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Kiki DeeEnglish singer and songwriter.
Date of Birth: 06.03.1947
Country:  Great Britain |
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Biography of Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee, born Pauline Matthews on March 6, 1947, in Little Horton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is an English singer and songwriter. She has had a career spanning over 40 years.
Early Years
Kiki Dee began singing in a local group in Bradford in the early 1960s. As a session singer, she provided backing vocals for Dusty Springfield. However, she struggled to find success in the UK for many years. It wasn't until her release of "Why Don't I Run Away From You" in 1965, which became a hit on London and Caroline radio, that she gained popularity. Her release of "On a Magic Carpet Ride" in 1968 also gained popularity among Northern Soul fans.
Rise to Fame
In 1970, Kiki Dee became the first white British artist to sign with Motown Records in the United States, releasing her first single on the label. She regularly performed cover versions of various songs on BBC Radio and became a star of the radio series "One More Time" with other session singers. In January 1971, she appeared on "The Benny Hill Show," singing the hit "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by the rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears.
However, Kiki Dee's true success in the UK came after she signed with Elton John's Rocket Records. After her powerful solo hits "Amoureuse" and "I've Got the Music in Me," she became a backing vocalist for various Elton John recordings, including the songs "All the Girls Love Alice" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," as well as tracks from his album "Rock of the Westies." Her biggest hit of her career came in 1976 with the duet with Elton John, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which topped the charts in the UK for six consecutive weeks and also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Later Career
After a period of relative quiet in the late 1970s, Kiki Dee released her hit "Star" in 1981, written by Doreen Chanter. In the same year, she collaborated with Elton John again to record a cover version of the Four Tops' song "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever." Both songs were included on her album "Perfect Timing," which achieved modest success in the album charts.
In 1983, Kiki Dee provided backing vocals on Elton John's album "Too Low for Zero," and in 1985, she performed at the "Live Aid" concert, once again singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Elton John.
Throughout her career, Kiki Dee has also been involved in various musical theater productions, including playing the lead role in Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers" on the West End. In 1989, she was nominated for an Olivier Award for her acting skills.
In 2008, Kiki Dee released her first DVD, "Under The Night Sky," in collaboration with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri. In the same year, several of her albums were reissued by EMI Records, including an expanded version of "Almost Naked" with new tracks and a cover of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold."
Today, Kiki Dee continues to tour and occasionally appears as a guest on television shows, including the comedy panel show "Never Mind the Buzzcocks." She has also worked in the studio with artists such as Dave Stewart and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri.
Throughout her career, Kiki Dee has released 39 singles, three EPs, and 12 studio albums.
