Brenda Edwards
Encyclopedia
Brenda Edwards is a British
singer and West End
actress. Known for her strong vocals and personality, she rose to fame during her appearance on the second series of The X Factor
, where she came fourth.
, Bedfordshire
, Edwards and her older brother Rodney were raised by relatives following the death of their parents in a car crash on 22 December 1974. Her grandmother, who was a member of the local Pentecostal church
, encouraged her granddaughter to attend when she was eight, and Edwards soon discovered a love of music and singing, which led to joining Sunday school junior choir, and soon became the choir mistress, as well as a member of the Pentecostal Collective Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) mass choir.
Edwards eventually made the move from gospel
to secular music, and at eighteen she sang at local night clubs, weddings, funerals and Bar Mitzvahs, hoping that she would be discovered by a record label - most of her performances were unpaid - but to no avail. Prior to becoming famous, Edwards worked full-time in accounts; this career lasted 17 years, and at its height she was promoted to Accounts Payable Manager at Sit-up Ltd.
, Chico Slimani
and Maria Lawson
, and mentored by Sharon Osbourne
. The first live show saw her singing "Son of a Preacher Man
". This was followed by performances of "Rescue Me
" and "Midnight Train to Georgia
". Performances of "I'm Outta Love
" and "I'll Never Love This Way Again
" won her a place in the semi-finals, where she was voted out after her renditions of "Respect
" and "Without You" with just 23 votes separating her and the act in third place.
musical Chicago
, and her run in the show continued until March 2007. Edwards was invited back to play Mama Morton over the Christmas period 2007–08, between 10 December 2007 and 26 January 2008. She returned to play Mama Morton once again in November 2008 and is continued in the role into early 2009. From 25 July until 2 September 2007, Edwards appeared as Pearl in a production of Carmen Jones
at the Royal Festival Hall
.
In 2007, Edwards was cast as Pearl – a role created specifically for her - in a West End production of Carmen Jones
.
That same year, Edwards won the Favourite Reality Star award at the 2007 Screen Nation
awards. In 2009, Edwards helped launch Bristol Dogs and Cats Home for unwanted pets, and toured the UK in the Queen musical We Will Rock You
as Killer Queen.
On 21 June 2010 she started her role as Killer Queen in the West End production of We Will Rock You replacing Mazz Murray who is on maternity leave. Edwards took two weeks off to appear in another West End musical, and has since returned. Edwards has recorded her first single and is in the process of recording the rest of her album in Geneva.
with Edwards' two children - Jamal and Tanisha - from a previous relationship. Jamal is the creator of SB.TV
and now owns Just Jam, a subsidiary Sony record label. In 2011, Edwards and Jamal featured in an advert for Google Chrome
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer and West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
actress. Known for her strong vocals and personality, she rose to fame during her appearance on the second series of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, where she came fourth.
Early Life
Born in LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, Edwards and her older brother Rodney were raised by relatives following the death of their parents in a car crash on 22 December 1974. Her grandmother, who was a member of the local Pentecostal church
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
, encouraged her granddaughter to attend when she was eight, and Edwards soon discovered a love of music and singing, which led to joining Sunday school junior choir, and soon became the choir mistress, as well as a member of the Pentecostal Collective Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) mass choir.
Edwards eventually made the move from gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to secular music, and at eighteen she sang at local night clubs, weddings, funerals and Bar Mitzvahs, hoping that she would be discovered by a record label - most of her performances were unpaid - but to no avail. Prior to becoming famous, Edwards worked full-time in accounts; this career lasted 17 years, and at its height she was promoted to Accounts Payable Manager at Sit-up Ltd.
The X Factor
During The X Factor, Edwards was in the Over 25s category alongside Andy AbrahamAndy Abraham
Andrew Abraham is an English singer. He was the runner-up in the second UK series of TV talent show The X Factor in 2005 to Shayne Ward, and also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.Before applying for The X Factor, Abraham was a refuse collector...
, Chico Slimani
Chico Slimani
Yousseph "Chico" Slimani is a Welsh born singer of Moroccan descent who rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2005 series of the talent show The X Factor. In 2006, he had a number 1 hit on the British charts entitled "It's Chico Time"...
and Maria Lawson
Maria Lawson
Maria Lawson may refer to*Maria Lawson *Maria Lawson **Maria Lawson...
, and mentored by Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
. The first live show saw her singing "Son of a Preacher Man
Son of a Preacher Man
"Son of a Preacher Man" is a song recorded by Dusty Springfield in September 1968 and featured on the album, Dusty in Memphis. It was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins. The rights to cover "Son of a Preacher Man" were originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who turned it down...
". This was followed by performances of "Rescue Me
Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song)
"Rescue Me" is a song written by Fontella Bass, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith. In 1965, it was released as a single by Fontella Bass. It would prove the biggest hit of Bass' career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" and "Midnight Train to Georgia
Midnight Train to Georgia
"Midnight Train to Georgia" is a 1973 number-one hit single by Gladys Knight & the Pips, their second release after departing Motown Records for Buddah Records...
". Performances of "I'm Outta Love
I'm Outta Love
"I'm Outta Love" is a song by American recording artist Anastacia from her debut album, Not That Kind . Written by Anastacia, Sam Watters, and Louis Biancaniello, the song received a positive reception from music critics, and was released as the album's lead single in early 2000 in the United...
" and "I'll Never Love This Way Again
I'll Never Love This Way Again
"I'll Never Love This Way Again" is a 1979 hit recorded by American soul singer Dionne Warwick. The song was composed by Richard Kerr and Will Jennings and produced by Arista labelmate Barry Manilow....
" won her a place in the semi-finals, where she was voted out after her renditions of "Respect
Respect (song)
"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few minor changes in the lyrics, the stories told...
" and "Without You" with just 23 votes separating her and the act in third place.
2007-09: Musicals
After The X Factor, Edwards was chosen to play the role of Mama Morton in the hit West EndWest End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
musical Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
, and her run in the show continued until March 2007. Edwards was invited back to play Mama Morton over the Christmas period 2007–08, between 10 December 2007 and 26 January 2008. She returned to play Mama Morton once again in November 2008 and is continued in the role into early 2009. From 25 July until 2 September 2007, Edwards appeared as Pearl in a production of Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones is a 1943 Broadway musical starring Muriel Smith in the title role, later made into a 1954 musical film; the play also ran for a season in 1991 at London's Old Vic and most recently in London's Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre in 2007. It is an updating of the Georges Bizet...
at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
.
In 2007, Edwards was cast as Pearl – a role created specifically for her - in a West End production of Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones
Carmen Jones is a 1943 Broadway musical starring Muriel Smith in the title role, later made into a 1954 musical film; the play also ran for a season in 1991 at London's Old Vic and most recently in London's Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre in 2007. It is an updating of the Georges Bizet...
.
That same year, Edwards won the Favourite Reality Star award at the 2007 Screen Nation
Screen Nation
The Screen Nation Film & TV Awards was founded in 2003 by , as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international film and television talent....
awards. In 2009, Edwards helped launch Bristol Dogs and Cats Home for unwanted pets, and toured the UK in the Queen musical We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You (musical)
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
as Killer Queen.
On 21 June 2010 she started her role as Killer Queen in the West End production of We Will Rock You replacing Mazz Murray who is on maternity leave. Edwards took two weeks off to appear in another West End musical, and has since returned. Edwards has recorded her first single and is in the process of recording the rest of her album in Geneva.
2010-present: Debut Album
In 2010 Edwards announced she would release her debut album in 2011. The first single from the album is titled 'You Know How To Love Me', taken from the musical When Midnight Strikes by Charles Miller and Kevin Hammonds. It received its radio premiere on Radio 2 and was released on November 15, 2010.Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
|||
| 2010 | "You Know How to Love Me" | - | - | TBA |
Personal life
Edwards has been married to her husband Patrick since 1996; the couple currently live in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with Edwards' two children - Jamal and Tanisha - from a previous relationship. Jamal is the creator of SB.TV
SB.TV
SB.TV Global Ltd, also known as SB.TV or SmokeyBarz, is a multi-faceted company run by a small team of young people who work on web-based viral content at different music-based events. The media platform has its origins and roots in urban music. Most of its content can be seen on its own YouTube...
and now owns Just Jam, a subsidiary Sony record label. In 2011, Edwards and Jamal featured in an advert for Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
.