Keedie Babb

Keedie Green (born Keedie Babb, 21 October 1982, Wolverhampton) is a British classical crossover soprano[1] with a vocal range of three octaves, reaching a top A above a top E.[2]

For the U.S. singer, see Keedy.

Keedie Green
Birth nameKeedie Babb
Born (1982-10-21) 21 October 1982
Wolverhampton, England
OriginPaignton, England
GenresClassical crossover
Occupation(s)Soprano singer
Years active2003–present
Websitewww.keedie.info www.myspace.com/keediebabb

Background

She was named Keedie because her father is a fan of Kiki Dee.[3] The family moved to Torquay when she was three years old. She attended White Rock Primary school in Paignton.[4]

Her father worked intermittently as a painter and decorator, paying for his daughter's vocal lessons while narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, until one Christmas when bankruptcy made the family temporarily homeless. Keedie left school when she was 14 years old to pursue a singing career, signing her first record contract when she was 16 years old, but soon became disillusioned and left to pursue her career alone.[5]

Career

2003–2005

In 2003 Keedie appeared in a local Torquay talent show, "Stairway to the Stars"; this appearance brought her to fame.[6] On 30 November 2003, Keedie performed at a World AIDS Day event at the Coronet theatre in London together with Liberty X in aid of Crusaid.[7]

In 2004, Keedie signed a seven figure music deal with EMI Classics,[8] after she duetted with former Blue member Duncan James, on "I Believe My Heart", the soundtrack to the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical, The Woman in White. The single reached number two in the UK Singles Chart.[9] She also performed at the Miami and Washington Film Festivals.[5]

Her second single, a cover version of the hymn "Jerusalem", was released as a charity single in the UK on 18 December 2005, and entered the UK chart at #19.[9] The single featured the victorious English cricket team who had just won the Ashes Test Series. Proceeds of the single were split equally between the Save the Children's "Children in Emergencies Appeal" and two cricket charities.[10]

Her debut album I Believe My Heart was released on 18 November 2004, and met with positive reviews. It includes a variety of contemporary tracks and arrangements, and also featured the title theme "My Reason", from the film Modigliani; the video for which Keedie filmed on location in Bucharest. The album includes two pop covers: Madonna's "You'll See" and Enya's "Only Time", seven original songs and nine arias. After her album was released, Keedie went on to record Puccini's Nessun Dorma.

2005–2006

Keedie parted ways with her record company, EMI classics, at the end of 2005. During this time she was able to secure gigs at sporting events and celebrity private parties, such as Michael Parkinson and Anthea Turner.[11] On 4 September 2005, she appeared at the Grand Finale of the Kent Music Festival along with Katherine Jenkins and G4.[12]

On 26 February 2006, Keedie sang the National Anthem at the League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[13] In May 2006, Keedie was asked to sing "Time to Say Goodbye" at former Newcastle United footballer Alan Shearer's testimonial at St James' Park. She performed the song after the game during the finale, and also performed earlier before the game.[14]

2007–present

In 2007 Keedie performed alongside Tina Turner in a one-off concert, The Bedrock Ball, in aid of the charity, Caudwell Children, at the National History Museum. It was the first live concert Tina Turner had performed in seven years. Keedie was the only artist to support Turner at the charity gig and she performed in front of celebrities such as Richard Hammond, Tara Palmer Tompkinson and David Gest.[4]

Keedie said after the gig:[4]

It was probably one of the most amazing nights I have ever seen. It was mind-blowing. I have never seen anything like it. There was so many celebrities there. When I performed I had a standing ovation and Tina's bouncer told me she had been watching me and had said I was phenomenal. It was really nerve-wracking.

Keedie was then invited to sing before David Beckham's first match for Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States. She was also booked for a private party for George Clooney and another charity gig in Moscow which was organised by Nelson Mandela.[15]

In May 2007, a special charity album entitled KN21 was released in aid of Children's Hospice South-West. The album consisted of live recordings of Keedie and her sister Nadine from 1993 – when they were 11 and 10 years old, and called themselves KN21 – a name using the first initials of their names plus their combined age at the time. The tracks are mainly covers from the 1960s which were recorded during the girls "Swinging Sixties" show at the Great Western Hotel in Paignton. The album also has two exclusive bonus tracks which Keedie recorded in 2005 – "Nessun Dorma" and "Would I Know", an original song penned by American songwriter, Diane Warren, and previously used in the Charlotte Church film I'll Be There.[16]

In 2010, it was revealed Keedie had auditioned for The X Factor under her marital name of Keedie Green, but did not go through to the judges' houses round.[17]

In February 2013 Keedie performed at the Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay, in their summer season production "Spellbound"[18]

During 2015 she appeared on the BBC One talent show The Voice UK, resulting in over 2.7 million YouTube views[19], also in 2015 Keedie appeared in the World War II Romance film Meet Again as the Garden Singer - Hollywood Gem.[20]

From 2016 - 2018 she further starred in productions at the Babbacombe Theatre Torquay.[21] July 2018 saw her perform to good reviews in the West End London Peacock Theatre spectacular show TriOperas.[22]

In 2020 she delivered a singing Master class to Performing arts students of South Devon College[23] and took part in a fund raising Virtual concert at Wrexham radio station Calon FM on behalf of NHS front line workers who had contributed so much during the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

Discography

Albums

Singles
gollark: They run over TCP.
gollark: No, they *will* arrive in order on a websocket.
gollark: They won't NECESSARILY all arrive, and you have to plan for that, but they should.
gollark: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11804721/can-websocket-messages-arrive-out-of-order
gollark: I believe so.

References
  1. "Seven-figure deal for Keedie". Birmingham Mail. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  2. "Keedie". Last FM. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  3. Lynskey, Dorian (9 December 2004). "Rock me, Verdi". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  4. "Like Tina, Keedie is "Simply the best"". Torquay Herald Express. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  5. "Keedie". Classic FM TV. 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  6. "Herman's Habits – Page the Songbird". Elton John World. 29 October 2004. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  7. "Liberty X to play the Coronet at World AIDS Day event". London SE1 community website. 30 October 2003. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  8. "Singer Keedie signs classical album deal". BBC Entertainment. 7 November 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  9. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 297. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. "Keedie Green Releases Her New Single My Reason". News Powered by Cision. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  12. "Gigs and concerts coming to Kent". BBC Entertainment. 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  13. "Carling Cup final clockwatch". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  14. "Keedie sings for the testimonial game". Newcastle United F.C. 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  15. "News". www.babbacombe-theatre.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  16. "Keedie's classic charity effort". Torquay Herald Express. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  17. "Keedie Green impresses The X Factor judges". TellyMix. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  18. "Babbacombe Theatre, Spellbound Information". 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  19. "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  20. Meet Again, retrieved 8 July 2020
  21. "News". www.babbacombe-theatre.com. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  22. "TriOperas: Peacock Theatre (2018)". Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  23. "Opera and Pop star, Keedie Green, delivers masterclass to South Devon College students". We Are South Devon. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  24. "Wrexham radio station hosts virtual concert for the NHS". InYourArea.co.uk. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
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