British Women Musicians
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Throughout history, there have been many British women musicians who have made significant contribution to the field. The list includes many familiar and great British female musicians such as Ellie Goulding, Mel B, Rita Ora, Charli XCX, Anoushka Shankar.
Vote for Your Favourite British Women Musicians
1
Christine McVie
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: July 12, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bouth, Lancashire, England
Died: November 30, 2022
2
Adele(One of the Best-Selling Music Artists Known for Her Multi-Platinum Certified Albums '19' and '21')
Birthdate: May 5, 1988
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Adele is one of the most successful female music artists from England. She is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, having sold over 120 million records. The recipient of numerous awards, Adele also holds several Guinness World Records. In 2012 and 2016, she was named in Time magazine's list of most influential people in the world.
Birthdate: August 22, 1995
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: London, England
At fourteen, singer Dua Lipa began her career by posting covers of famous songs on YouTube. She soon signed a contract with Warner Music Group and shot into fame with the release of her eponymous chart topping debut album. Since then, she has released her critically acclaimed second album, bagged two Grammys and created history at 2018 BRIT Awards.
4
Amy Jade Winehouse(Known for Her Deep, Expressive Contralto Vocals and Her Eclectic Mix of Musical Genres)
Birthdate: September 14, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Enfield, London, England
Died: July 23, 2011
Soul and jazz singer Amy Winehouse is best remembered for her tracks Stronger Than Me and Rehab. She was the first British female to win five Grammys. Following her death due to alcohol poisoning at age 27, her album Back to Black became U.K.’s best-selling album of the 21st century.
Birthdate: September 26, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cambridge, England, US
Died: August 8, 2022
Olivia Newton-John's breathy voice and stunning beauty made her one of the biggest pop stars of the 1970s. She charmed generations of movie viewers in the blockbuster film Grease. Following a string of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John starred opposite John Travolta in the 1978 blockbuster Grease, considered as one the most popular movie musicals of all time.
6
Kate Bush(One of the Most Successful British Solo Performers of All Time)
Birthdate: July 30, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bexleyheath, England, United Kingdom
Kate Bush is best known for her UK Singles Chart-topper debut single Wuthering Heights. She has released 25 UK Top 40 singles, such as Babooshka and Running Up That Hill. She is known for her literary themes and drew inspiration from James Joyce’s Ulysses. She was also awarded the CBE.
7
Jessie J(Pop Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Albums 'Who You Are', 'Alive' and 'Sweet Talker')
Birthdate: March 27, 1988
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Seven Kings, Ilford, England
Jessie J, the first U.K. female artist to score six Top-10 singles from the same album, is best known for her Billboard Hot 100-charting single Domino. She has been a coach on The Voice in the U.K. and Australia, and has also appeared in the Chinese singing contest Singer.
8
Dusty Springfield
(Singer, Artist, Cleric)
Birthdate: April 16, 1939
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: West Hampstead, London,England
Died: March 2, 1999
Birthdate: May 2, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Birthdate: May 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Harehills, West Yorkshire, England
Mel B is an English television personality and singer-songwriter. She gained international recognition as part of the popular pop girl group Spice Girls, which has sold more than 85 million records. Over the years, Mel B has been an important TV personality, appearing in several reality series as a participant as well as a judge.
Birthdate: December 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kensington, London, England
12
Melanie C
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: January 12, 1974
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Whiston, England
13
Florence Welch(Lead Vocalist & Primary Songwriter of the Indie Rock Band 'Florence and the Machine')
Birthdate: August 28, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Camberwell, London, United Kingdom
English singer, Florence Welch, is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Florence and the Machine. The band’s debut album was a massive hit and reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart. She is also a solo performer known for her Bohemian way of dressing. She is a vocal advocate for LGBTQA+ rights.
14
Emma Bunton(One of the Founding Members of the Spice Girls)
Birthdate: January 21, 1976
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Finchley, London, United Kingdom
Part of the iconic British all-girl pop band of the 1990s, Spice Girls, Emma Bunton was nicknamed Baby Spice, for being the youngest in the group. Known for her signature pigtails and bright blue eyes, she later went solo and also appeared in the BBC One series Absolutely Fabulous.
15
Leona Lewis(Known for Her Debut Studio Album 'Spirit' and as the Winner of Third Series of 'X-Factor')
Birthdate: April 3, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Islington, London, England
British singer Leona Lewis soared to fame with her win on The X Factor. Her debut album, Spirit, with the chartbusting track Bleeding Love, was certified 10xplatinum in the U.K. She also appeared as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats. She is also an avid animal rights activist.
16
FKA twigs
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: January 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Birthdate: June 30, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
18
Jess Glynne(English Singer Best Known for Her Singles: ‘Hold My Hand’ and ‘Don't Be So Hard on Yourself)
Birthdate: October 20, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England
Jess Glynne, named one of Forbes’s Most Influential People Under 30 in 2019, initially rose to fame as a featured artist on tracks such as Rather Be and My Love. She became the first British female solo singer with seven number one UK Singles Chart tracks.
Birthdate: January 8, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Stockwell, London, England, United Kingdom
20
Petula Clark
(One of the Longest Serving British Singers With a Career Spanning More than Seven Decades)
Birthdate: November 15, 1932
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ewell, Surrey, England
Petula Clark is an English singer, composer, and actress. She achieved immense popularity in the USA, for which she is often referred to as the First Lady of the British Invasion. Over the years, Petula Clark has sold over 68 million records worldwide. Some of her best known songs include Downtown, I Couldn't Live Without Your Love, and My Love.
21
Kirsty MacColl
(Singer-songwriter and producer who produced the song "Fairytale of New York" with The Pogues and who released pop hits like "They Don't Know.")
Birthdate: October 10, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Croydon, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Died: December 18, 2000
Birthdate: December 29, 1946
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hampstead
Marianne Faithfull is an English singer, actress, and songwriter. Faithfull emerged as one of the most prominent female music artists during the 1960s when the United States was happily embracing the British Invasion. However, her professional achievements were overshadowed by heroin addiction, homelessness, and an eating disorder in the 1970s. Nevertheless, Marianne Faithfull staged a comeback and became successful.
23
Sade
(Frontwoman of the Soul Band Sade)
Birthdate: January 16, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ibadan, Nigeria
Nigerian-British singer Helen Folasade Adu, or Sade Adu, often blends Afro-Cuban tunes with soul and smooth jazz in her music. The Grammy Award winner had initially studied fashion designing and been a model. The founder of the band Sade, she has released iconic tracks such as No Ordinary Love.
Birthdate: April 27, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Two-time Grammy-winning artist Sheena Easton first gained attention on The Big Time. With the singles Modern Girl and 9 to 5, she became the second female to feature twice on the same Top Ten chart. Easton is the only artist with a top 5 hit on all Billboard singles charts.
25
PJ Harvey
(Singer-songwriter, Composer, Artist, Singer, Guitarist)
Birthdate: October 9, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bridport
Tinged with themes of female sexuality, the lyrics of PJ Harvey have redefined the place women occupy in rock music. While she was initially part of a musical trio named after herself, she later charted her own path as a solo musician. She is only artist to have earned the Mercury Prize twice.
26
Siouxsie Sioux
(Singer, Musician, Exotica, Songwriter)
Birthdate: May 27, 1957
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Southwark
27
Patsy Kensit
(Actor, Singer)
Birthdate: March 4, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hounslow
28
Jane Birkin
(Singer, songwriter and actress)
Birthdate: December 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
29
Kim Wilde
(Singer, Landscape architect, Songwriter, Television presenter)
Birthdate: November 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chiswick
Birthdate: February 20, 1996
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Málaga, Spain
Born to a music producer father, Cameron McVey, and a singer mother, Neneh Cherry, Mabel McVey was destined to make a career in music. The English singer-songwriter debuted on SoundCloud with her track Know Me Better. It is believed she had initially used music as a therapy for her anxiety.
31
Imogen Heap
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Record producer)
Birthdate: December 9, 1977
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Romford, London, England
Birthdate: January 22, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, England
33
Charlotte Ritchie
(Actress)
Birthdate: August 29, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England, UK
Birthdate: January 12, 1991
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bromley, London, England
35
Shirley Manson
(Actor, Singer, Guitarist, Musician, Model, Songwriter)
Birthdate: August 26, 1966
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Edinburgh
36
Courtney Hadwin(Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Appearances in ‘The Voice Kids UK 2017 ‘ and ‘America's Got Talent’)
Birthdate: July 6, 2004
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sunderland, England
Courtney Hadwin is an English singer-songwriter who achieved popularity by participating in the first series of ITV's The Voice Kids and the 13th season of NBC's America's Got Talent, where she was a finalist. She is one of the youngest artists to sign a record deal with Arista Records and Syco Entertainment.
Birthdate: July 13, 1988
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Camden Town, London
Tulisa Contostavlos is an English singer, television personality, songwriter, and actress. She achieved popularity after appearing in the popular reality television music competition series The X Factor, where she served as one of the judges. Her life and career inspired the 2014 documentary, Tulisa: The Price of Fame, which premiered on BBC Three.
38
Kiki Dee
(Singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals)
Birthdate: March 6, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
39
Amelia Warner
(Actress and Composer Best Known for Her Stunning Soundtrack for the 2017 Film ‘Mary Shelley')
Birthdate: June 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Birkenhead, Merseyside, England
Amelia Warner is a British musician and composer. She is best known for her work as a composer in a movie titled Mary Shelley for which she was honored with the Breakthrough Composer of the Year award at the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Awards in 2018. A former actress, Warner has also appeared in films like Æon Flux.
Birthdate: September 27, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
41
Natasha Bedingfield
(Singer-songwriter known for her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music)
Birthdate: November 26, 1981
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Haywards Heath, United Kingdom
42
Jessie Ware
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: October 15, 1984
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Birthdate: June 13, 1976
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Whiston
44
Lisa Stansfield
(Singer, Singer-songwriter, Musician)
Birthdate: April 11, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Heywood, Greater Manchester
45
Paloma Faith
(Pop and Soul Singer Best Known for Her Retro and Eccentric Fashion and Music)
Birthdate: July 21, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, England
Paloma Faith is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She is best known for her album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, which received double-platinum certification in the UK apart from earning Faith her maiden BRIT Award nomination. Renowned for her eccentric style, Paloma Faith has also received prestigious awards like the ASCAP Award.
46
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
(Actress)
Birthdate: April 26, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Birthdate: August 25, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Greater London
48
Corinne Bailey Rae
(Singer-Songwriter Best Known for Her 2006 Single ‘Put Your Records On')
Birthdate: February 26, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Leeds, England
49
Joss Stone(Singer-songwriter who Rose to Fame with Her Debut Album 'The Soul Sessions')
Birthdate: April 11, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dover, Kent, England
Joss Stone is an English singer, actress, and songwriter. One of the most successful British female singers of her generation, Stone has sold more than 15 million records worldwide. She has also received several prestigious awards, such as Grammy Award and Brit Awards. In 2006, Joss Stone became the youngest woman to be featured in the Sunday Times Rich List.
50
Leigh-Anne Pinnock(English Singer-Songwriter, Actress and Member of the Girl Group ‘Little Mix’)
Birthdate: October 4, 1991
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Leigh-Anne Pinnock is best known as part of the four-member girl group Little Mix, which was formed in the 2011 season of The X Factor and was the first band to win the contest. Pinnock has also launched a fashion blog, besides an apparel collection in collaboration with ASOS.