Backing vocals, vocal harmonies and blend are Kim’s specialty areas and passion. Ever since she was a little girl Kim was always picking out the harmonies before singing a melody. Kim’s parents claim they found Kim singing harmonies along to adverts and songs when she was only 3 years old!
Here are some of the diverse artists that Kim has had the good fortune to provide background vocals for (in alphabetical order):
Barry Manilow (Choir Director – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Australia) |
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The Bee Gees (TV backing vocals: “Strictly Come Dancing ” BBC1) |
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Björk (Backing choir on “Oceania” from her “Medulla” album) |
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Brian Conley (Studio backing vocals – album “Let The Good Times Roll“) |
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Cerys Matthews – Catatonia (TV backing vocals – “Don’t Forget The Lyrics Celebrity Special” Sky One) |
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David Gest (TV backing vocals – “Don’t Forget The Lyrics Celebrity Special” Sky One) |
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Doug Parkinson (Studio backing vocals on jingles and live backing vocals, Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast, Australia) |
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Gareth Gates (Studio backing vocals on a charity single and TV backing vocals – “Don’t Forget The Lyrics Celebrity Special” Sky One) |
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Hamish Stuart – Average White Band (Live backing vocals – Michael McDonald concert at the Royal Albert Hall and Mermaid Theatre, London) |
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Jo O’Meara (Sole studio backing vocalist for S Club 7 singer on unreleased track). Visit “Showreel” – “Backing Vocal demo” – for an excerpt. |
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John Patitucci (Sole backing vocalist on track featuring jazz bass legend John Patitucci on album “Triptych” for famous Russian producer/writer Sasha Shulgin. This album also features British & American jazz heavyweights such as Bob James, Billy Cobham, Bob Mintzer, Gary Husband, Janek Gwizdala, Snake Davis etc. It was arranged & produced by Richard Niles) |
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Justin Lee Collins (Sole studio backing vocalist on “You Had Me When You Said Hello” featured on the movie “The Knot”) |
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Kate Robbins of “Spitting Image” fame (Live backing vocals – Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Soho, 100 Club, London) |
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Kevin Rowland – Dexys Midnight Runners (Studio backing vocals on two albums) |
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Lulu (Live backing vocals – Michael McDonald concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London) |
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Maria Lawson (Sole studio backing vocalist for UK “X Factor” finalist on her debut single “Sleepwalking“) |
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Michael Bolton (TV backing vocals- “Brian Conley Show” ITV, Choir Director – Brisbane Entertainment Centre) |
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Michael Jackson (Backing choir on an unreleased track) |
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Michael McDonald (Live & TV backing vocals: “Top of the Pops” BBC2, Royal Albert Hall, Mermaid Theatre, BBC Radio 2). |
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Michelle McManus Sole studio backing vocalist for UK “Pop Idol” Winner on unreleased track). Visit “Showreel” – “Backing Vocal demo” – for an excerpt. |
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Natalie Cole (Live & TV backing vocals: DVD “Ask a Woman Who Knows”, Langham Hilton, The Forum, BBC 4, PBS channel, BBC Radio 2). |
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Neil Diamond (Live backing vocals – American Embassy, Dublin, Ireland) |
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Nicki French of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” fame (Live backing vocals – Stockholm, Cardiff) |
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Pat Kane from “Hue and Cry” with the BBC Big Band (Live backing vocals – Falkirk, Scotland, BBC Radio 2) |
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Puff Daddy (with London Community Gospel Choir – Wembley Arena, London) |
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Renee Geyer (Live backing vocals, Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast, Australia) |
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Rick Astley (Live backing vocals and Choir Director – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London) |
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Shane Richie (TV backing vocals – “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” Sky One). See “Showreel” for video footage. |
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Thelma Houston (Live backing vocals – Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast, Australia) |
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Uriah Heep (Live backing vocals and flute on live recordings “Acoustically Driven” and “The Magician’s Birthday Party” – CD’s and DVD’s) |
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Westlife (Choir Director – no.1 hit “Queen of my Heart“) |
DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!Kim was the backing singer in the 7-piece live house band for the UK version of the hit TV gameshow “Don’t Forget the Lyrics“. Hosted by the very popular Shane Richie, the first series aired on Sky One in 2008 and was their highest rating show. The successful follow-up second and third series was broadcast throughout 2009, and now all three series are on regular repeats on various channels. [Watch on YouTube] |
Here’s what the industry professionals are saying about Kim’s abilities as a backing vocalist:
“Kim had the very difficult task of being all voices to all people and in all styles…she has a flawless ear and a wonderful sense of harmony…we were able to make one or two voices sound like many more…” Musical Director “Don’t Forget The Lyrics!” JESS BAILEY (Credits: Spandau Ballet, Randy Crawford, Simply Red, Alison Moyet, Corinne Bailey Rae etc). |
“I have had the pleasure of working with Kim on a number of different projects, from hard rock and soft acoustic tracks with Uriah Heep, to dance/funk styles with various artists, and also very straight musical show type material. I have always been amazed at Kim’s ability to cope effortlessly with whatever I’ve thrown at her! She has a great feel for all styles, excellent pitching, is never late, and is also a fine musician, being able to sight read efficiently when needed. Oh, and she happens to have a great sounding voice too!! Kim is definitely one of the best out there.” PIP WILLIAMS (Producer: Status Quo, Shirley Bassey, The Moody Blues, Kiki Dee, Elton John, Uriah Heep, Jim Diamond, Doctor Feelgood, Bucks Fizz, Elkie Brooks, Barbara Dickson, Nightwish etc) |
Kim was interviewed about her life as a backing vocalist for BBC Radio 4 on a programme called “R.E.S.P.E.C.T – The Art of Backing Vocals“ |
Kim was quoted about her life as a backing vocalist in an academic publication called “The Ashgate Research Companion to POPULAR MUSICOLOGY” (Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2009). The paper was called “Genre, Subjectivity and Back-up Singing in Rock Music” by Canadian musicologist Susan Fast. |
“The Singer” magazine featured an article written by Kim called “Backing Up” which discusses the ins-and-outs of being a backing vocalist.
Click here to read the article.