Sharleen Spiteri biography
Sharleen Spiteri (born 7 November 1967) is a Scottish recording artist and songwriter, best known as being the lead singer of Scottish rock/blues band Texas, and often denoted as the Queen of Britpop. Texas began their career in 1986, and shot to fame in 1989 with their UK Top Ten single, "I Don't Want a Lover" released from Southside (1989). Up until 2003, Texas's worldwide album sales were counted at 20 million.
Her debut solo album Melody was released in 2008, and her second solo album The Movie Songbook was released in March 2010.
Biography
Spiteri was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire to father Eddie, a guitar-playing merchant seaman and mother Vilma, a singer. Spiteri is of Maltese, Italian and Irish descent. When she was young the family moved from the Glaswegian suburbs to nearby Balloch, close to the banks of Loch Lomond. At school (Vale of Leven Academy) her nickname was "˜Spit the Dog', after the character on the TV show
Tiswas. Sharleen was a hairdresser in Muirhead, North Lanarkshire until she hit fame.
Spiteri's musical influences include The Clash (the main reason she plays a black Fender Telecaster) and Blondie to Marvin Gaye and Prince. She is also a dedicated Diana Ross fan. Spiteri co-founded the band while working at the Irvine Rusk salon as a hairdresser in Glasgow with band mates Johnny McElhone (bass guitar) and Ally McErlaine (lead guitar). The band, composed of Spiteri, McElhone, McErlaine, Tony McGovern, Eddie Campbell, Michael Bannister and Neil Payne, first released an EP entitled Everyday Now before releasing their debut album Southside in July 1989. The band gained international success with their debut single "I Don't Want a Lover" which at No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart, and No. 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. Later singles released from Southside were not as successful, "Thrill Has Gone" which charted at No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart, "Everyday Now" at No. 44 and "Prayer For You" at #73. Only four singles were released from Southside before going on a tour and return to the studio to start work on their second album Mothers Heaven. Texas's second studio album Mothers Heaven was released soon after the band released an extended play to help promote the album; Extracts from Mothers Heaven was released in 1991. The album was released on 8 October 1991 and was not as successful as Southside. The album charted at a low and unexpected No. 32 on the UK Album Charts and two singles "Why Believe In You" which charted at No. 66 in the UK, "In My Heart" which charted at No. 74 in the United Kingdom were not as successful, but the albums third and final single "Alone With You" which charted at No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart. Promotion had stopped for Mothers Heaven and again the band returned to the studio to work on their third album Ricks Road.
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