Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae is a singer and songwriter from Leeds, United Kingdom, working in neo soul and soul. She is known for her self-titled debut album, which appears in 2006, and for songs including “Like a Star” and “Put Your Records On”.

Background

Born Corinne Bailey in 1979, she grows up in Leeds to a Kittitian father and an English mother, as the eldest of three daughters. She begins playing classical violin at school before moving into singing. Her early singing experience comes through church choirs, first in a Brethren church and later in a Baptist church, where the repertoire includes hymns and adapted versions of songs such as Primal Scream tracks. She later studies English literature at the University of Leeds.

Early groups and influences

As a teenager, she forms an all-female indie band called Helen, inspired by acts such as Veruca Salt and L7. The group plays around Leeds and becomes the first indie act signed to Roadrunner Records in 1995, before disbanding after the bassist becomes pregnant. Rae later says that the band reflects her interest in women playing guitars and in leading a group.

Move into jazz and solo work

While at university, Rae works as a hat check girl in a local jazz club and sometimes sings with the house band when business is quiet. This brings her into contact with jazz and soul music, which shapes her later direction. She also meets saxophonist Jason Rae there and marries him in 2001; he dies in March 2008. Around this period, she begins developing solo material with a more soul-led approach.

Collaborations and breakthrough

Before her solo debut, she works with Leeds-based acts on several recordings. She appears on The New Mastersounds’ 2003 track “Your Love Is Mine” from the album Be Yourself, released on One Note Records, and on Homecut Directive’s “Come the Revolution”, the first single from that group’s debut album. In 2004, she is signed by Global Talent Publishing and is then invited by Mark Hill, known from The Artful Dodger and working under the alias The stiX, to appear on his album better luck next time. Their collaboration “Young and Foolish” appears in 2005 and helps bring her to the attention of major label executives.

Albums, awards and recognition

Rae releases her debut single, “Like a Star”, in 2005 and her debut album, Corinne Bailey Rae, in 2006. The album reaches number one, making her only the fourth female British act to have a first album debut at the top of the chart. She is named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2006 in a BBC critics’ poll. In 2006 she wins two MOBO Awards, for Best UK Newcomer and Best UK Female, and in 2007 she receives three Grammy nominations for “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for “Put Your Records On”, and for Best New Artist. She also performs at the Grammy ceremony, including a collaboration with John Legend and John Mayer.

Later releases

Her discography includes the live album Live in London & New York from 2007 and The Sea from 2010. In 2013, she moves from Capitol Records to Virgin Records after corporate restructuring linked to Universal Music Group’s purchase of the parent company.

Personal note

She is a supporter of Leeds United Football Club.