Marcella Detroit
Encyclopedia
Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...

, along with Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...

 of Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...

. Detroit's soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...

 voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart
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 ...

 for eight weeks in 1992.

Career

Detroit began playing with the Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...

 band in the early 1970s, then toured and recorded with Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....

 and the Gap Band
Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American funk band, who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band...

 in early 1974, before joining Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...

’s band in September 1974. While working with Clapton, she wrote several songs with him, including "Lay Down Sally
Lay Down Sally
"Lay Down Sally" is a single by Eric Clapton, written by Eric Clapton, Marcy Levy, and George Terry. It appeared on his November 1977 album Slowhand, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is a country blues performed in the style of J. J...

." After leaving Clapton's band, she did session work for a number of artists, including Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

, Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...

, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...

, Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...

 and Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...

. In 1980, she duetted with Robin Gibb
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....

 on the song "Help Me!," featured on the soundtrack of the film "Times Square
Times Square (film)
Times Square is a 1980 film starring Trini Alvarado, Robin Johnson, and Tim Curry. The plot of the film essentially embodies a punk rock ethic - misunderstood youth forming a band and, through music, articulating their frustrations toward adult authority, personified in the film as parents, the...

." The single peaked at No. 50 in the USA. In 1981, she provided the singing voice for the character Frankie in Ralph Bakshi
Ralph Bakshi
Ralph Bakshi is an Israeli-American director of animated and live-action films. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation through independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatrically released feature films, five of which he wrote...

's animated movie American Pop
American Pop
American Pop is a 1981 American animated musical drama film produced and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film tells the story of four generations of a Russian Jewish immigrant family of musicians whose careers parallel the history of American popular music....

. She recorded her first solo album, "Marcella," under her birth name, in 1982, and wrote material for Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...

, Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...

 Al Jarreau and Phillip Bailey, amongst others. In 1985 she worked for Clapton again, and performed with him at Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...

.

In 1988 she was introduced to Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...

 by mutual friend and producer and songwriter Richard Feldman. Together they wrote songs that formed the first Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...

 album, "Sacred Heart," where Detroit also performed backing vocals. Shakespears Sister went on to achieve a UK top 10 hit with "You're History
You're History (song)
"You're History" is a song by the British pop act Shakespear's Sister, released in 1989. It was the first single to present the act as a duo, and also became their first hit, reaching number 7 in the UK Singles Chart.-Music video:...

" in August 1989, although Detroit was still not a full member and the album only featured Fahey on the cover. At about this time she adopted the name Marcella Detroit, after her birthplace
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

. By the second album the group had its biggest success in 1992 with the ballad "Stay," the only song by the group on which Detroit was the primary lead vocal. Tensions arose between Fahey and Detroit when Detroit hired her own manager and demanded 50% of Shakespears Sister. Fahey ended the partnership in 1993 and continued by herself as a solo artist and then again as Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...

.

After leaving the duo, Detroit, still signed to London Records, restarted her solo career and released the album Jewel in 1994. The album peaked at No. 15 in the UK and went gold, and she had three UK top 40 hits: "I Believe
I Believe (Marcella Detroit song)
"I Believe" is a single released by singer Marcella Detroit, released shortly after the breakup of English based duo Shakespears Sister. It was the lead single off her successful album Jewel. Released in March 1994, the ballad became her biggest hit, peaking at No. 11 in the UK, spending eight...

" (UK #11), "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
-Marcella Detroit & Elton John version:"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at...

" (a duet with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

) (UK #24), and "I'm No Angel" (UK #33). Dissatisfied with London Records, she left the label in 1995. She said she left as she felt London Records wanted her to become the next 'Annie Lennox'.

In 1996 she released the album "Feeler," under her own label AAA Records Ltd. Four singles were released off it: "I Hate You Now...," "Boy," "Flower" and "Somebody's Mother." She achieved commercial success in Australia and Japan with "Boy." When asked if "I Hate You Now..." was directed at Siobhan Fahey, Detroit has replied 'no', but she posted many comments about Fahey on her personal website. She later retracted these comments, saying her husband posted them and not her.

Her next album was 2001's "Dancing Madly Sideways," which was sold through her website. In 2002, she collaborated with Aurora, singing lead vocals in the cover "If You Could Read My Mind" and the original "To Die For
To Die For
To Die For is a 1995 dark comedy film, made in a mockumentary format, directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Buck Henry, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard, which in turn was based on the Pamela Smart story. It stars Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, and Joaquin Phoenix...

," which were released on the group's self-titled album.

In 2004 she began using her birth name again, as she returned to her blues roots and started playing with Carlos Guitarlos. She also signed a publishing deal with A7 music and started writing music for Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...

 and Alex Parks
Alex Parks
Alex Parks is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for winning Fame Academy in 2003, for her singles, and for the albums, Introduction and Honesty.-Biography:...

, among others. In September 2006 she released a blues album, "The Upside of Being Down" under the name Marcy Levy Band.

In April 2007 she released digitally a pop/dance song called "Mystery to Me" with Loverush UK. In 2008, she collaborated with Swedish band Vacuum
Vacuum (band)
Vacuum is the name of a Swedish pop band. The members are Mattias Lindblom and Anders Wollbeck. They also work as song writers and producers under the same name. As songwriters and producers Wollbeck/Lindblom have worked with artists such as Tarja Turunen, Garou, Monrose, Keisha Buchanan, f and The...

 on the song "My Friend Misery," and with British band Rosie and the Goldbug
Rosie and the Goldbug
Rosie and the Goldbug were a British indie-rock trio active from 2007 to August 2009.-History:The band were from Cornwall, UK. They formed in 2007, after lead singer and keyboard player Rosie Vanier had completed her music studies at Roehampton University and returned home, eager to form a band...

 on the track "Soldier Blues."

Other appearances have included a 1996 episode of "Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders, who plays the leading character. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, along with June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks...

," in which Detroit played an angel (and performed a few songs alongside Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....

), and the novelty album "The Simpsons Sing the Blues
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
The Simpsons Sing the Blues is the first album released as an offshoot of The Simpsons. The album contains originally recorded music not featured in the series save for the first verse of the track "Moaning Lisa Blues" which was first featured in the episode "Moaning Lisa", aired February 11, 1990...

," on which Detroit was a vocal talent. One of her most recent recordings was with Alex Dixon, grandson of Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...

, on his 2009 release "Rising From The Bushes," in which she appeared on two tracks: "Fantasy" and "Paint You A Picture".

In January 2010 Detroit participated in the British ITV1
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...

 celebrity reality television program, "Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar is a British television programme singing competition based around the training of pop stars of current to be able to sing opera. The show began airing on ITV on 15 January 2010 at 9pm. The show is repeated on TV3 Ireland on Saturday evening. The programme is produced by...

." She finished as a joint semifinalist alongside Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress and singer.- Early life :Marsh was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester and raised in Garswood, in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...

 in week 5 of the competition. When the voting statistics were released it was revealed that she had more votes than Marsh; therefore she came third overall. She was also only three percent behind Darius Campbell, who went on to become the winner.

In May 2010 Marcella performed a full solo concert in Hyde Park to 17,000 people preparing to walk a marathon around London at night, during the 13th Playtex Moonwalk
MoonWalk (charity event)
The Playtex Moonwalk is a nocturnal charity marathon and half-marathon held annually in London, and more recently Edinburgh, Scotland to raise money for breast cancer research. Over 15,000 women and 1,000 men took part in the 2007 London event, whilst 9,000 women and 1,000 men took part in...

. At this concert she debuted her new single, the ballad "All Is Forgiven," which was released that same day through iTunes.

Personal life

Detroit is married to Lance Aston (one time member of Prima Donna
Prima Donna (band)
Prima Donna were the United Kingdom representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980. The group comprised sisters Kate Robbins and Jane Robbins, Sally Ann Triplett, Danny Finn, Alan Coates and Lance Aston...

 and brother of Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...

 star Jay Aston
Jay Aston
Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....

). They have a child, Maxwell, born in 1991.

Studio albums

  • 1982: Marcella
    Marcella (album)
    Marcella Detroit recorded her first solo album on Epic Records, "Marcella," under her birth name. Amidst her session work in 1982, Marcella co-wrote all of the songs on the record with production by John Boylan, Frank Rand and Executive production by Richard Feldman.-Track listing:LP, Cassette &...

     (as Marcy Levy)
  • 1994: Jewel
  • 1996: Feeler
  • 1997: Without Medication Plus MTV "Buzz Live" Japanese release
  • 1999: Abfab Songs
  • 2001: Dancing Madly Sideways
  • 2006: The Upside Of Being Down (as Marcy Levy Band)

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S.
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

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 ...

1978 "Millie and Billie" (as Marcy Levy with Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...

)
- - From the Inside
1980 "Help Me!" (with Robin Gibb
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....

)
50 - Times Square OST
Times Square (soundtrack)
Times Square: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a 1980 soundtrack album of mostly New Wave and punk music, from the film of the same name...

1982 "Close to Her" - - Marcella
1986 "Come and Follow Me" (with Max Carl
Max Carl
Max Carl Gronenthal is an American rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He is the current lead singer of the classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad...

)
- - Short Circuit OST
1994 "I Believe
I Believe (Marcella Detroit song)
"I Believe" is a single released by singer Marcella Detroit, released shortly after the breakup of English based duo Shakespears Sister. It was the lead single off her successful album Jewel. Released in March 1994, the ballad became her biggest hit, peaking at No. 11 in the UK, spending eight...

"
- 11 Jewel
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
-Marcella Detroit & Elton John version:"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at...

" (with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

)
- 24
"I'm No Angel
I'm No Angel (Marcella Detroit song)
"I'm No Angel" is the third single released from the album, Jewel, by Marcella Detroit. It peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994.-Track listing:UK CD Single 857 608 2#"I'm No Angel" - #"You Own The Moon" -...

"
- 33
1995 "Perfect World" - -
1996 "I Hate You Now..." - - Feeler
"Boy" - -
"Somebody's Mother" - -
1997 "Flower" - -
2001 "Lust for Like" - - Dancing Madly Sideways
2002 "If You Could Read My Mind
If You Could Read My Mind (song)
"If You Could Read My Mind" is a song by Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. It reached number one on Canadian music charts and was his first recording to appear on the American music charts, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in January 1971. Later in the year, it...

" (with Aurora
Aurora (band)
Aurora, also known as Aurora UK, are a British electronic dance music group, consisting of keyboardist/guitarist Sacha Collisson and fellow keyboardist Simon Greenaway.-Albums:-Singles:*"Hear You Calling" 1999 #71 UK...

)
- - Aurora
2007 "Mystery to Me" (with Loverush UK) - -
2008 "My Friend Misery" (with Vacuum
Vacuum (band)
Vacuum is the name of a Swedish pop band. The members are Mattias Lindblom and Anders Wollbeck. They also work as song writers and producers under the same name. As songwriters and producers Wollbeck/Lindblom have worked with artists such as Tarja Turunen, Garou, Monrose, Keisha Buchanan, f and The...

)
- -
2009 "You Better Be Good!" - -
2010 "All Is Forgiven" - -

Filmography

  • 1998: This Town
    This Town
    "This Town" is the title of a song written by Lee Hazelwood and recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1967. The song first appeared on Sinatra's 1967 album The World We Knew and also on his 1969 Greatest Hits album....

     .... Tracy Landau
  • 1996: Absolutely Fabulous
    Absolutely Fabulous
    Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders, who plays the leading character. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, along with June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks...

     .... Angel (2 episodes, 1996)
  • 1978: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...

    (as Marcy Levy) .... Our Guests at Heartland

Further reading

  • Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness Publishing, 1992.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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