Sharleen Spiteri

Sharleen Eugene Spiteri is a Scottish singer, one of the founders of Texas band. In 2008 she started her own solo career. Sharleen was born in Bellshill, near Glasgow, and she had been connected with music since the very childhood: her father Eddie played the guitar, and her mother Vilma was a singer. Spiteri was influenced by such bands and singers as The Clash (that was the reason she started to play black Fender Telecaster), Blondie, Marvin Gaye and Prince. Also Sharleen said that she was a big Diana Ross fan. The musical career started in 1986 when Texas was formed. Sharleen became the band’s guitarist and also she sang. She had an opportunity to work with German band Rammstein: she performed the vocal part in their ballad Stirb Nicht Vor Mir from 2005 album Rosenrot. Spiteri sang backing vocals in Scottish rock band Gun. She took part in creation of their albums Taking On The World and Gallus.

In 2008 Sharleen decided to start the solo career, and she wrote such singles as All The Times I Cried, Stop, I Don't Love You Anymore, It Was You and Don't Keep Me Waiting. Johnny McElhone, with whom Spiteri played in Texas, helped her to write songs from her debut album Melody, which was released in 2008. Melody debuted at number 3 on the UK Album Charts, and single All The Times I Cried was at number 26 on Singles Chart. The debut album was certified Gold: more than 100,000 copies were sold in the united kingdom. Sharleen’s second album titled The Movie Songbook was released in 2010 and included cover-versions of movie songs. The first track is a cover version of Xanadu, and it became number 71 in Singles Chart. Also album includes such compositions as Take My Breath Away, Pretty Woman and What’s New Pussycat. The Movie Songbook was successful: it debuted at number 13 on the UK Album Charts.

Sharleen Spiteri is indeed a creative person; she is involved not only into music. She could have a role in Moulin Rouge! with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, but Sharleen had to refuse because she did not want to move to Australia for a year. In the beginning of her musical career Sharleen decided not to stick to a girly image, and she insisted on usual Levi jeans. Probably that is the reason why Spiteri has a big lesbian fan base, though her own sexual orientation is heterosexual: the Scottish singer had a long relationship with the editor of Arena magazine Ashley Heath. The couple had a baby: in 2002 Mysty Kyd was born, and close friend of Sharleen, a footballer Thierry Henry dedicated a goal to Mysty. After a long time relationship Ashley and Sharleen broke up in 2004. Today Sharleen Spiteri is a patron of children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.