
In 1969, Christine started dating John McVie, the bass guitarist of "Fleetwood Mac". Shortly after, she left her band and pursued a solo career, releasing the album "Christine Perfect". After marrying John in 1970, she officially joined his band. Prior to that, she had already contributed to the album "Kiln House" by singing backing vocals, playing keyboards, and designing the album cover. She quickly became an integral part of the group and wrote some of their best songs.
The early 1970s were a challenging time for the band, with only two albums, "Mystery to Me" and "Bare Trees", achieving some success. Moreover, a group of imposters claiming to be "Fleetwood Mac" toured the United States, causing confusion and harm to the band's reputation. Due to these circumstances, John McVie turned to alcoholism, and Christine began a romantic relationship with a music producer. In 1974, the group decided to relocate to the United States. The following year, they released the album "Fleetwood Mac", which included several hit songs, including "Over My Head", the first Fleetwood Mac song to receive significant radio airplay in the United States.
For the next 16 years, the band churned out hit after hit. In 1984, Christine McVie recorded her second solo album, and songs like "Got a Hold on Me" and "Love Will Show Us How" became popular. Christine met pianist Eddy Quintela, who was 12 years younger than her, and they got married in 1986. However, their marriage ended in the mid-1990s.
Later Years and Recognition
After 1990, the band released albums less frequently, and their songs rarely became hits. Eventually, Christine decided to leave the group and return to England. In 2000, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the University of Greenwich.
In mid-2004, Christine released her third solo album, "In the Meantime". She recorded it in her converted barn studio in Kent, England, working on the project with her nephew Dan Perfect, who played guitar, provided backing vocals, and co-wrote the lyrics.
In 2006, Christine McVie was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors at a ceremony held at the Savoy Hotel in London.
