Kiki Dee was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
18 Facts About Kiki Dee
2.
Aged 16, Kiki Dee worked at Boots in Bradford during the day, whilst in the evenings she sang songs with a dance band in Leeds.
3.
Kiki Dee sang backing vocals for Dusty Springfield, among others, but did not achieve solo success in the UK for many years.
4.
In 1963, Kiki Dee released her first single, "Early Night", the first of eleven singles on Fontana, none of which reached the charts.
5.
Kiki Dee's 1966 release "Why Don't I Run Away From You" was a big hit on Radio London and Radio Caroline, and she sang the B-side "Small Town" in her appearance in Dateline Diamonds the same year.
6.
Kiki Dee recorded her debut album, I'm Kiki Dee, in 1968 which included a series of Phil Spector-style tracks and covers.
7.
Kiki Dee appeared in an early episode of The Benny Hill Show in January 1971, performing the Blood, Sweat and Tears hit, "You've Made Me So Very Happy".
8.
Kiki Dee's biggest hit came in 1976, when she replaced an ailing Dusty Springfield for the recording of a duet with John, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".
9.
Kiki Dee joined forces again with John in 1981, recording a cover of the Four Tops' song "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" which was written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder.
10.
Kiki Dee sang the song "What Can't Speak Can't Lie", composed and recorded by the Japanese jazz fusion group Casiopea, and with lyrics by Gary Osborne.
11.
Kiki Dee performed at Live Aid in 1985, reprising "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with John, and performing backing vocals on the other songs in his set.
12.
Kiki Dee contributed backing vocals to Elton John's 1992 album The One, and a year later recorded "True Love" with John for his 1993 album Duets.
13.
Kiki Dee released the live album Almost Naked, a joint effort with Carmelo Luggeri in 1995, followed by the studio albums Where Rivers Meet and The Walk Of Faith with Luggeri.
14.
Kiki Dee has appeared in musical theatre, notably in the lead role in Willy Russell's West End musical Blood Brothers, in which she took on the role originally played by Barbara Dickson for the 1988 production and recording.
15.
Kiki Dee received an Olivier Award nomination in 1989 in the Best Actress in a Musical category.
16.
Kiki Dee had previously starred in Pump Boys and Dinettes in London's West End, at the Piccadilly Theatre, from 20 September 1984 to 8 June 1985.
17.
In 2019, Kiki Dee was portrayed by actress Rachel Muldoon in the Elton John biopic Rocketman.
18.
Kiki Dee has released 40 singles, three EPs and 12 albums.