After Dinner Speakers: Kiki Dee, Sheridan Morley, Chris Rea

b. Pauline Matthews, 6 March 1947, Bradford, England. Having begun her career in local dancebands, this popular vocalist relocated to London and made her recording debut in May 1963 with the Mitch Murray-penned "Early Night". Its somewhat perfunctory pop style was quickly replaced by a series of releases modelled on US producer Phil Spector before Dee achieved notoriety for excellent interpretations of contemporary soul hits, including Aretha Franklin's "Runnin' Out Of Fools", while "Why Don't I Run Away From You?" and "On A Magic Carpet Ride" enjoyed success on the Northern soul circuit. Her skilled interpretations secured a recording deal with Tamla/Motown Records in 1969, the first white British act to be so honoured. However, although lauded artistically, Dee was unable to attain due commercial success, and the despondent singer sought cabaret work in Europe and South Africa. Her career was revitalized in 1973 on signing up with Elton John's Rocket Records label. He produced her "comeback" set, Loving & Free, which spawned a UK Top 20 entry in "Amoureuse", while Dee subsequently scored further chart success with "I Got The Music In Me" (1974) and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" (1975), fronting the Kiki Dee Band - Jo Partridge (guitar), Bias Boshell (piano), Phil Curtis (bass) and Roger Pope (drums). Her duet with John, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", topped the UK and US charts in 1976, and despite further minor UK hits, the most notable of which was "Star", an Ariola Records release that reached number 13 in 1981, this remains her best-known performance. In 1984, Dee took a tentative step into acting by appearing in the London stage musical, Pump Boys And Dinettes. Four years later she appeared in Willy Russell's award-winning musical, Blood Brothers in London's West End, and was nominated for an Laurence Olivier Award for her performance. Her recording career underwent yet another regeneration in 1987 with the Columbia Records release Angel Eyes, which was co-produced by David A. Stewart of the Eurythmics. Although this was to be her last solo release for some time Dee continued to guest on other artist's records, culminating in 1993 with a duet with Elton John on the UK number 2 hit single, "True Love". Almost Naked, released in 1995, was her "unplugged" album and although commercial success continued to elude her it was one of Dee's best releases. Notable tracks were Joni Mitchell's "Carey" and a slowed down reworking of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" which gave the song greater depth than the earlier version. Three years later Dee released her first studio album of the 90s, Where Rivers Meet, which was recorded with her former session guitarist Carmelo Luggeri. In October 2000, she guested at Elton John's spectacular Madison Square Garden concerts.