Lesley Duncan - Herald Scotland. Died March 12, 2010.
Lesley Duncan, who has died aged 66, was Britain’s first hit-making female singer-songwriter. She maintained she only bluffed her way into the business after knocking up a couple of songs in her head. She was waitressing in a Bayswater coffee bar and living in a bedsit when her brother, Jimmy, fresh out of Wormwood Scrubs, announced he was going to become a songwriter. Thinking anyone could do that, she composed two songs, without any instruments, and promptly sang them unaccompanied to the head of a music publisher she had arranged to meet.
The pair of diminutive kids with thick Teeside accents were immediately offered a retainer and her future was sealed. The company was Francis Day and Hunter, now part of EMI, and her career, collaborating with rock and pop glitterati from David Bowie to Elton John, Pink Floyd and Dusty Springfield, was about to take off. Despite the lack of parental support she made it to grammar school but left before her 15th birthday. Studio. Lesley Duncan "My Soul" Lesley Duncan: singer and songwriter. Lesley Duncan (vocals) Wonderful vocalist and songwriter. She was born on August 12th, 1943 in Stockton-on-Tees, England. The Jokers was a band around 1963, with young musicians that later became famous:They released a single credited to Leslie Duncan And The Jokers, ´I want a steady guy / Movin´ away´. She released several singles, without great success. Lesley joined Dusty Springfield, probably around 1966, appearing in several of their albums, forming a magnificent vocal team with Madeline Bell and Kiki Dee or Maggie Stredder.
Sorry, I don´t have info about the lineup(s), so if someone can help, it would be very appreciated. In 1966, Dusty Springfield was backed by this great vocal section for her concert NME Pollwinners in Wembley: I don´t know the musicians, but they probably were The Echoes. Today is Lesley Duncan's Funeral. Lesley's funeral is today (March 19th). She died on March 12th at the age of 66 after struggling with cerebrovascular disease. Sometimes called "the British Carole King," she was one of the few female singer/songwriters from England back in the 70's.
It was tough for her getting started, because when she began she didn't fit the mold of a Petula Clark or Cilla Black: "“You had to be glamorous and pretty and I just couldn't play that role, I found it absolutely impossible. You'd be the token pretty girl and I just couldn't be that. I didn't even try; I'd have just felt a total phony. “And also, because there weren't that many girl singer/songwriters around at the time, there was nowhere to put me comfortably.
She sang back-up with Dusty Springfield, got a big break via her Elton John duet on "Love Song," but also appeared on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and sang "If I Could Change Your Mind" on the Alan Parson album "Eve. " Alan Hull. Career[edit] In 2011, Neil Kinnock remembered his achievements when calling for a public memorial: "In his work and his life – he was such an inspiration to countless people who share his convictions of freedom and justice.
His music delighted, it intrigued, it was always full of humanitarian purpose and it had a marvellous mixture of gravity and humour. Above all, his democratic socialist commitment to peace and to opportunity, care and security for people of all ages, both sexes and every creed and ethnic background should be highlighted as practical ideals that have enduring value for all generations". [citation needed] Solo discography[edit] Singles[edit] Albums[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Lesley Duncan « Helpless Dancer. Last week we lost another musical unsung hero, hopefully this post will spread the word.
Lesley Duncan (12 August 1943 – 12 March 2010) was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success. Lesley Duncan. Early life[edit] Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees on August 12, 1943, and left school while only 14 years old.
At 19, while working in a London coffee bar, she and her brother were placed on weekly retainers by a music publisher. Within a year Duncan had signed her first recording contract, with EMI, and appeared in the film What a Crazy World.[2] "Love Songs"[edit] Backing vocalist[edit] In addition to writing and singing her own material, Duncan was in wide demand as a session singer in the mid to late 1960s, most notably working with Dusty Springfield from 1964 to 1972, a favor Springfield returned by performing backing vocals for several Duncan recordings.[2] Duncan can in fact be seen on many of the performances featured in the BBC DVD "Dusty At The BBC".
Later life[edit] British Singer Lesley Duncan Dead at 66. Pulse Music Board - Tributes pour in for Lesley Cox. Famous musicians pay tribute to singer The mother-of-two will be remembered as one of Britain's top session singers Tributes have been paid to a singer songwriter who recorded alongside musical giants including Dusty Springfield, Pink Floyd and Ringo Star.
Most residents on the isle of Mull were unaware of the musical past of Lesley Cox, formerly Duncan, which emerged after the 66-year-old died last Friday. Her career took off in 1970 when Sir Elton John recorded her "Love Song" on his album, Tumbleweed Collection. Sir Elton sent a floral tribute and David Bowie also sent his condolences. The mother-of-two will be remembered as one of Britain's top session singers. Her vocals are on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album, on Sir Elton's Madman Across the Water LP and she can also be heard in the chorus of the Jesus Christ Superstar album. She was a very popular figure in Tobermory but I think few people knew about her career. Lesley Duncan sur MySpace Music - Ecoute gratuite de MP3, Photos. Lesley Duncan – Love travels on « Spideog’s Blog. Lesley Duncan Lyrics.
Lesley Duncan - Herald Scotland. Died March 12, 2010.
Lesley Duncan, who has died aged 66, was Britain’s first hit-making female singer-songwriter. She maintained she only bluffed her way into the business after knocking up a couple of songs in her head. She was waitressing in a Bayswater coffee bar and living in a bedsit when her brother, Jimmy, fresh out of Wormwood Scrubs, announced he was going to become a songwriter. Thinking anyone could do that, she composed two songs, without any instruments, and promptly sang them unaccompanied to the head of a music publisher she had arranged to meet.
The pair of diminutive kids with thick Teeside accents were immediately offered a retainer and her future was sealed. Geoffrey Armes. Lesley Duncan obituary. Lesley Duncan, who has died aged 66 of cerebro- vascular disease, was one of Britain's first female singer-songwriters.
Her songs had an astonishing emotional depth and her voice a rare combination of warmth and clarity, bringing an intimacy to the experience of listening to her records. For those who discovered her music in the early 1970s, she stood out from all the other pop and rock of the era. Her big break came when Elton John recorded her Love Song as a duet with her for his album Tumbleweed Connection (1970). Love Song – "a little song I'd knocked up as a suitable B-side," said Lesley – went on to be covered by more than 150 artists, including Olivia Newton-John, David Bowie and Barry White. Lesley Duncan - Heaven knows. S Lesley Duncan Page. Razor Face'sLesley Duncan Page Lesley Duncan Lesley Duncan is a British singer / songwriter.
She was mainly a singles artist with recordings dating back to 1963. Lesley Duncan, Chain of Love. Lesley Duncan "Earth Mother" Tributes paid to secret Scots pop star from Elton John and David. A QUIET islander's secret past as a top session singer was revealed after Elton John and David Bowie sent tributes to her funeral.
Locals on Mull knew Lesley Cox as a cheery woman who loved to tend her garden. But as Lesley Duncan, she provided backing vocals for Elton, Pink Floyd, Dusty Springfield and Ringo Starr. She made a string of solo albums in t he 1970s, with Elton playing piano on Sing Children Sing. And Elton recorded one of her songs, Love Song, on his 1970 album Tumbleweed Connection. The truth was uncovered at a celebration of Lesley's life after her funeral yesterday. Her widower Tony said: "She was a very popular in Tobermory but few people knew about her career. He said Elton sent a floral tribute and added: "We have had messages of condolence from David Bowie and Elton John.
" The English-born singer's recording career began in 1963. "The facts about your talents in the music business are just being revealed to some of us now. " Lesley Duncan - Love Song (Original version) Famous musicians pay tribute to singer. Tributes have been paid to a singer songwriter who recorded alongside musical giants including Pink Floyd, Dusty Springfield and Ringo Starr.
Most residents on the isle of Mull were unaware of the musical past of Lesley Cox, formerly Duncan, which emerged after the 66-year-old died last Friday. Her career took off in 1970 when Sir Elton John recorded her "Love Song" on his album, Tumbleweed Connection. Sir Elton sent a floral tribute and David Bowie also sent his condolences. The mother-of-two will be remembered as one of Britain's top session singers.