Kerrie Biddell
Kerrie Biddell | |
---|---|
Birth name | Kerrie Agnes Biddell |
Born | Kings Cross, New South Wales | 8 February 1947
Died | 5 September 2014 | (aged 67)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 1967โ2001 |
Kerrie Agnes Biddell (8 February 1947 – 5 September 2014) was an Australian jazz and session singer, as well as a pianist and vocal teacher.
Life and career
Born in
1960s
Biddell joined the local band The Echoes, and in 1968, The Affair.[3][4] Affair guitarist Jim Kelly called Biddell "a world-class vocalist".[1] With her voice, the group could do various musical styles, such as Aretha Franklin-type soul, Sly Stone funk, and Jimmy Webb compositions.[1] In 1969, the national competition Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds added a vocal-group category to its main pop/rock category. Kelly stated that The Affair was not a vocal group, but Biddell "rehearsed us till we were".[1] The group won the category, with its prize being a trip to London, where the group relocated in mid-1970, only to disband months later. Before disbanding, they recorded Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song", which would become one of Biddell's signature songs.[1]
1970s-2001
Biddell returned to Australia in 1970, where she toured with the
She and Glyde divorced in 1977. She sang on hundreds of jingles, television shows and film scores, including the theme from series Sons and Daughters[2]
Biddell formed the group Compared to What which featured young Australian jazz talent including pianist Mark Isaacs,[1] who was to write an obituary for her in 2014.[5]
In 1983, she joined the faculty of the Jazz Diploma course at the Conservatorium, where she periodically taught into her later years.[1][2] In 1992, she wrote a one-woman show, Legends, which later included June Bronhill, Lorrae Desmond, Toni Lamond, and Jeanne Little.[1] In 2001, due to poor health, she retired from performing, but continued her teaching career.
Death
On 4 September 2014, Biddell died from a stroke. She was 67.[1][2]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [6] | ||
The Exciting Daly-Wilson Big Band (Daly-Wilson Big Band featuring Kerrie Biddell) |
|
- |
Kerrie Biddell |
|
11 |
Only the Beginning |
|
66 |
Compared to What (Compared to What featuring Kerrie Biddell) |
|
- |
There Will Never Be Another You (with The Julian Lee Trio and Les Crosby) |
|
- |
The Singer |
|
- |
Awards
Mo Awards
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Kerrie Biddell won three awards in that time.[7]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Kerrie Biddell | Jazz Vocal Performer of the Year | Won |
1993 | Kerrie Biddell | Jazz Vocal Performer of the Year | Won |
1995 | Kerrie Biddell | Jazz Vocal Performer of the Year | Won |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Grady, Anthony (9 September 2014). "Kerrie Biddell, first lady of Australian jazz". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Australian jazz star Kerrie Biddell dies". The Australian. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the originalon 3 August 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ Kimball, Duncan (2002). "The Affair". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964โ1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "The unequalled Kerrie Biddell : Feature Article : Australian Music Centre". www.australianmusiccentre.com.au. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
External links
- Kerrie Biddell at AllMusic
- Kerrie Biddell discography at Discogs
- Profile at the University of Sydney
- http://www.talking-shellac.com/subpages/kerrie-biddell.htm (Kerrie Biddell Tribute page)