Kim Richardson
| Kim Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | R&B, soul, jazz, gospel, blues, dance-pop, musical theatre |
| Occupation(s) | singer |
| Years active | 1980s-present |
| Associated acts | Jackie Richardson, Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Jim Hillman and the Merlin Factor |
Kim Richardson (born December 22, 1965) is a Canadian singer and actress,[1] who won two Juno Awards as a solo recording artist in the 1980s.
A native of Richmond Hill, Ontario,[2] she is the daughter of singer and actress Jackie Richardson,[1] the niece of blues and jazz singer Betty Richardson and the sister of former Polka Dot Door host Gairey Richardson.[2] She began performing professionally in the early 1980s, both as a solo blues, jazz and R&B vocalist and with the family musical group The Richardsons.[3]
Her first recording, the dance-pop single "He's My Lover", was released in 1985, and she won the award for Most Promising Female Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1986.[4] Her second single, "Peek-a-Boo" was released the following year and won the award for Best R&B/Soul Recording at the Juno Awards of 1987.[5] The song was also named best single, and Richardson best female artist, at the 1987 Black Music Awards of Canada.[6]
Her third single, "I Want It", followed in 1987.[7] In the same year she participated in the recording of a Christmas charity single, "A Christmas Wish", with a lineup of Toronto-area performers that also included Billy Newton-Davis, Errol Starr, Frozen Ghost, Prairie Oyster, Messenjah, The Pursuit of Happiness, Salome Bey, Zappacosta, Arlene Duncan and Lorraine Scott.[8]
She subsequently moved to Montreal, Quebec,[9] performing with acts such as the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir[10] and Jim Hillman and the Merlin Factor.[11] The latter band won a Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the Juno Awards of 1995.[12]
She continued to perform in Montreal as a jazz singer, as a performer in musical theatre productions, in continued collaborations with her mother and as a backing vocalist for other musicians.[9] Her first full-length album, Kaleidoscope, was released in 2006,[9] and her second, Mes amours, followed in 2011.[13] She also participated in the recording of the soundtrack to the 2011 film Funkytown,[14] performing vocals on the Genie Award for Best Original Song nominee "Waiting for Your Touch" and making an acting appearance in the film.
References
- 1 2 "My Montreal: Soul Singer Kim Richardson". Montreal Gazette, February 26, 2014.
- 1 2 "Singer looks to bright career". Toronto Star, June 2, 1987.
- ↑ "Glad tidings of great jazz in New Year". Toronto Star, December 18, 1986.
- ↑ "Glass Tiger, David Foster snare Juno honors". Windsor Star, November 11, 1986.
- ↑ "K.D. Lang dethrones Anne Murray in Junos; Adams collects 2 top awards". Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 1987.
- ↑ "Black singers win awards". Vancouver Sun, May 16, 1987.
- ↑ "Budding rock star doesn't see stretch-limos on her horizon". Toronto Star, June 6, 1987.
- ↑ "Musicians rally to record Christmas song". Toronto Star, November 10, 1987.
- 1 2 3 "Mother and daughter blues reunion". Toronto Star, November 25, 2006.
- ↑ "Local stars come out for dynamite benefit". Montreal Gazette, December 7, 1991.
- ↑ "Lots of Canadian musicians to spread Christmas cheer". Toronto Star, December 11, 1993.
- ↑ "He has drum, and will travel ; Jim Hillman has landed in T.O. with his unique sextet". Toronto Star, April 8, 1999.
- ↑ "Kim Richardson: soliste et choriste, même combat". Le Soleil, August 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Deux ans de négociations". canoe.ca, January 17, 2011.