Tina Charles
Encyclopedia
Tina Charles is an English
singer, who achieved success as a disco
artist
in the mid-to-late 1970s, selling 36 million records within a few years. Her most successful single was the #1 hit "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
" in 1976. Her chosen stage name of Charles was a tribute to her father, Charles Hoskins.
, and recorded her first solo
single
in 1969 with a then unknown Elton John
singing backing vocals. During the early 1970s she supplied vocals for the Top of the Pops
album series of cover versions of contemporary hits. In 1971 she made appearances in the first series of The Two Ronnies
, the BBC1
sketch show starring Ronnie Barker
and Ronnie Corbett
, including the premiere episode.
In 1975 Charles and her friend Linda Lewis
were backing vocalist
s on the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
chart topping song
, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
". She provided the lead vocals for 5000 Volts
' 1975 disco
hit single
"I'm On Fire". Although not publicly acknowledged as a group member at the time, Charles was considered to have a stronger voice than the group's official lead singer. The song
reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart
, and 26 in the Billboard Hot 100
.
Charles' big break came in 1975, when Indian-British
composer/producer Biddu
, who had just enjoyed massive success worldwide with the disco hit "Kung Fu Fighting
" for Carl Douglas
, produced the single "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
" for her. The single spent three weeks at number one on the UK
chart
in March 1976, and was a major hit around the world
. Biddu's collaboration continued on a future album
and another song hit: "Dance Little Lady Dance". In total, Charles spent 42 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1976 alone, mainly due to these two records. During this time, her touring band included Trevor Horn
and Geoff Downes
, who would later go on to find success as the Buggles, then as members of Yes
, and later as a top record producer (Horn) and founding member of Asia
(Downes).
Further hits like "Love Me Like a Lover", "Dr Love", "Rendezvous" and "Love Bug" made her a pop star
throughout Europe
, Asia
, Australia
and New Zealand
, but she was never able to achieve success in the US
. Her only solo recording to chart significantly in the US was "You Set My Heart on Fire," which reached number 3 on Record World
's 'Disco File Top 20' chart in the autumn of 1975.
In 1978, Charles was a joint winner at the World Popular Song Festival held in Tokyo
, performing the tune, "Love Rocks". Charles represented the UK, and shared the top prize with Japan's own entry.
By 1980 her career was in decline, and disco music generally was losing some of its public appeal. She attempted to change her disco style for her 1980 album Just One Smile for a more hard edge rock electronic style but the album was virtually ignored. Charles married
and had a child
, and devoted herself for some years to her family life, putting her singing career on hold. In the mid 1980s she had a resurgence with a remix
of "I Love to Love" which was produced by Sanny X.
Since 2000, Charles has performed throughout Europe where disco music and her hit singles have been reappraised, and she has become a popular live performer. Charles featured in the Top 5 of the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Higher" in 2006. The song is produced by longtime friend and associate Sanny X. She made a guest appearance with The Producers
at their 2007 concert
, singing "Slave to the Rhythm
". In October 2007, Charles recorded "Hide and Seek" with producer Ian Levine
for the album Disco 2008. Her latest album, Listen 2 the Music was released in March 2008.
On 28 April 2011, it was announced that Charles had been signed by the British dance label, Energise Records, where she is to release a new single, "Your Love Is My Light". The track was both co-written and produced by former PWL record producers, Dave Ford and Ian Curnow, plus Carl M Cox. The single was remixed by Pete Hammond. Hammond, like the aforementioned Ford and Curnow, was another of the studio engineers and producers at PWL. The single was released on CD and to download on 7th November 2011.
It has also been announced that Charles is set to embark on a live tour with 5000 Volts
, the band with which she released her first ever record.
as a newborn. She has a brother, Warren. On launching her music career she did not use her real name, Hoskins, since this could have caused confusion with Mary Hopkin
, better known at the time. She chose Charles since it was her father's name.
Charles was married to Bernard Webb, and had a son Max, born in London in 1977. She was divorced in 1979. She re-married in 1993 to her second husband Tetoo. They live in Surrey
, England.
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, who achieved success as a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
in the mid-to-late 1970s, selling 36 million records within a few years. Her most successful single was the #1 hit "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
"I Love to Love " was a popular single by Tina Charles, from her debut album, I Love to Love; the song was composed by Jack Robinson and James Bolden...
" in 1976. Her chosen stage name of Charles was a tribute to her father, Charles Hoskins.
Career
Charles began her career as a backing singer and session musicianSession musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, and recorded her first solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
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...
in 1969 with a then unknown Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
singing backing vocals. During the early 1970s she supplied vocals for the Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops (record series)
Top of the Pops is the name of a series of records issued by Pickwick Records on their Hallmark label, which contain anonymous cover versions of recent and current hit singles. The recordings were intended to replicate the sound of the original hits as closely as possible...
album series of cover versions of contemporary hits. In 1971 she made appearances in the first series of The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show that aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.-Origins:...
, the BBC1
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
sketch show starring Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
and Ronnie Corbett
Ronnie Corbett
Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, OBE is a Scottish actor and comedian of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the British television comedy series The Two Ronnies...
, including the premiere episode.
In 1975 Charles and her friend Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis
Linda Lewis is an English vocalist, songwriter and Guitarist. Lewis is the oldest of six children two of whom also had singing careers...
were 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...
s on the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel are an English rock band from the early 1970s. Their music covers a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years they have had five albums in the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles in the UK Singles Chart.-Career:...
chart topping song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
"Make Me Smile " is a song written and recorded by Steve Harley. It was originally recorded by his band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on the album The Best Years of Our Lives and released as a single in 1975...
". She provided the lead vocals for 5000 Volts
5000 Volts
5000 Volts is the name of a British disco recording act that achieved success throughout Europe during the 1970s. The group consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musicians.-Career:...
' 1975 disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
"I'm On Fire". Although not publicly acknowledged as a group member at the time, Charles was considered to have a stronger voice than the group's official lead singer. The song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and 26 in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Charles' big break came in 1975, when Indian-British
British Indian
The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK...
composer/producer Biddu
Biddu
Biddu or Biddu Appaiah is an Indian-British music producer, composer, song-writer and singer who produced and composed many hit records worldwide during a career spanning five decades...
, who had just enjoyed massive success worldwide with the disco hit "Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
"Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song written by Jim Brusatto and Vivian Hawke performed by Carl Douglas, and composed and produced by Biddu. It was released as a single in 1974, at the cusp of a chopsocky film craze, and eventually rose to the top of the British and American charts, in addition to...
" for Carl Douglas
Carl Douglas
Carl Douglas is a former Jamaican-born, UK-based, singer, best known for his song "Kung Fu Fighting", which hit number one in both the UK Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. The R.I.A.A. awarded gold disc status on 27 November, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Selling Single...
, produced the single "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)
"I Love to Love " was a popular single by Tina Charles, from her debut album, I Love to Love; the song was composed by Jack Robinson and James Bolden...
" for her. The single spent three weeks at number one on the 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....
in March 1976, and was a major hit around the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
. Biddu's collaboration continued on a future album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
and another song hit: "Dance Little Lady Dance". In total, Charles spent 42 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1976 alone, mainly due to these two records. During this time, her touring band included Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
and Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
, who would later go on to find success as the Buggles, then as members of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, and later as a top record producer (Horn) and founding member of Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
(Downes).
Further hits like "Love Me Like a Lover", "Dr Love", "Rendezvous" and "Love Bug" made her a pop star
Pop Star
"Pop Star" is a 2005 single from Japanese singer Ken Hirai. The single went on to top the 2005 Oricon Charts and is known for its remarkable music video, featuring Ken in seven different personas, including a raccoon and his own manager. The Video also helped Ken break into the US and Canadian...
throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, but she was never able to achieve success in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Her only solo recording to chart significantly in the US was "You Set My Heart on Fire," which reached number 3 on Record World
Record World
Record World magazine was one of the three main music industry trade publications in the United States, along with Billboard and Cash Box magazines. It was founded in 1946 under the name Music Vendor, but since 1964 changed it to Record World, under the ownership of Sid Parnes and Bob Austin, both...
's 'Disco File Top 20' chart in the autumn of 1975.
In 1978, Charles was a joint winner at the World Popular Song Festival held in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, performing the tune, "Love Rocks". Charles represented the UK, and shared the top prize with Japan's own entry.
By 1980 her career was in decline, and disco music generally was losing some of its public appeal. She attempted to change her disco style for her 1980 album Just One Smile for a more hard edge rock electronic style but the album was virtually ignored. Charles married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
and had a child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
, and devoted herself for some years to her family life, putting her singing career on hold. In the mid 1980s she had a resurgence with a remix
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 "I Love to Love" which was produced by Sanny X.
Since 2000, Charles has performed throughout Europe where disco music and her hit singles have been reappraised, and she has become a popular live performer. Charles featured in the Top 5 of the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Higher" in 2006. The song is produced by longtime friend and associate Sanny X. She made a guest appearance with The Producers
The Producers (2006 band)
The Producers are a supergroup formed in 2006 by music producers and musicians Trevor Horn , Lol Creme , Steve Lipson , Chris Braide and Ash Soan...
at their 2007 concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, singing "Slave to the Rhythm
Slave to the Rhythm
Slave to the Rhythm is the seventh album by Grace Jones. It was produced by Trevor Horn and released in 1985. The album was written by Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn...
". In October 2007, Charles recorded "Hide and Seek" with producer Ian Levine
Ian Levine
Ian Levine is an English songwriter, producer, and DJ. He is also a well-known fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who.Levine attended Arnold School in Blackpool from 1963 to 1970...
for the album Disco 2008. Her latest album, Listen 2 the Music was released in March 2008.
On 28 April 2011, it was announced that Charles had been signed by the British dance label, Energise Records, where she is to release a new single, "Your Love Is My Light". The track was both co-written and produced by former PWL record producers, Dave Ford and Ian Curnow, plus Carl M Cox. The single was remixed by Pete Hammond. Hammond, like the aforementioned Ford and Curnow, was another of the studio engineers and producers at PWL. The single was released on CD and to download on 7th November 2011.
It has also been announced that Charles is set to embark on a live tour with 5000 Volts
5000 Volts
5000 Volts is the name of a British disco recording act that achieved success throughout Europe during the 1970s. The group consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musicians.-Career:...
, the band with which she released her first ever record.
Personal life
Born to the actor Charles Hoskins and his wife Hilda, Charles recovered from meningitisMeningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
as a newborn. She has a brother, Warren. On launching her music career she did not use her real name, Hoskins, since this could have caused confusion with Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
, better known at the time. She chose Charles since it was her father's name.
Charles was married to Bernard Webb, and had a son Max, born in London in 1977. She was divorced in 1979. She re-married in 1993 to her second husband Tetoo. They live in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England.
Singles
- "Nothing in the World" (1969)
- "In the Middle of the Day" (1969)
- "Good to Be Alive" (1969)
- "Bo-Bo's Party" (1970)
- "Baby Don't You Know Anymore" (1971)
- "There's No Stopping Us Now" (1972)
- "One Broken Heart for Sale" (1974)
- "You Set My Heart On Fire" (1975) - Netherlands #4
- "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)"I Love to Love " was a popular single by Tina Charles, from her debut album, I Love to Love; the song was composed by Jack Robinson and James Bolden...
" (1976) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#1 (3 Weeks), Germany #6, Ireland #1 - "Love Me Like A Lover" (1976) - UK #28, GER #13
- "Dance Little Lady Dance" (1976) - UK #6, GER #8
- "Dr Love" (1976) - UK #4, GER #20, IRE #3
- "Rendezvous" (1977) - UK #27
- "Fallin' in Love in the Summertime" (1977) - GER #39
- "Love Bug - Sweets For My Sweet (Medley)" (1977) - UK #26
- "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" (1978) - UK #27, IRE #18
- "Love Rocks" (1978)
- "Fire Down Below" (1978)
- "Makin' All the Right Moves" (1978)
- "Boogie 'Round the Clock" (1979)
- "Just One Smile" (1980)
- "I'm Just as Bad as You" (1980)
- "Rollin'" (1980)
- "Turn Back the Hands of Time" (1980)
- "Love Hunger" (1984)
- "I Love to Love (remixRemixA 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 ....
)" (1986) - UK #67, GER #5 - "Second Time Around" (1986)
- "Dance Little Lady '87" (1987) - GER #20
- "I'll Go Where the Music Takes Me '87 remix" (1987)
- "You Set My Heart on Fire remix" (1988)
- "Go to Work on My Love" (1989)
- "World of Emotion" (1993)
- "Only Tonight" (EP) (1994)
- "I Love to Love (Latin Remix)" (2004)
- "Higher" (2006) - US Hot Dance Music/Club Play #5
- "All Comes Back to You"
- "Your Love Is My Light" (2011)
Albums
- Tina Sings (1973)
- I Love to Love (1976)
- Dance Little Lady (1976)
- Rendezvous (US release) (1977)
- Heart 'N' Soul (1977) UK #35
- Greatest Hits (1978)
- Just One Smile (1980)
- I Love to Love - Greatest Hits (1987)
- World of Emotion (1993)
- I Love to Love - The Best Of (1998)
- Foundation of Love (2004)
- Listen 2 the Music (repackaged as Feels Like Sunday) (2008)
External links
- Official Single website
- Official website
- Tina Charles MySpace page
- [ Tina Charles biography]. AllMusic.com.
- ZakAlex Records