Lorraine Crosby
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Crosby better known as Mrs. Loud, is a singer-songwriter from North East England
. Her most famous work is as the female vocalist in Meat Loaf
's 1993 hit single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
".
, Newcastle upon Tyne
in 1960. Her father died in a car accident when she was two years old, leaving her mother to raise Lorraine and her two sisters and brother. She attended Walker Comprehensive, and she sang in school and church choirs and played the violin in the orchestra but didn't start singing until she was 20.
, Crosby searched the noticeboard for bands wanting singers at the guitar shop Rock City in Newcastle. After joining several bands she set up a five-piece cabaret band who toured playing to British and American servicemen throughout the early eighties.
Back in Newcastle, she met Stuart Emerson
, who was looking for a backing singer for his band. They began writing together, and also became a couple. In the early 1990s, Crosby sent songwriter and producer Jim Steinman
some demos of songs she had written with Emerson. Steinman asked to meet them so they decided to move to New York
. They then followed Steinman after he moved to Los Angeles
. Steinman became their manager and secured them a contract with Meat Loaf's recording label MCA. While visiting the label's recording studios on Sunset Boulevard
, Crosby was asked to provide guide vocals for Meat Loaf, who was recording the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
". Cher
, Melissa Etheridge
and Bonnie Tyler
had been considered for the role. The song was a commercial success, becoming number one in 28 countries. However, as Crosby had recorded her part as guide vocals, she did not receive any royalties from the song. Also, Crosby did not appear in the Michael Bay
-directed music video
, where model Dana Patrick mimed her vocals. Meat Loaf promoted the single with American vocalist Patti Russo
performing the live female vocals of this song at his promotional appearances and concerts.
Crosby regularly performed at holiday camp
s and social clubs in England
until April 2005 when she took a break from live work.
In 2005 she sang a duet with Bonnie Tyler
for the track "I'll Stand by You
" from the album Wings.
In 2005 Crosby appeared as a contestant on ITV
's The X Factor
. She performed "You've Got a Friend
" and progressed to the second round after impressing judges Louis Walsh
and Sharon Osbourne
but Simon Cowell
expressed doubt saying she "lacked star quality."
Crosby failed to progress beyond the second round, despite telling the judges the competition was "her last shot".
She returned to live performance in April 2007.
In November 2007 Crosby appeared on the BBC Three
TV show "Most Annoying Pop Songs We Hate To Love" discussing the Meat Loaf
track "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
" which featured at no. 76.
In November 2008 she appeared at Newcastle City Hall
with special guest Bonnie Tyler
to launch her self-produced album entitled Mrs Loud. In April 2009 she was also featured on The Justin Lee Collins Show
and performed a duet with Justin singing "Dead Ringer for Love
". The November concert was later repeated in March 2011, with Bonnie Tyler
's return.
She performs in several shows with her band and her partner, the musician Stuart Emerson
.
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. Her most famous work is as the female vocalist in Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
's 1993 hit single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)
"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
".
Early life
Crosby was born in WalkerWalker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward just east of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Walker's name is a hybrid of Old English and Viking Norse, "Wall-kjerr", where "kjerr" is Norse for "marshy woodland"...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in 1960. Her father died in a car accident when she was two years old, leaving her mother to raise Lorraine and her two sisters and brother. She attended Walker Comprehensive, and she sang in school and church choirs and played the violin in the orchestra but didn't start singing until she was 20.
Career
Inspired by an early 1980s television performance by Lene LovichLene Lovich
Lene Lovich is an American singer based in England, who first gained attention as part of the New Wave music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her most popular hit single was "Lucky Number", first released in 1979.-Early years:...
, Crosby searched the noticeboard for bands wanting singers at the guitar shop Rock City in Newcastle. After joining several bands she set up a five-piece cabaret band who toured playing to British and American servicemen throughout the early eighties.
Back in Newcastle, she met Stuart Emerson
Stuart Emerson
Stuart Emerson is a background vocalist and musician playing drums, bass, keyboards, and guitars. He has worked on albums for artists including Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler....
, who was looking for a backing singer for his band. They began writing together, and also became a couple. In the early 1990s, Crosby sent songwriter and producer Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
some demos of songs she had written with Emerson. Steinman asked to meet them so they decided to move to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. They then followed Steinman after he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Steinman became their manager and secured them a contract with Meat Loaf's recording label MCA. While visiting the label's recording studios on Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
, Crosby was asked to provide guide vocals for Meat Loaf, who was recording the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)
"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
". Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
and Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
had been considered for the role. The song was a commercial success, becoming number one in 28 countries. However, as Crosby had recorded her part as guide vocals, she did not receive any royalties from the song. Also, Crosby did not appear in the Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
-directed music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, where model Dana Patrick mimed her vocals. Meat Loaf promoted the single with American vocalist Patti Russo
Patti Russo
Patricia "Patti" Russo is an American singer/songwriter/actress. She is perhaps best known as Meat Loaf's female lead vocalist, touring the world with his Neverland Express band for eighteen years.-Career:...
performing the live female vocals of this song at his promotional appearances and concerts.
Crosby regularly performed at holiday camp
Holiday camp
Holiday camp, in Britain, generally refers to a resort with a boundary that includes accommodation, entertainment and other facilities.As distinct from camping, accommodation typically consisted of chalets – small buildings arranged either individually or in blocks. Some had three or four storeys,...
s and social clubs in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
until April 2005 when she took a break from live work.
In 2005 she sang a duet with Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
for the track "I'll Stand by You
I'll Stand by You
"I'll Stand by You" is a 1994 song recorded by The Pretenders from their sixth studio album, Last of the Independents. Written by Chrissie Hynde in collaboration with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg , it was the Pretenders' most recent significant hit single, and their last...
" from the album Wings.
In 2005 Crosby appeared as a contestant on ITV
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's 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...
. She performed "You've Got a Friend
You've Got a Friend
"You've Got a Friend" is a song from 1971, originally written and performed by Carole King. It was included in her album Tapestry of 1971, but was made famous by James Taylor's cover version the same year...
" and progressed to the second round after impressing judges Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
and 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....
but Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
expressed doubt saying she "lacked star quality."
Crosby failed to progress beyond the second round, despite telling the judges the competition was "her last shot".
She returned to live performance in April 2007.
In November 2007 Crosby appeared on the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
TV show "Most Annoying Pop Songs We Hate To Love" discussing the Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
track "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)
"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
" which featured at no. 76.
In November 2008 she appeared at Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall is a concert hall, located in Newcastle upon Tyne which has hosted many popular music and classical artists throughout the years, as well as standup and comedy acts. Opened in 1927, the City Hall was built as a part of a development which also included the adjacent City Pool...
with special guest Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
to launch her self-produced album entitled Mrs Loud. In April 2009 she was also featured on The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show is a British television talk show recently aired Thursday nights on the digital channel ITV2 starring Justin Lee Collins. Justin has a small band on the show and a continuing theme is to mention Labi Siffre as part of a joke. The series ended after one series after...
and performed a duet with Justin singing "Dead Ringer for Love
Dead Ringer for Love
"Dead Ringer for Love" is a rock song performed by American rock singer Meat Loaf and American singer-actress Cher from Meat Loaf's third studio album, Dead Ringer...
". The November concert was later repeated in March 2011, with Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
's return.
She performs in several shows with her band and her partner, the musician Stuart Emerson
Stuart Emerson
Stuart Emerson is a background vocalist and musician playing drums, bass, keyboards, and guitars. He has worked on albums for artists including Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler....
.