Jaki Graham
Encyclopedia
Jaki Graham is an English
singer. Her biggest international success was reaching number one
on the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1994, with her cover version
of Chaka Khan
's hit, "Ain't Nobody
".
called Ferrari, and then went on to the band Medium Wave, before becoming a backing vocalist
for UB40
. She appeared on their version of Jimmy Cliff
's "Many Rivers to Cross
" as well as UB40's own "Sing Our Own Song" (1986). She was also in a band called 'White Lines' with former 'Bakerloo' and 'Little Acre' sax player George Northall in 1977.
She went on to achieve notable solo chart
success, including two single
s in which she duetted
with the former Linx
member, and future Fame Academy
vocal
coach
, David Grant
.
Amongst her UK
chart
entries were Top 10 placings for "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
" (#5), "Round and Around" (#9) and "Set Me Free" (#7). She also hit the Top 20 with her second Grant duet, "Mated" (#20), "Step Right Up" (#15) and "Breaking Away" (#16).
In 1990 she provided backing vocals on Kim Wilde
's, "I Can't Say Goodbye
". In 1993 she also provided vocals for "Dreams" and "Jack & Jill", two singles released by the dance music
outfit, 'Essence'.
Despite her star
status in the UK, Graham's success in the United States
failed to cross over from the dance/club
audiences. Her output beyond the 1980s has been neither as prolific or high-profile, with many of her albums seeing release only in Japan
, where she remains popular. Graham's biggest international success was reaching number one
on the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1994, with her cover version
of Chaka Khan
's hit, "Ain't Nobody
".
In 2005, Graham performed on the ITV
singing contest, Hit Me Baby One More Time
singing her "Set Me Free" and a version
of Will Young
's, "Your Game
". Graham's most recent single, a cover of Stevie Wonder
's "Superstition
", was released exclusively to HMV
stores on 21 November 2005.
In 2008, EMI
announced the release of expanded versions of Graham's Heaven Knows and Breaking Away albums. These versions included many 12" mixes
of her singles, which until now have only been available on vinyl
On 27 April 2009 her third album, 1989's From Now On, was re-released in an expanded download only version, again featuring additional bonus tracks.
On 23 October 2009, she performed at the Birmingham Town Hall
with the BBC
's Big Band, to perform special arrangement
s of Gershwin songs, in a show entitled 'Gershwin and Soul'. Due to the success of this show (which was transmitted on BBC Radio 2
in November 2009), Graham went on to perform Duke Ellington
's songs on 12 March 2010. Songs from both shows will feature on her new live album
, due for release in early 2011.
Cherry Pop Records re-released Graham's 1986 album Breaking Away on CD in August 2010. The album contained three additional bonus tracks that were not featured on the 2008 digital release by EMI. In October 2010, Graham's new best of album entitled, Absolute Essential - The Very Best of Jaki Graham, was released by Demon Music in the UK.
It has been confirmed that Jaki will be one of the special guests performing on the forthcoming UK Arena tour with Sir Cliff Richard. In addition to singing a duet with Sir Cliff, Jaki will also be performing one of her own songs.
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. Her biggest international success was reaching number one
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....
on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1994, with her cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's hit, "Ain't Nobody
Ain't Nobody
"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart...
".
Career
Graham originally sang in a bandBand (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
called Ferrari, and then went on to the band Medium Wave, before becoming a backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
. She appeared on their version of Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
's "Many Rivers to Cross
Many Rivers to Cross
- Song information :This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use an organ, which helps to supplement the gospel feel provided by the backing vocalists. Cliff released the song, with production work by Leslie Kong, on his 1969 album, Jimmy Cliff. It was also released on the 1972 soundtrack album for...
" as well as UB40's own "Sing Our Own Song" (1986). She was also in a band called 'White Lines' with former 'Bakerloo' and 'Little Acre' sax player George Northall in 1977.
She went on to achieve notable solo chart
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....
success, including two single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s in which she duetted
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with the former Linx
Linx (band)
Linx were a British soul/funk band consisting of David Grant, Bob Carter , Andy Duncan , Canute Edwards and Peter Martin . After their first hit in 1980, the band slimmed down to a duo of Grant and Martin. They had six entries on the UK Singles Chart from mid 1980 until mid 1982...
member, and future Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
vocal
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
coach
Voice training
Voice training may consist of professional training in any of the following fields:* Vocal pedagogy for singing, particularly opera* Debate* Public speaking* Dialect training for actors who need to speak in a particular dialect or accent...
, David Grant
David Grant (singer)
David Grant is an English pop singer and celebrity vocal coach.-Career:Grant became famous in the early 1980s as a member of UK soul/funk duo, Linx, whose biggest hit was Intuition in 1981. He began a solo career in 1983 with the Top 40 hit "Stop and Go"...
.
Amongst her UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chart
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....
entries were Top 10 placings for "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
"Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" is a 1972 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners . The song was co-written by Melvin and Mervin Steals who were two songwriter brothers working for Atlantic, who were sometimes credited as "Mystro and Lyric." It was produced by Thom Bell...
" (#5), "Round and Around" (#9) and "Set Me Free" (#7). She also hit the Top 20 with her second Grant duet, "Mated" (#20), "Step Right Up" (#15) and "Breaking Away" (#16).
In 1990 she provided backing vocals on Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
's, "I Can't Say Goodbye
I Can't Say Goodbye (Kim Wilde song)
"I Can't Say Goodbye" is the fifth and final single from Love Moves, the 1990 album by Kim Wilde.The single was released exclusively in the UK . The ballad, which featured backing vocals by Jaki Graham, was edited for the 7" format and extended for the 12" and CD-single formats...
". In 1993 she also provided vocals for "Dreams" and "Jack & Jill", two singles released by the dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
outfit, 'Essence'.
Despite her star
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
status in the UK, Graham's success in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
failed to cross over from the dance/club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
audiences. Her output beyond the 1980s has been neither as prolific or high-profile, with many of her albums seeing release only 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...
, where she remains popular. Graham's biggest international success was reaching number one
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....
on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1994, with her cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's hit, "Ain't Nobody
Ain't Nobody
"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart...
".
In 2005, Graham performed on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
singing contest, Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me, Baby, One More Time was a 2005 reality show first aired by ITV on British television and later, as a new version, by NBC in the United States; both were presented by Vernon Kay. During each programme, five former pop stars sing their biggest hit along with a cover version of a contemporary...
singing her "Set Me Free" and a version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
's, "Your Game
Your Game
"Your Game" is the second single from Will Young's second studio album Friday's Child. It was co-written by Young, Taio Cruz and Blair MacKichan. It went to number three in the UK Singles Chart. The song also appears on the international version of Young's third album Keep On...
". Graham's most recent single, a cover of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "Superstition
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
", was released exclusively to HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
stores on 21 November 2005.
In 2008, 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...
announced the release of expanded versions of Graham's Heaven Knows and Breaking Away albums. These versions included many 12" mixes
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of her singles, which until now have only been available on vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
On 27 April 2009 her third album, 1989's From Now On, was re-released in an expanded download only version, again featuring additional bonus tracks.
On 23 October 2009, she performed at the Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...
with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Big Band, to perform special arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s of Gershwin songs, in a show entitled 'Gershwin and Soul'. Due to the success of this show (which was transmitted on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in November 2009), Graham went on to perform Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
's songs on 12 March 2010. Songs from both shows will feature on her new live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, due for release in early 2011.
Cherry Pop Records re-released Graham's 1986 album Breaking Away on CD in August 2010. The album contained three additional bonus tracks that were not featured on the 2008 digital release by EMI. In October 2010, Graham's new best of album entitled, Absolute Essential - The Very Best of Jaki Graham, was released by Demon Music in the UK.
It has been confirmed that Jaki will be one of the special guests performing on the forthcoming UK Arena tour with Sir Cliff Richard. In addition to singing a duet with Sir Cliff, Jaki will also be performing one of her own songs.
Albums
- Heaven Knows (1985) (#48 UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
) - Breaking Away (1986) (#25 UK)
- From Now On (1989)
- Real Life (1994)
- Hold On (1995)
- Best Shots (1995)
- Rhythm of life (1996)
- Don't Keep Me Waiting (1997)
- My Life (1998)
- Heaven Knows (expanded edition) (2008)
- Breaking Away (expanded edition) (2008)
- From Now On (expanded download edition) (2009)
- Greatest Hits Live! (Download & CD; 2009)
- Real Life (download edition) (March 2010)
- Rhythm Of Life (download edition) (March 2010)
- My Life (download edition) (March 2010)
- Breaking Away (Special Edition CD) (August 2010)
- Absolute Essential - The Very Best of Jaki Graham (October 2010)
Singles
- "What's the Name of Your Game" (1984)
- "Heaven Knows (Feels So Good)" (1984)
- "Once More with The Feeling" (1984)
- "Could It Be I'm Falling in LoveCould It Be I'm Falling in Love"Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" is a 1972 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners . The song was co-written by Melvin and Mervin Steals who were two songwriter brothers working for Atlantic, who were sometimes credited as "Mystro and Lyric." It was produced by Thom Bell...
" (duet with David Grant) (1985) (#5 UK) - "Round and Around" (1985) (#9 UK)
- "Heaven Knows" (1985) (#59 UK)
- "Mated" (duet with David Grant) (1985) (#20 UK)
- "Set Me Free" (1986) (#7 UK, #15 US Dance)
- "Breaking Away" (1986) (#16 UK)
- "Step Right Up" (1986) (#15 UK)
- "Still in Love" (1987) (#83 UK)
- "No More Tears" (1988) (#60 UK)
- "From Now On" (1989) (#73 UK)
- "The Better Part of Me" (1989) (#79 UK)
- "Touch Me (When We're Dancing)" (1991)
- "Band of Gold" (1992)
- "Ain't Nobody" (1994) (#44 UK, #1 US Dance)
- "Breaking Away (1994)" (1994)
- "You can Count on Me" (1995) (#62 UK)
- "Absolute E-Sensual" (1995) (#69 UK, #3 US Dance)
- "Style" (1995)
- "Christmas Song" (1995)
- "Seek & You Will Find" (1996)
- "The Only Love" (1996)
- "You and I" (1997)
- "Don't Keep Me Waiting" (1997)
- "Walking on Water" (1997)
- "My Life" (1998)
- "The Look of Love" (1998)
- "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" (2005)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- Number-one dance hits of 1994 (US)
- List of black Britons