Shelley Preston
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| Shelley Preston | |
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 Shelley Preston on stage in 1985
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 14, 1964 London England |
| Genre(s) | pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Website | [4] |
(Caroline) Shelley Preston (born May 14, 1964 in Hillingdon, London, England), is a professional singer, best known as the replacement for Jay Aston in the 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz.
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[edit] Career
She started singing in her local Sunday School choir from 4 years of age. While she was still at school, she sang with the Bournemouth Operatic Society. She worked as a singer at a hotel nightclub in Sri Lanka for six months before being selected at a London audition to be the new member of Bucks Fizz. [1]
Shelley was introduced as the new member of Bucks Fizz to millions of viewers on the BBC TV prime-time chat show Wogan, hosted by Terry Wogan.[2] She performed with the band from 1985 to 1990.
By the time Preston had joined the group, Bucks Fizz were on a downward slide in the charts and although all of the singles released with her made the UK charts, only "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)" had any real success, reaching the top 10 in Summer 1986.[3]
After leaving Bucks Fizz in 1990, Preston made a career as a backing vocalist, touring and appearing with Jason Donovan, INXS, Brian May, Michael Bolton, Go West, Beverley Craven, Alexander O’Neal, Luther Vandross, Errol Brown and Belinda Carlisle (she still currently performs with Carlisle). During the 1990s she was also a member of the bands Fret Monkey and Hard Candy.[5]
In 2003 she was invited to join the "chillout lounge" band Cloudfish (which includes former Spandau Ballet saxophonist Steve Norman), and also writes some material for them. Cloudfish released its latest album in July 2006, on which Preston is featured.[4]
In 2004 Preston reunited with Bucks Fizz bandmates Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Bobby G for the Christmas Here & Now arena tour. Baker, Nolan and Preston enjoyed it so much that they decided to continue in their own version of Bucks Fizz. [5] Under the name The Original Bucks Fizz, the group continue to perform today.
