Becky Taylor
Encyclopedia
Becky Jane Taylor is an English
singer notable for having landed a recording contract at a very young age.
, London
. She had her first experience on the stage at the age of seven in London's West End
, playing Little Eponine at the Palace Theatre
. Other early achievements include winning the Thorndike Talent competition for ages 8-24, and winning a British Arts Award for her dance performance of the Secret Garden, both of which she achieved at the age of 8. She also appeared on Blue Peter
, performing "My Heart Will Go On
" at the age of 10.
with EMI
, making her the youngest artist to have ever been signed to that record label
. Her debut album, A Dream Come True (2001) recorded at Abbey Road Studios
, enjoyed international success, and in the same year she sang at the Farm Aid
benefit gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall
.
Over the years, Taylor has toured worldwide promoting her music, and she has enjoyed particular success in the Far East, reaching number one in the album charts
in Japan
and Taiwan
. Her United States
tour was supported by a range of promotional appearances, including with Live with Regis and Kelly
, and the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Taylor released her first album of show tunes at the tender age of thirteen in 2001 and her first crossover album in 2005. Her second album, By Your Side, was released in 2005. Over the past five years, Taylor has continued to perform with musicians including Jose Carreras
, Russell Watson
, Andre Rieu
and Katie Melua
. In 2005, she performed at the Last Night of the Audley End and Kenwood Proms alongside Wynne Evans
, in 2006 she performed at the SOS Classic Response concert, hosted by Mylene Klass and Aled Jones
at the Royal Albert Hall. A year later, she appeared at the FA Cup Final
, where she sang "Abide with Me
" with Lesley Garrett
.
Taylor has graduated from the University of Durham, after undertaking a three year degree in History. She is currently in the studio working on new material.
Becky dances to an advanced standard and has achieved her Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance
diploma.
and Hugh Laurie
and Barbie as Rapunzel.
Shine - 2004 EMI Records
A Dream Come True - 2001 EMI Records
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer notable for having landed a recording contract at a very young age.
Early Years
Taylor was born in HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She had her first experience on the stage at the age of seven in London's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, playing Little Eponine at the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre, London
The Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster in London. It is an imposing red-brick building that dominates the west side of Cambridge Circus and is located near the intersection of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road...
. Other early achievements include winning the Thorndike Talent competition for ages 8-24, and winning a British Arts Award for her dance performance of the Secret Garden, both of which she achieved at the age of 8. She also appeared on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, performing "My Heart Will Go On
My Heart Will Go On
"My Heart Will Go On" is the theme song/love theme of the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. With music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasieff ,, it was recorded by Céline Dion...
" at the age of 10.
Career
At the age of 12 she landed a recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, making her the youngest artist to have ever been signed to that record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Her debut album, A Dream Come True (2001) recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, enjoyed international success, and in the same year she sang at the Farm Aid
Farm Aid
Farm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States...
benefit gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
Over the years, Taylor has toured worldwide promoting her music, and she has enjoyed particular success in the Far East, reaching number one in the album charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Her United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour was supported by a range of promotional appearances, including with Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, and the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Taylor released her first album of show tunes at the tender age of thirteen in 2001 and her first crossover album in 2005. Her second album, By Your Side, was released in 2005. Over the past five years, Taylor has continued to perform with musicians including Jose Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
, Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
, Andre Rieu
André Rieu
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.- Early life and studies :...
and Katie Melua
Katie Melua
Ketevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...
. In 2005, she performed at the Last Night of the Audley End and Kenwood Proms alongside Wynne Evans
Wynne Evans
Wynne Evans is a Welsh tenor. Popularly known for his role as the tenor Gio Compario in the Gocompare.com insurance adverts on television in the United Kingdom, he sang, , in the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall...
, in 2006 she performed at the SOS Classic Response concert, hosted by Mylene Klass and Aled Jones
Aled Jones
Aled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
at the Royal Albert Hall. A year later, she appeared at the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
, where she sang "Abide with Me
Abide With Me
The hymn tune most often used with this hymn is "Eventide" composed by William Henry Monk in 1861.Alternate tunes include:* "Abide with Me," Henry Lyte, 1847* "Morecambe", Frederick C...
" with Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
.
Taylor has graduated from the University of Durham, after undertaking a three year degree in History. She is currently in the studio working on new material.
Becky dances to an advanced standard and has achieved her Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance
Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...
diploma.
TV and Film
Becky has performed the theme tunes for a number of films and television programmes including BBC Christmas feature film Second Star To The Left, starring Barbara WindsorBarbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
and Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
and Barbie as Rapunzel.
Discography
By Your Side - 2006 EMI RecordsEMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
Shine - 2004 EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
A Dream Come True - 2001 EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...