Nicky Stevens
Encyclopedia
Nicky Stevens is a singer, famous as a member of pop group Brotherhood of Man
.
in 1970. Stevens worked mainly performing popular songs and found it a struggle at first to adapt her vocals from her classical roots. During this period she also took on a job as a telephone operator
. This lasted for nine months and is the only job she has ever had outside the entertainment business.
, who was looking to recruit new members for his group Brotherhood of Man. Hiller was manager and songwriter for the group, but they had recently disbanded and keen to keep the name alive, which was still in demand for television work, he recruited Stevens alongside Martin Lee
and Lee Sheriden
. In 1973, signed to Deram Records
, they released their first single, "Happy Ever After".
Later in the year another female singer was added to the group, Sandra Stevens
(no relation) and as a four-piece, Brotherhood of Man went on to enjoy great success around the world. Scoring their first hit in 1974 and first No.1 the year after, the group entered and won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me
". To date, she is the only Welsh person to win Eurovision. For the next three years, the group regularly hit the chart and scored two more No.1 singles in the UK, "Angelo
" and "Figaro
".
As well as a vocalist, Stevens can also play piano, although she has never considered herself good enough to play professionally, she did perform the piano accompaniment to an otherwise acappella recording of "Send in the Clowns
" in 1978. It was featured on their Twenty Greatest
album.
Stevens still performs with Brotherhood of Man today in its unchanged line-up, taking in UK tours and television appearances throughout Europe.
In June 1976 Stevens married the group's guitarist, Alan Johnson. They have since divorced.
1 Not to be confused with the Irish rock band
of the same name.
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
.
Early career
Nicky Stevens began singing at an early age was classically trained. At 15 she toured the Continent as a singer performing in night clubs. Following this she went on to tour South Africa as well as clubs around the UK. She also held a residency in a Welsh night club. One of her early appointments was as a supporting act to Little and LargeLittle and Large
Little and Large were a British comedy double act comprising straight man Syd Little and comic Eddie Large . They formed their partnership in 1962, appearing as singers in local pubs around the North-West of England...
in 1970. Stevens worked mainly performing popular songs and found it a struggle at first to adapt her vocals from her classical roots. During this period she also took on a job as a telephone operator
Telephone operator
A telephone operator is either* a person who provides assistance to a telephone caller, usually in the placing of operator assisted telephone calls such as calls from a pay phone, collect calls , calls which are billed to a credit card, station-to-station and person-to-person calls, and certain...
. This lasted for nine months and is the only job she has ever had outside the entertainment business.
Brotherhood of Man
In 1972, while working as a session singer, Stevens came to the attention of Tony HillerTony Hiller
Tony Hiller is a British songwriter. He began his musical career as a member of the song and dance duo The Hiller Brothers, sharing the stage with his brother Irving...
, who was looking to recruit new members for his group Brotherhood of Man. Hiller was manager and songwriter for the group, but they had recently disbanded and keen to keep the name alive, which was still in demand for television work, he recruited Stevens alongside Martin Lee
Martin Lee (singer)
Martin Lee is a singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the British pop group Brotherhood of Man.- Early career :...
and Lee Sheriden
Lee Sheriden
Lee Sheriden is a British singer/songwriter and musical director, best known as a member of pop group Brotherhood of Man.-Early career:...
. In 1973, signed to Deram Records
Deram Records
Deram Records was a subsidiary record label established in 1966 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. At this time U.K. Decca was a completely different company than the Decca label in the United States, which was then owned by MCA Inc. Deram recordings were also distributed in the U.S. through...
, they released their first single, "Happy Ever After".
Later in the year another female singer was added to the group, Sandra Stevens
Sandra Stevens
Sandra Stevens is a British singer and member of pop group Brotherhood of Man.- Early career :Sandra Stevens first entered into a singing career at the age of sixteen when she joined the club band, The Track...
(no relation) and as a four-piece, Brotherhood of Man went on to enjoy great success around the world. Scoring their first hit in 1974 and first No.1 the year after, the group entered and won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me
Save Your Kisses For Me
"Save Your Kisses for Me" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed for the United Kingdom by Brotherhood of Man in The Hague, Netherlands. The lyrics and music were written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Lee, the latter two being members of the band...
". To date, she is the only Welsh person to win Eurovision. For the next three years, the group regularly hit the chart and scored two more No.1 singles in the UK, "Angelo
Angelo (song)
"Angelo" is a song by British pop group Brotherhood of Man. Released as a single in June 1977, it became the group's second UK number one hit.- Background :...
" and "Figaro
Figaro (song)
"Figaro" is a song by British pop group Brotherhood of Man. It was released as a single in January 1978 and became the group's third and final number one hit in the UK.- Background :...
".
As well as a vocalist, Stevens can also play piano, although she has never considered herself good enough to play professionally, she did perform the piano accompaniment to an otherwise acappella recording of "Send in the Clowns
Send in the Clowns
"Send in the Clowns" is a song by Stephen Sondheim from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music, an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night. It is a ballad from Act II in which the character Desirée reflects on the ironies and disappointments of her life. Among other things, she...
" in 1978. It was featured on their Twenty Greatest
Twenty Greatest
Twenty Greatest is the sixth album released by British pop group Brotherhood of Man and their first compilation. It was released in 1978 and became their biggest selling album.-Background:...
album.
Later career and personal life
In 1988, while still with the group Stevens recorded some songs with Dutch singer Albert West. In the early 1990s she also recorded some songs with British rock band Aslan1 as the lead singer.Stevens still performs with Brotherhood of Man today in its unchanged line-up, taking in UK tours and television appearances throughout Europe.
In June 1976 Stevens married the group's guitarist, Alan Johnson. They have since divorced.
1 Not to be confused with the Irish rock band
Aslan (rock band)
Aslan are an Irish rock band from Dublin who formed in 1982. Comprising Christy Dignam, Joe Jewell, Billy McGuinness, Alan Downey and Rodney O'Brien, the band has released five studio albums - Feel No Shame , Goodbye Charlie Moonhead , Here Comes Lucy Jones , Waiting For This Madness To End and...
of the same name.