Show business plays a vital role in our society, providing entertainment and inspiration. Musicians, actors, comedians, TV presenters, and performers work tirelessly to captivate their fans and motivate them. Leeds has given rise to numerous stars in the entertainment world. Today, we spotlight the renowned English singer Bailey Rae. Read on for the success story of this Leeds native on leedski.com.
Church and Love for Music
Bailey Rae was born in Leeds in 1979. Her parents divorced when she was still a child.
During her childhood, Rae learned to play the violin but later shifted her focus to singing. Her first vocal performances took place at the Plymouth Brethren Church. She later sang at a Baptist church, where the youth group composed religious songs and performed covers of Primal Scream. Rae even released two albums titled Revive.
Undoubtedly, church played a pivotal role in nurturing Rae’s love for music. In fact, her church youth leader encouraged her to buy her first guitar by lending her the money to do so.
As for her education, Rae studied English language and literature at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2000.
Career Development
Rae was inspired to pursue music after witnessing women performing with guitars on stage. She described them as looking both “sexy and feminist,” which motivated her to form an indie band called Helen. This was Rae’s first official musical endeavour, but it was short-lived due to her pregnancy and subsequent marriage.
Rae began working on solo material and collaborated with Leeds-based funk group The New Mastersounds on the track Your Love Is Mine. She later teamed up with the group Homecut Directive to create the song Come the Revolution, the first single from their debut album.
The Rise of Fame
Bailey Rae’s musical career gained momentum in 2004 when she signed a contract with Global Talent Publishing and collaborated with Mark Hill, mentor to Craig David. This collaboration resulted in the song Young and Foolish.
In 2005, Rae released her debut single, Like a Star, followed by her first album, Corinne Bailey Rae. The album entered the top ten of the US Billboard 200 and sold 1.9 million copies in the United States alone. The lead single, Like a Star, became a hit in both the UK and the US, selling over 327,000 copies.
Her next single, Put Your Records On, achieved remarkable success, climbing to second place in the UK charts and selling over 945,000 downloads in the US.
In 2006, Rae embarked on her first international tour, performing across Europe and North America alongside R&B singer John Legend. She played 55 concerts, including Rock in Rio Lisboa 2 and Live Earth. Her efforts earned her double platinum certification from the BPI and a platinum certification from the RIAA. That same year, Rae won two MOBO Awards for “Best UK Newcomer” and “Best UK Female”.
Rae’s success continued with appearances on Saturday Night Live and live performances on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. She also received three Grammy nominations in 2007 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
In 2008, Rae received another Grammy nomination and won two awards for Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album for her collaboration on River: The Joni Letters. She then toured the US and Europe, recording her first DVD, Live in London & New York, during the tour.
Rae released her second album, The Sea, in 2010, followed by the mini-album The Love EP. The single Is This Love from the album earned her the Grammy for Best R&B Performance.
In 2016, Rae released her third album, The Heart Speaks in Whispers. After a brief hiatus, she returned with a new album in 2023.
Personal Life
Bailey Rae has been married twice. In 2001, she wed musician Jason Rae, a saxophonist. Sadly, Jason passed away in 2008 from accidental methadone and alcohol poisoning, a loss that Rae channelled into her music.
In 2013, Rae married her longtime friend, producer, and jazz musician Steve Brown. The couple has two children and resides in Leeds.
This is the story of Bailey Rae, a talented English singer from Leeds who rose to fame through her dedication and passion for music. Do you enjoy her work? Share your thoughts in the comments.