BRIT-Award winning singer/songwriter, Beverley Craven, became a household name in the early 90's with the release of her eponymous debut album, which became a worldwide smash, selling more than two million copies. Her 1991 single, 'Promise Me', went on to become a huge hit across Europe, hot-footed by a string of chart successes including, 'Memories', Holding On', 'Woman To Woman' and 'Love Scenes'.
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….Beverley was born in Sri Lanka on July 28th, 1963. Her family relocated to the UK when she was 18 months old and settled in Hertfordshire. Encouraged by her mother, an accomplished classical violinist, Beverley took piano lessons from the tender age of seven. She also proved to be a talented swimmer, going on to represent Division 10 at the English Schools Swimming Championships and competing at the Nationals.
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Beverley left home aged 18 and moved to London, intent on carving out a career in the music business, and in the late 80s she joined legendary soul legend, Bobby Womack, as a backing vocalist on his European tour. The big break came when one of her demo tapes fell into the hands of Epic Records who immediately offered her a recording contract. Beverley’s debut album boasted unprecedented success - within a year, it had been certified double-platinum with sales of over one million copies and an envious 52 weeks in the UK album chart.
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Her debut single, 'Promise Me', shot to No3 in the UK singles chart and enjoyed phenomenal chart success across Europe. Further hits followed with 'Holding On', 'Woman To Woman' and 'Memories', whilst Beverley performed sold-out shows across the UK, mainland Europe and the USA. In 1992, she snatched the Brit Award for Best British Newcomer and was also nominated for Best British single and album of the year. Performing on stage at the awards ceremony, Beverley was eight months pregnant and she gave birth to her first daughter, Mollie, in March of that year.
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Beverley's second album, 'Love Scenes', was released in September 1993, reaching No4 in the UK album charts, and spawning hit singles 'Love Scenes' and 'Mollie's Song'. Beverley and her partner, musician Colin Campsie, married the following year and their second child, Brenna, was born in 1995, with third daughter Connie following in 1996.
With motherhood came divided passions, and 13 years of straddling family and stardom followed. In 1999 Beverley unveiled her third album, 'Mixed Emotions', which she’d recorded at her home studio in London. Once again, this Brit Award winner received high critical acclaim, but poorly promoted by the record company and increasingly disillusioned with the music industry, Beverley went into semi-retirement to concentrate on raising her family. 2004 saw Beverley smash back onto the global music scene with a handful of live concert appearances; but fate had other plans, as the star’s highly publicised breast cancer diagnosis unexpectedly took centre stage. Following successful treatment Beverley was given the all-clear in 2008.
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Looking back on her illness Beverley says, "In many ways it has been a positive thing, it has given me a new lease of life. It's made me realise I just need to get on and do stuff that I enjoy. For a long time I had no interest in sitting down at the piano. I completely lost that vibe, but now it's back and I'm going out and giving it my best. "
Fans had waited long enough and in 2009 Beverley was back, stronger than ever, with a new studio album, 'Close To Home' – a personal musical journey, which Beverley saw as, ‘a rebirth in many ways.’ It was her first album with no record deal and no pressure. Beverley Craven was doing things on her own terms and really enjoying herself. Following her autobiography ‘Truth Be Told’ in 2012, this British musical treasure wowed fans with another studio album, ‘Change of Heart’ in 2014, followed by a UK tour in the Autumn.
In February 2018, a constellation of musical stars spectacularly collided with the announcement of the Woman to Woman tour. Beverley toured with fellow British singer-songwriters (and great personal friends), Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham, to sold-out venues and mammoth critical acclaim from the UK media. A joint single featuring the three artists, ‘Safe’, was released in March and a studio album, Woman To Woman, was released in late October 2018. Fast forward to 2022, and as the world staggered back to its feet following the pandemic shock, the Woman To Woman trio took to the road once more with another sold out UK tour, this time featuring Rumer as their Special Guest.
With one more long-held ambition still left to satisfy before announcing that she would be stepping back from the rigours of touring, Beverley performed a series of concerts in 2023, the Strings Attached shows, with fellow songstress Judie Tzuke. It was a return to her classical roots and, she confesses,'like putting on a familiar pair of old slippers'.
From her humble beginnings as a keyboard player and backing vocalist with bands on the south London pub circuit to solo concerts across the globe, Beverley has been performing live for some 40 years. She continues to write and record in her home studio, indulging her passion for string quartet arrangements and learning to play the viola!
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