30 Facts About Katrina Leskanich

Katrina Leskanich's father was a Vietnam Veteran who became a colonel in the United States Air Force.

Katrina Leskanich graduated from RAF Lakenheath high school in 1978.

However, over the first year of the Waves' existence, Rew began to write material for Katrina Leskanich to sing, and she was the primary vocalist.

Katrina Leskanich was not replaced, as de la Cruz took over on bass, and the band was rechristened Katrina and the Waves.

Rew wrote all the songs on this LP, while Katrina Leskanich sang eight of the album's ten tracks.

In 1984, the group released a follow-up album in Canada, with Leskanich now handling all the lead vocals.

The Katrina Leskanich and the Waves album was a substantial critical and commercial success, and the group had a worldwide hit with the song "Walking on Sunshine,".

Katrina Leskanich released her first solo CD, Katrina Leskanich, through Universal Records in Britain in 2005.

In February 2005, Katrina Leskanich participated in the Melodifestivalen 2005 pre-selection for Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest entry.

Katrina Leskanich did a duet with the band 'The Nameless' in the 4th semi final.

In 2005, Leskanich reflected on sharing her name with a hurricane that devastated the US Gulf Coast in late August and early September of that year, after the name "Katrina and the Waves" appeared on numerous news television shows, headlines, and blog postings that were covering her namesake hurricane.

In September 2010, Katrina Leskanich re-released her solo album Turn The Tide with two bonus tracks: the club mix of "They Don't Know" and the Espirito mix of "Walking on Sunshine".

The year end saw Katrina Leskanich perform on Hubei TV's Global New Year Revelry in Beijing.

Katrina Leskanich released her second solo album, Blisland, which was inspired by the genre of music from her formative years.

Katrina Leskanich went on to tour North America on the Retro Futura Tour with other 80s artists including Thompson Twins, Tom Bailey, Howard Jones, Midge Ure and China Crisis.

In 2015 Katrina Leskanich performed at the Lasko Beer and Flowers festival in Slovenia, Rewind North at Capesthorne Hall, Pride Cymru, toured South Africa on the Rewind Tour and toured on her own in North America.

In 2016, Katrina Leskanich performed at festivals including We Love the 80s at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Maspalomas Pride in Gran Canaria, Let's Rock the Moor in Cookham, Let's Rock Bristol, Let's Rock Leeds, and took part in the BBC's Eurovision: You Decide, toured Australia on the 'Totally 80s' Tour and toured in Sweden during the summer.

In 2017 Katrina Leskanich performed at various festivals including the Lotos 2017 Music Festival in Boca Raton, Florida with other 80s and 90s artists including Boy George and Ace of Base, Let's Rock Exeter, Let's Rock London, Let's Rock Southampton, Bristol Pride, and Manchester Pride.

In 2018 Katrina Leskanich released her first Christmas single, "I Can't Give You Anything but Love".

Katrina Leskanich performed at Let's Rock Xmas at the SSE Wembley Arena and for the BBC's Children in Need Rocks the 80s charity fundraiser at the SSE Wembley Arena.

In 2018 Katrina Leskanich performed on the 80's Cruise with 80s artists including Billy Ocean and Rick Springfield and at various festivals in the UK and Europe including Let's Rock Norwich, Let's Rock Scotland, Let's Rock Shrewsbury, Irlam Live in Manchester, W-Fest in Kluisbergen, Belgium.

In 2020, Katrina Leskanich was invited back to perform at Yo Fui a EGB at the Wizink Centre in Madrid and to the 80s Cruise where she was joined by other 80s artists including The B-52's and Berlin.

In July 2020, Katrina Leskanich released the single "Drive" which garnered many plays on BBC Radio 2 and BBC local radio stations.

Covid-19 put an end to any further touring until the summer of 2021 when Katrina Leskanich performed at Rewind North, Rewind South, Back to the 80s 90s festival in Leicestershire and Feile an Phobail in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In 2022 Katrina Leskanich performed at various festivals in the UK and Europe, including the Upton House Concerts in Poole, Fest i Vest in Stord, Norway, Bristol Pride, Ravnedalen Live in Kristiansand, Norway, Here and Now at Tamworth Castle, Night of the Proms in Koksijde, Belgium, City of Guitars in Locarno, Switzerland and Arena Suzuki in Verona in Italy.

Katrina Leskanich joined The Beach Boys on the Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise, together with The Temptations, The Isley Brothers and many more.

Katrina Leskanich released a new single, 'Shut Your Mouth' on 21 April 2023.

In 2024 Katrina Leskanich performed at Rewind Scotland in Perth, Rewind North in Macclesfield and Rewind South in Henley-on-Thames.

Katrina Leskanich is married to Sher Harper with whom she entered into a civil union in 2008 in England.

Katrina Leskanich is the cousin of former Major League Baseball player Curtis Leskanic.