Gabrielle (singer)
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| Gabrielle | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Louisa Gabrielle Bobb |
| Born | 16 April 1970 Hackney, England |
| Genres | R&B, soul, blues, jazz, urban contemporary, dance |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Go Beat Records Island Records Universal Records |
| Website | Gabrielle.co.uk |
Louisa Gabrielle Bobb (born 16 April 1970; Hackney, London) is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night. A demo she had recorded around Tracy Chapman's Fast Car found its way into the hands of an A&R man at Go!Beat records and that sample subsequently became Dreams, minus the Chapman sample. Her unconventional image including short tight curls and an eye patch on one of her eyes. She is best known for her singles "Dreams", "Rise" and "Out of Reach".
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[edit] Career
[edit] 1993-98: Find Your Way and Gabrielle
Her debut single "Dreams" topped the UK Singles Chart in June 1993.[1] The single entered the UK chart at #2, which was the highest chart entry a debut act had ever scored in the UK at that time.[1] The following week it climbed to the top spot and spent the next three weeks there. The album peaked at number 9 on the uk chart, it was also certified gold. Gabrielle has won two BRIT Awards, the first in 1994 for British Breakthrough Act, and the second in 1997 for Best British Female.[1] Other notable singles include "Going Nowhere", "Give Me A Little More Time", "Walk On By" (a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Dionne Warwick penned song) and "If You Ever" - a duet with East 17.
Gabrielle was the second studio album released in 1996. The lead single Give Me A Little bit more time peaked at number 5 on the uk chart. The album reached number 11 in the UK Albums Chart.[citation needed]
[edit] 1999-01 "Rise"
Gabrielle made a comeback. Using a sample from Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", "Rise" became Gabrielle's second UK number one in 2000.[1] The album of the same name also reached the top spot in the UK Albums Chart, where it stayed for three weeks.[1] It spent 87 weeks in the charts.[1]
The successful "Out of Reach" from the soundtrack to the film, Bridget Jones's Diary, reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and remains one of her most famous singles to date.
[edit] 2001-07: Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and Play To Win
Gabrielle's greatest hits collection, Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 achieved success in the UK, where it was certified as a four times platinum seller and became the fifth best selling album of 2001.[citation needed] In 2004 Gabrielle's fourth studio album Play To Win reached number 10 in the UK, and its maiden single "Stay the Same" debuted at number 20 in the UK. A supporting UK tour followed. She has reportedly sold 9 million albums worldwide.[citation needed]
[edit] 2007-11: Always and Forthcoming album
In 2007 she released a new single, "Why", which she performed on The National Lottery show on 19 September, as well as many other TV slots. "Why" did not reach the UK Top 40. On 1 October 2007, her new album Always was released. It peaked at number 11, but quickly fell off the chart. It included a version of the song "Why" that featured Paul Weller.
Gabrielle set off on a sell out UK tour of fourteen dates through February 2007. Critics gave positive reviews on her performances. Following the relative disappointment regarding the singles "Why" and "Every Little Teardrop" Gabrielle stated: “If people don’t like that song then I’ll find one that they do like because I have done it before and I’ll do it again. That old saying ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again’, well that’s me, because I’m a fighter not a quitter.”[2]
Gabrielle headlined the 'Zermatt Unplugged' music festival in April 2008, along with Alanis Morissette.[3] In addition she headlined 'Birmingham Pride' in 2008.[4] In May 2008, Gabrielle won an Ivor Novello award for Best Song Collection.
In a recent interview Gabrielle revealed that she has begun writing songs for a mystery new artist. She said, "It was really good to get asked to do something like that, as the pressure isn't on so much". But also states that it is not the end of her performing and recording career, "I look up to people like Dionne Warwick and Madonna, for managing to keep careers going for so long. I'm not that far behind Madonna, really," says Gabrielle, 38. "It'd be great to be making music like those old birds".[5] Gabrielle was also Al Green's special guest on the UK dates of his 2008 tour.[6]
In April 2010, it was announced that Gabrielle had returned to the studio to work on her sixth studio album. Gabrielle stated in a recent interview that she hopes to have it complete by the end of 2011 for a release of early 2012.[7]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
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[edit] Compilation albums
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[edit] Awards
- 1994 - British Breakthrough Act
- 1997 - Best British Female
- 2000 - Best Album
- 1996 - Best Single
Urban Music Awards 2007 - Outstanding Achievement
Ivor Novello Awards 2008 - Outstanding Song Collection
[edit] Personal life
Gabrielle went to Samuel Pepys Secondary School on Telegraph Hill, Brockley in south-east London.
She publicly supported the Labour Party[8] in the run-up to the 2001 UK General Election.
She is the patron of the AADC Research Trust - A charity organisation dedicated to helping children and their families, around the world, affected by Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency (AADC). AADC is a genetically inherited neurological disorder affecting the brain's ability to produce chemical messengers.[9]
[edit] Band members
- Gabrielle: Vocals
- Joel Grant: Bass
- Ben Jones: Guitar
- Lewis Allen: Guitar
- J.K.: Drums/musical Director
- Emlyn Maillard: Keyboards
- Sam White: Backing Vocals
- Phoebe Edwards: Backing Vocals
Please click here [10] to view the source.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 219. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Diva’s happy with an iron in her hand - icWales
- ^ Programm & Tickets :: 2nd Zermatt Unplugged April 9-12th, 2008
- ^ Events at the Nightingale - Birmingham Gay Pride 2008
- ^ http://www.gabrielle.webeden.co.uk/#/blognews/4524518578
- ^ "Gabrielle is Al Green’s special guest « Express & Star". Expressandstar.com. 2008-08-15. http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/08/15/gabrielle-is-al-greens-special-guest/. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ "We dream of Gabrielle". Abudhabiweek.ae. 2010-11-03. http://www.abudhabiweek.ae/city-latest/1-news/3880-we-dream-of-gabrielle. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ "Mandela inspires Labour troops". BBC News. 28 September 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/labour/946927.stm.
- ^ www.aadcresearch.org AADC Research Trust
- ^ http://www.about-gabrielle.co.uk/2010/10/new-band.html
[edit] External links
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