Universally
recognised as one of Britain’s greatest soul singers, Beverley Knight MBE has
also found success as a radio presenter, stage actress and charity ambassador.
Over an incredible career that’s seen the release of eight studio albums, Knight
has sold millions of records, toured internationally, supported Prince at the O2
Arena, and even performed at No 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister of
Great Britain. Her best-loved singles include Top 40 hits such as ‘Shoulda
Woulda Coulda’, ‘Greatest Day’, ‘Get Up!’ and ‘Come as You Are’.
Beverley Knight
issued her debut album, The B-Funk, in 1995: hailed as “the best British soul
album ever” by critics, the record immediately declared an undeniable talent.
Deeply influenced by American soul artists such as Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke,
she pioneered an emotive neo-soul sound that would subsequently inspire generations
of later artists. The release that followed, 1997’s Prodigal Sista, served to
confirm her status as the UK’s reigning soul-queen, earning Gold certification,
producing five Top 40 hit singles, and winning three MOBO Awards, including
Best Album.
The years that
followed saw the release of a series of studio albums that steadily cemented Knight’s
reputation, earning Brit Awards, Capital FM Awards and a Mercury Music Prize
for 2002’s Who I Am. As her music career reached dizzying heights, the singer
has ventured into stage acting, performing in high-profile West End productions
such as Memphis and Cats, before starring in the BBC music TV series Just The
Two Of Us. Knight was appointed a MBE in 2006 in recognition of her significant
contributions to British music.