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Clare Teal (1973, Kildwick, Yorkshire) is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.
Teal was brought up in the Kildwick area of Yorkshire. She developed an interest in jazz from an early age, through her father's collection of 78rpm records, becoming "obsessed" with big band singers like Ella Fitzgerald and big bands like Joe Loss. She took music lessons (electronic organ and clarinet), before going to study music at Wolverhampton University.
While at university, Teal found discovered that she loved singing in public. After graduation, she started a career in advertising, singing in her spare time with various amateur and semi-professional bands.
Teal's break came when she was asked to stand in for Stacey Kent at a weekend festival. Her popularity soared, with appearances on radio and television bringing her to the attention of a wider public. This eventually led to her being signed by Sony in what was the biggest recording deal by any British jazz singer.
In live performances, Teal performs with a band led by pianist/music director Grant Windsor. While the majority of her recordings are standards, all her albums feature original songs or contemporary covers including post-swing material, most notably a cover of The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreaming". This track attracted the attention of BBC Radio presenter Michael Parkinson, garnering significant publicity during her period with Candid Records.
Her 2004 album Don't Talk reached number one in the UK Jazz Chart (on Sony Records) and number twenty in the mainstream UK Albums Chart. In 2005 she won the award of British jazz vocalist of the year, and in 2006 the award of BBC jazz vocalist of the year.
Since 2005 Teal has been the presenter of the BBC Radio 2 show, Big Band Special, on a Monday night and regularly appears as a presenter on Friday Night is Music Night. Since 2 August 2009, she has also been presenting Sunday Night at 10.
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Clare Teal - Don't Talk - 2004
Clare Teal - Get Happy - 2008
Clare Teal - Hey Ho - 2011
Clare Teal - Jing, Jing-A-Ling - 2013
Clare Teal - Live At Ebenezer Chapel - 2009
Clare Teal - Orsino's Songs - 2002
Clare Teal - Paradisi Carousel [256] - 2007
Clare Teal - That's The Way It Is - 2001
Clare Teal - The Road Less Travelled - 2003
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