Faye Tozer

Faye Tozer
Birth name	Faye Louise Tozer
Born	14 November 1975 (1975-11-14) Northampton, England[citation needed]
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1997–present
Associated acts	Steps
Website	Official website

Faye Louise Tozer (born 14 November 1975)^{[citation needed]} is an English singer, songwriter and actress; famous for being a member of pop group Steps.

Music

Steps were a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001. Their name was based around a simple marketing gimmick: each of their music videos were choreographed, and the dance steps were included with most of their single releases. Steps formed on 7 May 1997 and disbanded on 26 December 2001. In total Steps have sold over 25 million records, including 15 million albums worldwide.

Since Steps split on 26 December 2001, Faye Tozer has only returned to the pop charts once, duetting with Russell Watson, whom she met at a BBC Proms In The Park concert in 2001. Their UK single Someone Like You charted at #10 in May 2002 and she joined him on his extensive UK tour around the same time. In July 2006, Faye was featured as a guest vocalist for Plastic Cinema for 2 songs: Take Me Under and Any Minute Now.

Ever since the band's break-up, rumours had been circulating that they would reunite in one form or another. In 2009, Lee Latchford-Evans revealed that the band had been approached to perform a series of concerts. He hinted that a future reunion was possible, but that "it isn't the right time right now".

In early 2011, rumours began circulating that Steps would reunite for a TV series and a one-off concert to mark the tenth anniversary of their 2001 split. Despite the claims being reported by various news stations and newspapers, the reunion was denied by bands members, including Claire Richards on her Twitter page. Richards also announced on 9 July 2011, that a Steps reunion would be "silly", but she would "never say never". However, contrary to these claims, just 12 days later, it was announced that Steps would be reuniting for a four-part Sky Living documentary, depicting their split and the intermittent years. The band would also release their 'Ultimate Collection', as well as potential new material.

In a new promo for the show each member reveals their true feelings, with ‘H’ sharing that he regrets the way it all ended but insisting, “If I were to revisit it and turn the clock back, I would probably have done it exactly the same way.” Evans has commented: “They took something away from three people that we loved and we didn't get a choice because certain people took that choice away from us and I think that is very unfair.” Steps Reunion begins on Sky Living at 9pm on Wednesday, September 28.

Steps recently said in a recent interview with Digital Spy that they believe there is a gap in the market for their brand of "happy pop". Scott-Lee said "Times have changed, but we are in a recession and Steps' music was very light-hearted and fun, so there could be a place for that in today's society," "What else is interesting is that there aren't any boy/girl pop groups out there at the moment, so there's definitely a gap there." Steps released there Ultimate Collection on 10 October and became the bands third number one album, later the announcment of a nationwide area tour was confirmed for 2012 followed with a possiblity of a new studio album.

Film and theatre

Most of Tozer's post-Steps work has been in the theatre. In 2004 she toured the UK in a production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's one-woman musical Tell Me On A Sundrti Webb and Patsy Palmer would alternate in the same role. In 2005, Tozer toured with the musical Love Shack, which also featured former pop singers Jon Lee and Noel Sullivan, and performed in a production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens at The Venue Leicester Square.

In 2006 she toured in a production of Me and My Girl opposite Sylvester McCoy, acted in the film Lady Godiva Back in the Saddle and appeared in the charity fitness DVD The Allstar Workout.

In 2007, Tozer appeared in a production of Dial M for Murder and in October began touring with the production Over the Rainbow - the Eva Cassidy Story playing Eva Cassidy. The tour continued into 2008, and ended in November. At Christmas 2007, she appeared in the pantomime Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

Over Christmas 2008, Tozer played alongside X Factor finalist Ray Quinn in Aladdin, at the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough.

Faye has recently filmed roles in the independent films Kung Fu Flid & Mixed Up

In 2010, Faye will be appearing in "In The Spotlight - Songs From The Musicals" touring a number of venues around the UK. In December 2010 will be starring in "Aladdin" at the Grove Theatre in her home town of Dunstable along side Sooty, Sweep and Richard Cadell. She is currently represented by Olivia Bell Agency.

Discography

Main article: Steps discography

• 1998: Step One
• 1999: Steptacular
• 2000: Buzz
• 2001: Gold: Greatest Hits
• 2002: The Last Dance
• 2011: The Ultimate Collection

Tours

• Step One Tour (1999)
• The Next Step Tour (1999)
• Steptacular Tour (2000)
• Steps Christmas Tour (2000)
• Gold Tour (2001)
• The Ultimate Tour (2012)

Personal life

In 2002, she married her longtime Danish boyfriend Jesper Irn at the Priory Church in her hometown of Dunstable, Bedfordshire. They divorced after five years.

On 24 February 2009, 7.30a.m, Faye gave birth to her first child, named Benjamin Barrington Tozer-Smith. On 5 December 2009 Faye married Michael Smith in a ceremony at Beamish Hall which was televised on an episode of Celebrity Four Weddings.

External links

• Official website
• In The Spotlight - Songs From The Musicals