Katrina Leskanich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Katrina Leskanich | ||
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 Katrina Leskanich
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Katrina Leskanich | |
| Born | April 10, 1960 | |
| Origin | Topeka, Kansas, United States | |
| Genre(s) | New wave, Rock, Pop | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer | |
| Instrument(s) | Voice | |
| Years active | 1981-present | |
| Label(s) | Capitol Records, Universal Records | |
| Associated acts |
Katrina and the Waves | |
| Website | http://www.katrinasweb.net/ | |
Katrina Leskanich (born April 10, 1960, in Topeka, Kansas, United States) is an American singer and musician.
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[edit] Early life
Katrina Leskanich was brought up in a U.S. military family who moved to England in 1976, she became a UK resident and has lived in England for the last 30 years. Katrina formed the band Mama's Cookin' with Vince de la Cruz in 1978. In 1981 Katrina and Vince joined The Waves with Kimberley Rew (formerly of Soft Boys) and Alex Cooper, and the band became Katrina and The Waves.
[edit] Fame
In 1981 she became lead vocalist for the band Katrina and the Waves, based in the English city of Cambridge, which had several international hits, including "Walking on Sunshine" (1985), which has become a summer anthem and "Sun Street" in 1986. They also received a Grammy Nomination for Best New Artist. The hits continued with "Do You Want Crying", "Que te Quiero", "Rock and Roll Girl" and "That's The Way" which reached No. 14 in the U.S.A. The band went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for the United Kingdom with "Love Shine a Light," which went to No. 2 in the British charts and Katrina and The Waves performed an unprecedented four weeks running on the BBC 1 TV show Top of The Pops.
[edit] Recent career
After the Waves broke up in 1999, Leskanich launched a solo career, first as a DJ for BBC Radio 2 and then in 2001 she played the lead role in the musical Leader of the Pack. She released her first CD, Katrina Leskanich, through Universal Records in Britain in 2005. And the single - Leskanich's cover of Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" was played on Radio 2. In 2005 she also participated in the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest (Melodifestivalen 2005) with the song As If Tomorrow Will Never Come, and reached place sixteen.
Currently Leskanich is performing in the UK, Europe and in the U.S. as a solo performer and with her new band. The Katrina Leskanich band features Darren Loveday (guitar), Elio Pace (keyboard), Jack Pollitt (drums), Andy Coughlan (bass)and Paul Newton (horns).
Katrina Leskanich is a contributor on a new compilation which is a tribute to The Clash Sandinista! album - release date 27th March 2007.
[edit] Discography
Solo Album
Katrina Leskanich released in 2006 - Universal Distribution
[edit] Trivia
In 2005, Leskanich was quoted in the New York Times in reaction to sharing her name with a certain hurricane that devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast:
"The first time I opened the paper and saw 'Katrina kills 9,' it was a bit of a shock. It's a very sad situation, but I'm sure the strength and good will of the survivors will turn it around. I hope that the true spirit of 'Walking on Sunshine' will prevail. I would hate for the title to be tinged with sadness, and I will have to do my own part to help turn that around."
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Eimear Quinn |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 |
Succeeded by Dana International |
| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Leskanich, Katrina |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American musician, actress |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 10, 1960 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Topeka, Kansas, United States |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
