| Imelda May | |
|---|---|
May performing live in 2011. |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Imelda Mary Clabby |
| Born | 10 July 1974 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Rockabilly, blues, jazz |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bodhrán, tambourine |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Foot Tapping, Ambassador/Universal Ireland, Decca |
| Website | imeldamay.com |
Imelda Mary Higham (born Imelda Mary Clabby on 10 July 1974), professionally known as Imelda May, is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter. Born and raised in The Liberties area of Dublin, May began her career in music at age sixteen—performing with a number of local bands and musicians— before forming her own band in 2002. She released her debut studio album, No Turning Back, in 2003 and relocated to London, United Kingdom with husband and guitarist Darrel Higham after its release. Following an appearance on the BBC music programme Later... with Jools Holland in 2008, she released her second studio album, Love Tattoo (2009). Receiving critical and commercial acclaim worldwide, May collaborated and toured with a number of artists following its release. Her similarly-received third studio album, Mayhem, was released in 2010 and earned her a nomination for the Choice Music Prize.[1]
Although known primarily as a vocalist, May also plays the bodhrán, guitar and tambourine. Described as "a unique vocal talent," May is known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to female jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday.[2] She won the Best Female Artist of the Year award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.[3]
Contents |
May was born in Dublin on 10 July 1974 in the Liberties in the south inner city.[4] She is the youngest of five siblings, with sisters Edel Foy and Maria O'Reilly, and brothers Brendan Clabby and Fintan Clabby. In 1991, She attended Senior College Ballyfermot, where she studied Art, Graphics and Printmaking. Her early musical influences were Folk and Rock & Roll, especially the music of Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. By the age of nine, she was a fan of Rockabilly and Blues, particularly Elmore James and Billie Holiday. At fourteen, she sang in an advertisement for Findus Fish Fingers. However, her career began at age 16 when she began touring the Dublin club circuit and she was occasionally barred from her own shows at Dublin's Bruxelles club for being underage. "I was getting tips from the best musicians in Dublin," May said. "One of them said, 'your voice is great, but it needs to roughen.'" It was around this time, when driving a tearful Imelda to a gig after a boyfriend break-up her father asked her, "Is your heart broken? Excellent. Now you can sing the blues."[5] After moving to the UK in 1998, May began singing with Blue Harlem and Mike Sanchez.[6]
“Some people think the only way of doing well or of having a career in music is to go the X Factor route, but a lot of people lose the joy out of music by going that way, possibly because they're so incredibly focused on other people's ideas of success.”
May began her professional career in 2003, forming her band and releasing No Turning Back (Foot Tapping Records) under her maiden name, Imelda Clabby. Specializing in rockabilly music, the album was later re-recorded and re-issued by Foot Tapping Records under her married name in 2005.
In 2007, she joined a recording contract with Ambassador Records (a subsidiary of Foot Tapping Records), and recorded her second album. Love Tattoo reached No. 1 in Ireland and received wide critical acclaim. It caught the attention of Jools Holland,[8] whom she later supported on tour, which led him to request that she appear on his well-known music show Later... with Jools Holland. She was well received in the United Kingdom, performing to an audience that included Jeff Beck, Elbow, and Roots Manuva. Her first two singles, "Johnny Got a Boom Boom" and "Big Bad Handsome Man", were released on 23 January 2009. She performed on Ireland's most popular television show, The Late Late Show. She won Female Artist of the Year at the 2009 Meteor Awards. May has also toured the United States including, most recently, a tour with Jamie Cullum. On 14 August 2009, she appeared on RTÉ's Other Voices singing "Johnny Got a Boom Boom" and an unplugged version of "Big Bad Handsome Man".
On 31 January 2010, she performed at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck in tribute to Les Paul.[9] After some promotional performances at festivals, such as the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, Netherlands,[10] she released her third studio album, Mayhem, in Ireland on 3 September 2010 — again reaching No. 1 in the Irish Album Charts — and in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2010.[11][12] On 18 July 2011, May made her network television debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performing "Mayhem," in promotion of the album's recent release in the U.S. and later appeared on Conan on 8 August.
May contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's "I'm Looking for Someone to Love" for the tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, released on 6 September 2011.
May has shared the stage with Wanda Jackson, Alison Moyet, Lou Reed, David Gilmore, Sharon Corr, The Supremes, Brian Setzer, The Dubliners, Madeleine Peyroux, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, Jeff Beck and Meat Loaf . She has worked with producers Tony Visconti and Peter Asher. She also sings in The Candy Box Burlesque Club in Birmingham. She has appeared alongside The World Famous Palookaville! Burlesque Orchestra at every Candy Box show since it started in February 2006.
May has sung for the Flashmonkey burlesque band, a popular night at Cafe De Paris in London, also featuring trumpeter/composer John Eacott.
In 2009, she recorded the official Children in Need single alongside Cara Dillon, Terry Wogan, Hayley Westenra, and others at Abbey Road Studios. In 2010, she participated on Emotion & Commotion by Jeff Beck, singing on the track "Lilac Wine" and also on the Japanese CD bonus track "Poor Boy". On 11 November 2010, she appeared as a guest on BBC2's comedy panel music show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
In 2010, she performed with Meat Loaf as part of the UK leg of his Hang Cool Tour. During 2011, she and her band toured with Jeff Beck.
In August 2011 she performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
On December 16th 2011, she played to a capacity crowd of 12,000 in the O2 Dublin, with Bono making a surprise appearance as her guest.
On New Years Eve 2011 she appeared on Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny on BBC2 Television in the UK.
May is married to her guitarist and band member, Darrel Higham. She is a vegetarian.[13]
| Year | Organisation | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2009 Meteor Awards | Imelda May | Best Irish Female | Won |
| 2010 | RTÉ Radio 1[14] | Mayhem | Album of the Year | Won |
| 2011 | Choice Music Prize | Choice Music Prize | Nominated |