Kate Ceberano

Kate Ceberano
Background information
Born	(1966-11-17) November 17, 1966 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Pop music, soul music, jazz
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress
Instruments	Singing
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Sony Music
Associated acts	I'm Talking (1983–87), Models, Wendy Matthews
Website	www.kateceberano.com

Catherine "Kate" Ceberano (born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres, as well as in her brief forays into musicals—with Jesus Christ Superstar—and film. She has also achieved success as a songwriter, with the hit "Pash" garnering a gold sales certification in 1998.

Ceberano was the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012 and 2013.^[1]

Early life

Ceberano was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to an American father of Filipino descent^[2] (karate master Tino Ceberano) and an Australian mother. Her maternal forebears were some of the earliest settlers and government officials in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.^[2]

Music

Ceberano first came to prominence singing back-up vocals with Melbourne, Australia band The Models. The band produced a top 5 album in 1985 called Out of Mind, Out of Sight, before Ceberano found fame with her funk band I’m Talking. The group’s 1986 album Bear Witness produced three top ten singles and achieved a platinum sales certification. Ceberano won Best Female Vocalist at the 1986 Countdown Awards.^[3] The group broke up after one album and Ceberano pursued a solo career.

Ceberano's first solo album was the live set "Kate Ceberano and her Septet", released in 1987. The following year, Ceberano collaborated with Wendy Matthews on the album You've Always Got The Blues, which was the soundtrack to the ABC Television show Stingers.^{[citation needed]} The album peaked at #7 in the ARIA charts and earned her a nomination for the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist in 1988.^{[citation needed]}

In 1989, Ceberano released her acclaimed album Brave. The album was the 20th highest-selling album in Australia in the 1980s^[4] and spawned four singles, including "Bedroom Eyes", which became the 5th highest-selling single in Australia in 1989 and the highest-selling single by an Australian artist in that year. At the 1989 ARIA awards, she won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist, as well as 'Highest Selling Single' for "Bedroom Eyes".^[5] At the end of 1990, she received three MO Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.^[3]

Ceberano contributed "Nature Boy" to the The Crossing sound track, before releasing the albums Like Now, in 1990, and Think About It!, in 1991. In 1992, Ceberano joined the Australian cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, in which she performed the role of Mary Magdalene, and the show toured nationally. The album was the highest-selling album in Australia in 1992, certified 4 x platinum.^[6] Two singles were released from the album, including "Everything's Alright" (with John Farnham and Jon Stevens), which peaked at #6 on the ARIA charts.^[7] Ceberano won a Logie Award for Most Popular Music Video in 1993 for "Everything’s Alright". "I Don't Know How To Love Him" was the second single and won Ceberano another nomination for Best Female Artist in 1993.

In 1994, to coincide with her television show called Kate Ceberano And Friends, she recorded an album of the same name, which peaked at #19 in 1994.^[8] In 1996, Ceberano released her next studio album "Blue Box", which produced the single "Change". Ceberano was nominated for another two ARIA awards in 1996: Best Female Artist and Best Adult Contemporary Album.^[9]

In 1997, Ceberano wrote and released the album Pash, which was certified gold and produced the singles "Pash" and "Love Is Alive". Ceberano released her first greatest hits album, titled True Romantic - The Best of Kate Ceberano, in 1999. It peaked at #9 on the ARIA charts and was certified platinum.^[10]

Ceberano returned with her 2003 studio album Girl Can Help It. In 2007, Ceberano saluted the 1980s with her cover album Nine Lime Avenue, which was recorded in three weeks while she was on television show Dancing with the Stars. The album was a commercial success, peaking at #4^[11] and gave Ceberano her first 'top 5' album since 1989's "Brave". Ceberano toured in late 2007 before recording another cover album, released in 2008, titled So Much Beauty, which peaked at #9 in Australia.^{[citation needed]}

Ceberano released three albums in 2009: the first is a collaborative jazz album that was recorded with Mark Isham, titled "Bittersweet", which earned Ceberano a nomination at the 2009 ARIA awards; the second, an indie album with Dallas Cosmas, titled Dallas et Kate; and in November, Ceberano released her first Christmas album, simply titled Merry Christmas, which was certified gold.^[12]

In 2010, Ceberano was crowned Queen of Moomba, while Molly Meldrum was crowned King.^[13]

Ceberano launched a studio album in August 2013, titled Kensal Road, and it was her first album of new material in ten years. The album was preceded by the single release "Magnet" and Ceberano toured nationally in October 2013.^[14][15]

Television

In 1993, Ceberano hosted her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV, called Kate Ceberano And Friends.^[16]

In 2005, Ceberano was a judge in the inaugural season of X Factor Australia, along with Mark Holden and John Reid, before joining Dancing with the Stars in 2007, of which she was crowned champion. Late that year, Ceberano participated in series 2 of It Takes Two, where she mentored Australian swimmer Daniel Kowalski. She returned in 2008 for series 3 and mentored Australian Football League (AFL) player Russell Robertson, who would go on to be runner-up.

From January 2011, Ceberano was a presenter on the Nine Network's Getaway television series., as well as a relief host for Kerri-Anne Kennerley's morning programme, also on the Nine Network. In November 2011, Ceberano was announced as the host of the Nine Network's television series Excess Baggage.^[17]

Film

Ceberano made her acting debut in a feature film, playing Jenna in Dust Off The Wings, directed by her husband, Lee Rogers.^[18] In 1999, Ceberano starred in the film Molokai: The Story of Father Damien, which was directed by Paul Cox.^[19]

Other work

As the Berlei Curves ambassador, Ceberano launched the debut Berlei Curves Spring Summer 2010 collection and remained in this role in September 2012.^[20]

Ceberano was appointed the Victorian Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As the Victorian Ambassador, she helps to raise funds and awareness about breast cancer. Ceberano explained: “I like to be as involved as I possibly can in causes I feel strongly about. Yes I am a musician, but if I can do more to help others then I will.”^[3]

In April 2014, Ceberano will release her memoir, titled "I'm Talking: My life, my words, my music", through book publisher Hachette Australia. Ceberano co-wrote the book with Tom Gilling.^[21]

Personal life

On 6 January 2004, Ceberano gave birth to her first child, a daughter named "Gypsy".^[22][23]

Discography

Singles

Albums

• 1986 Bear Witness (lead singer in the band I'm Talking) — Platinum,^{[citation needed]} AUS #14
• 1987 Kate Ceberano and her Septet — Gold^{[citation needed]}
• 1988 You've Always Got the Blues (with Wendy Matthews) — Platinum,^{[citation needed]} AUS #7
• 1989 Brave — 3× Platinum,^{[citation needed]} AUS #2
• 1990 Like Now (as Kate Ceberano & Her Sextet) — AUS #18
• 1991 Think About It! — AUS #24
• 1992 Jesus Christ Superstar (as Mary Magdalene) AUS #1
• 1992 Open the Door: Live at Mietta's (Australian indie released, credited as "Jex Saarelaht with Kate Ceberano")
• 1994 Kate Ceberano and Friends AUS #19
• 1994 Globe ^[26]
• 1996 Blue Box AUS #18
• 1997 Pash — AUS #23
• 1999 True Romantic: The Best of Kate Ceberano — Platinum,^[27] AUS #9
• 2003 Girl Can Help It
• 2004 The Definitive Collection (re-release of True Romantic: The Best of Kate Ceberano)
• 2004 19 Days in New York — AUS #53
• 2006 Live with The WASO
• 2007 Nine Lime Avenue — Gold,^[28] AUS #4
• 2008 So Much Beauty^[29] — AUS #9
• 2009 Bittersweet (with Mark Isham)
• 2009 Dallas et Kate (Australian indie released with Dallas Cosmas through Prototype Musique)
• 2009 Merry Christmas — Gold,^[30] AUS #17
• 2013 Kensal Road AUS #23

Awards / highlights

• 1999 Outstanding Achievement in the Arts in Asia — Business Asia Awards
• 1994 Peoples Choice Awards — Favourite Female Singer (record 3rd time)
• 1993 Peoples Choice Awards — Favourite Female Singer
• 1992 Peoples Choice Awards — Favourite Female Singer
• 1992 Coca Cola Australia Music Award — Most Popular Female Performer
• 1992 Coca Cola Australia Music Award — Most Popular Song
• 1992 Coca Cola Australia Music Award — Most Popular Australian Act in a live Performance
• 1990 MO Awards — Female Jazz Performer of the Year
• 1989 MO Awards — Rock Performer of the Year
• 1989 MO Awards — Female Rock Performer of the Year
• 1989 MO Awards — Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year
• 1989 Monte Carlo World Music Awards — Highest Selling Australian Artist
• 1989 ARIA Award — Highest Selling Australian Single*
• 1989 ARIA Award — Best Female Artist*
• 1988 ARIA Award — Best Female Artist*
• 1987 Coca Cola Australia Music Award — Most Popular Female Performer
• 1987 Asian Popular Song Contest — Winner
• 1986 Countdown Awards — Best Female Artist
• 1985 Countdown Awards — Best Female Artist
• 1984 Countdown Awards – Most Promising New Talent
• 2010 Performance at CoM

Film / Television

Filmography

• 1986 Love Della (short film)^[31]
• 1989 Arguing the Toss of a Cat (telemovie), Director: Christine Sammers
• 1997 Dust Off the Wings (feature film), Director: Lee Rogers
• 1999 Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (feature film), Director: Paul Cox
• 1999 Opening theatrical sequence for Sydney's Fox Studios, Director: Baz Luhrmann

Television highlights

• Dancing with the Stars (2007)
• It Takes Two (2007, 2008)
• Neighbours (2010)
• The X Factor (Australia) (2005)
• Getaway (2011–present)

Activism

Ceberano joined other Australian public figures in support of the "Oscar's Law" campaign. Initiated in 2010, the campaign protests the factory farming of companion animals (the campaign is named after a dog named "Oscar") and a prominent slogan reads, "Break The Puppy Trade—Don't buy puppies from pet shops". Other advocates include Mick Molloy (comedian), Missy Higgins (musician) and Paul Dempsey (musician).^[32]

References

• S2D6.com, Kate Ceberano's "So Much Beauty" on iTunes
• Yahoo.com, It Takes Two official website
• Kate Ceberano at the Internet Movie Database
• Tangledmagazine.com, Interview April 2008
• Kate Ceberano at Discogs.com

External links

• Official website