In 2008, at the height of her career, British singer Corinne Bailey Rae saw her life cut in two by the tragic death of her husband, victim of an accidental drug overdose. After a period of mourning, the British singer picked herself up and immediately got back into the saddle. She released her second album, The Sea (2010), which was half completed at the time of her husband’s death. Subsequently, Corinne Bailey Rae found love again in the eyes of her producer, Steve Brown. Here are some interesting facts to know about the Grammy winner.
Corinne Bailey Rae Biography,
Corinne Bailey Rae (née Jacqueline Bailey) was born on February 26, 1979 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, the first child of a British mother and a Kittitian father. When she was still a child, her parents separated and Corinne spent most of her childhood with her mother.
Rae’s love for music began to develop at school, but it was at the age of 10 that she really began to explore her vocal abilities. Her mother had just come to believe in Christianity and as a result Rae began attending a brethren church where she sang with the youth choir. Thereafter, she began attending a Baptist church where young frontman Simon Hall would be instrumental in Rae’s future in music. Hall taught the children, Rae included, to write their own songs and also encouraged the singing of Primal Scream songs whose lyrics they rewrote.
With Hall’s help, Rae was able to get her first guitar. He also introduced her to the works of music greats such as Led Zeppelin and Lenny Kravitz.
Taking her musical journey to the next level, Raea formed an all-female indie band called Helen. They played locally in Leeds but never really caught the eye of UK labels. The only interest they generated in 1998 with an American brand disappeared before it even materialized. Two factors, primarily the pregnancy of their bassist, caused the band to disband. Heartbroken but undeterred, Rae continued to live with her passion. She met a certain Bob Miller, a local businessman, who told her she would sing with no problem. Miller would later become his manager.
In 2000, Corrine Bailey Rae graduated with a Bachelor of English Literature degree from the University of Leeds. During his school days, Rae broadened his musical horizons by becoming a member of a local jazz club. After graduating, she focused on creating her own music. She first began to gain recognition by collaborating on the works of established acts in Leeds such as the New Mastersounds.
2004 became Rae’s year with funding from Good Groove she was able to travel to London to record her debut album. She enjoyed instant success with the release of her debut single, “Like a Star”. The 2006 BBC The Sound poll predicted that she would be the number one act of the year and they were on high alert. Rae’s self-titled debut album peaked on the Billboard 200, making him the fourth British actor in history to top the charts.
Her follow-up single “Put Your Records On” was even a bigger hit. The success of this album led Rae to join Amy Winehouse as the pop voice of 2006. The following year, accolades were won. Rae has won two MOBO Awards and received three Grammy and Brit nominations. She won her first Grammy in 2008 for her collaboration on River: Herbie Hancock: The Joni Letters.
Corinne Bailey Rae has sold over 4 million copies worldwide with approximately 2 million sold in the United States alone. After a rather prolonged hiatus caused in large part by the passing of her husband, Rae proved she was no wonder with the release of her second album. The Sea which contains mostly melancholy themes following its loss. His third album The heart speaks in a low voice was released in May 2016.
Family life, husband
In 2001, at the age of 22, Rae married jazz saxophonist Jason Rae whom she met at a local jazz club in Leeds during her university days. Born in Scotland in 1986, Jason Rae has recorded albums with Amy Winehouse, Martina Topley-Bird and of course his wife Corinne.
Sadly, Jason lost his life on March 22, 2008, due to a drug overdose. The night before his death Jason met his friend James Sheasby for a drink in a pub in the Hyde Park area of Leeds. The boys retreated to Sheasby’s apartment that night, and Jason opted to sleep on the couch.
Unfortunately, the next afternoon when James tried to wake Jason up, he found he was unresponsive. He found three empty methadone bottles next to his body. The heroin substitute had been prescribed for James to help him rehabilitate. Traces of alcohol and methadone were found in Jason Rae’s body.
The incident left Corrine devastated for years. She found solace in music and was able to complete work on her album which would be called The Sea. She then found love in the eyes of her longtime friend, Steve Brown, who had worked with her to complete her second album. In 2013, they got married.
Other Facts About Corinne Bailey Rae
1. She has two younger sisters, Candice Bailey and Rhea Bailey. The latter is an accomplished actress best known for her roles in television shows. Bill and Coronation Street
2. As of 2016, at the age of 36, Corrine has no children. Asked about it during her interview with Independent, she replied: “It’s a bit too private…”
3. His personal fortune/net worth has been estimated at $8 million. His second world tour, The Sea Tour, grossed nearly $20 million from 82 concerts.
4. She won her second Grammy Award in 2012 for her cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers song “Is This Love.”
5. His recording of the Coldplay song “The Scientist” was used for the opening sequence of the film’s title, Fifty Shades Darker
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r63Io5innaeoe6S7zGiZrrKqZL2mu8%2BlnGibn6e2r7rEZpmaoZyaxm6%2BwJ5km6GfYrW2v8GapZ1llpa6qrjYZqOinpVirq%2BwjKiroZ2iYrOir9OsZLKnpWLAqbvUpZtmo56kxHA%3D