Kate Bush Biography

(One of the Most Successful British Solo Performers of All Time)

Birthday: July 30, 1958 (Leo)

Born In: Bexleyheath, England, United Kingdom

Three-time Grammy Award-nominated English singer, songwriter, music producer, director, and musician, Kate Bush is revered as one of the most successful female solo artists in the United Kingdom. Known for her trademark 4-octave soprano voice and eclectic musical style, Bush has enjoyed celebrity status for the past thirty-five years of her career. She began her music career at the tender age of sixteen after she signed a contract with the EMI record label. She soon created a music revolution with her debut single ‘Wuthering Heights', which topped the music charts and remains one of her best-selling singles. She went on to release more than ten albums and had 25 UK Top 40 hit singles. As a songwriter, Bush has written some of the most memorable songs in music history, has earned international acclaim, and has a huge, devoted fan following. She was ranked at number 46 on VH1's list of '100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll'. She was also appointed as the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2022, she became viral as one of her songs, 'Running Up That Hill,' was featured in one of the episodes of 'Stranger Things.'

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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In July

Also Known As: Catherine Bush

Age: 66 Years, 66 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dan McIntosh

father: Robert Bush

mother: Hannah Daly

siblings: John Bush, Paddy Bush

children: Albert McIntosh

Born Country: England

Rock Singers British Women

Height: 5'3" (160 cm), 5'3" Females

Founder/Co-Founder: Novercia Ltd.

  • 1

    How did Kate Bush's unique vocal style develop?

    Kate Bush's unique vocal style developed as she experimented with her voice and incorporated various techniques, such as using her head voice and falsetto.
  • 2

    What is the meaning behind Kate Bush's song Cloudbusting?

    "Cloudbusting" is based on the book "A Book of Dreams" by Peter Reich, which tells the story of his relationship with his father Wilhelm Reich, a controversial scientist.

  • 3

    How did Kate Bush approach the recording process for her album Hounds of Love?

    Kate Bush used innovative recording techniques and studio experimentation to create the intricate soundscapes on "Hounds of Love," often working alone in the studio.

  • 4

    What themes does Kate Bush explore in her song Running Up That Hill?

    "Running Up That Hill" explores themes of empathy, understanding, and the complexities of relationships, with the lyrics portraying a desire to walk in someone else's shoes.

Childhood & Early Life

She was born as Catherine Bush in Welling, Kent, England to Robert Bush, a physician, and Hannah Daly on July 30, 1958. She grew up in the family farmhouse in East Wickham, where she had a Roman Catholic upbringing.

Her mother was an Irish folk dancer and her father, apart from being a physician, also played the piano. Her older brothers, John and Paddy had musical interests and were part of the local folk music scene.

She learned karate at Goldsmiths College along with her brother John. At the age of eleven, she started playing the piano, studied the violin, and also wrote her own tunes.

She went to the St Joseph's Convent Grammar School and later attended the Catholic girls' school, in London. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd at this time received one of the family recordings and helped her to create a more professional one.

The tape she recorded with the help of David Gilmour was sent to Terry Slater, an executive at the EMI record label, who went on to sign her. She was, however, put on a two-year hold and she left school and joined dance classes.

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Career

In February 1978, she came out with her debut album, ‘The Kick Inside', which featured the hit single, ‘Wuthering Heights'. In November of that year, she released another album titled, 'Lionheart.'

In 1979, she came out with the extended play, ‘On Stage’, which included live recordings. The following year, her album titled, ‘Never for Ever' was released. The album topped the charts.

Around 1979, she made numerous appearances on television, all over the world. She appeared in ' Top of the Pops' in the U.K., 'Bios Bahnhof' in Germany, and '‘Saturday Night Live' in the U.S.

From April 2, 1979, to May 13, 1979, she went on the ‘The Tour of Life', which was a concert tour that included twenty-four performances from her earlier albums, ' ‘The Kick Inside' and 'Lionheart'.

In November 1980, she came out with her one-off single titled, ‘December Will Be Magic Again’. The following year, she came out with the video album, ‘Live at the Hammersmith Odeon'.

Released in 1982, her studio album, ‘The Dreaming‘, received mixed reviews from music critics. The following year, she came out with the extended play, ‘Kate Bush', which was released in the U.S. and Canada only.

In 1983, she came out with her video album titled, ‘The Single File'. Some of her other music videos include, ‘Running Up that Hill’, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘The Man with the Child in His Eyes’ and ‘Cloudbusting’.

In 1985, she came out with the studio album, ‘Hounds of Love', which is one of her most successful albums. The next year, her compilation album titled, ‘The Whole Story' was released.

In 1986, she came out with the video album, 'The Hair of the Hound'. The same year, she came out with the video version of the album, ‘The Whole Story, which peaked on the music charts.

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In 1989, her studio album, ‘The Sensual World' was released. The following year, she released a video version titled, ‘The Sensual World - The Videos' and came out with the EP, ‘Aspects of the Sensual World'.

In 1990, she starred in the TV film, ‘Les Dogs', a black comedy. This project was produced by The Comic Strip and was aired on BBC television in March of that year.

In 1993, she directed and also starred in the musical short film, ‘The Line, the Cross & the Curve’. The film was screened at the London Film Festival and featured songs from her album, ‘The Red Shoes', released the same year.

In 1994, she provided music for the commercial for the soft drink, ‘Fruitopia’. In later years, her song 'The Sensual World' was featured in the Canadian film ‘Felicia's Journey'.

In 2005, she came out with her studio album titled, ‘Aerial'. The following year, a documentary on her titled, ‘Kate Bush Under Review’ was released. The documentary had excerpts from her interviews.

In 2007, she wrote the song 'Lyra' for the soundtrack of the film, ‘The Golden Compass'. The following year, a DVD collection of her Saturday Night Live performances was released.

In 2011, she came out with the studio albums, ‘Director's Cut’ and '50 Words for Snow'. The following year, she released her music video titled, ‘Lake Tahoe'.

In March 2014, she announced her concert residency ‘Before the Dawn.’ This was her first concert tour since 1979 and comprised 22 shows. The concert tour was later translated into Kate’s 2016 live album of the same name. The album turned out to be a major success and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry.

In late 2018, she released her first book titled ‘How to Be Invisible.’ That same year, she also put out remastered versions of her studio albums.

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In September 2020, she became a part of The Ivors Academy. In 2022, her 1985 single “Running Up That Hill" became a viral hit after it was featured in the popular television series ‘Stranger Things.’ The song re-entered the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number 3. The principal album ‘Hounds of Love’ also ranked number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In January 2023, she was named among the 200 Best Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone.

Major Works

Her 1980 album titled, ‘Never for Ever' was one of the first female solo albums to peak at the number one position on the UK Albums Chart. The album also became the ‘20th best-selling single of the year’.

Her album ‘Hounds of Love' was one of her best-selling albums that peaked at the number one position on the UK Albums Chart. ‘Q Magazine’ listed the album as ‘the third Greatest Album of All-Time by a Female Artist’.

Awards & Achievements

In 1987, she received the BRIT Award for the category of 'Best British Female Solo Artist’.

In 2002, she became the recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for the category of 'Outstanding Contribution to British Music'.

In 2013, New Year Honours for services to music she was appointed as the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Personal Life & Legacy

She is married to guitarist Dan McIntosh, with whom she has a son named Albert.

Facts About Kate Bush
Kate Bush is known for her unique lyrical themes and storytelling in her music, often drawing inspiration from literature and mythology.
She is also a talented dancer and incorporates innovative choreography into her live performances, showcasing her multifaceted artistic abilities.
Kate Bush has a dedicated fan base known as "Kate Bush fans," who are known for their passion and enthusiasm for her music and artistry.
She is known for her reclusive nature, preferring to maintain a low profile in the media and focusing on her music and creative pursuits.
Kate Bush's music has been influential across various genres and has inspired a new generation of artists, solidifying her legacy as a pioneering figure in the music industry.

See the events in life of Kate Bush in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Kate Bush Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/kate-bush-3944.php

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