Corinne Bailey Rae

Profession: Singer
Place/Date of Birth: Leeds , 26 February 1979

The Mobo (Music of Black Origin) Awards take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall and will be hosted by comedienne Gina Yashere. In past years the awards have been criticised for favouring US artists. This time the focus is back on UK talent.

London artist Kano is nominated in the Best UK Male, Best Video and Best Hip Hop categories. The other Best UK Male contenders are hip hop artists Sway and Plan B, alongside soul singers Lemar and Nate James. Ms Dynamite’s little brother Akala is nominated in the Best Hip Hop category.

Best Group will be a contest between Black Eyed Peas, Gnarls Barkley, Outkast, Pussycat Dolls and The Streets.

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Biography

Born on February 26 1979, Leeds girl Corinne is a relative latecomer to the charts, releasing her eponymous debut album aged twenty seven. However, she has been singing since childhood, beginning in choirs and going on to play guitar in an indie band, Helen, who were signed by heavy metal label Roadrunner but disbanded soon after.

Following her failed indie career Corinne went on to Leeds University to gain a degree in English Literature. It was whilst she was studying that she found herself working at a jazz club. When things were quiet she sang with the house band and began a relationship with saxophonist Jason Rae, whom she married in 2001.

Over the next few years she worked on material with local musicians, appearing on tracks for Homecut Directive and The StiX (formally Artful Dodger), which brought her to the attention of major record labels. In late 2005 she released her debut single Like A Star, followed by Put Your Records On which reached number 2 in the charts and garnered her a huge following throughout the UK.

Corinne remains in her home town in Leeds.
March 2008