Kiki Dee -

Kiki Dee is an English pop-rock singer who cut nine singles (1963–67) on Fontana, which issued her 1968 debut album I’m Kiki Dee. She became Tamla Motown’s first British white act with her 1970 second album Great Expectations.

In 1973, she joined Elton John‘s Rocket Record Company and scored her first UK hit with “Amoureuse.” Rocket issued her next four albums: Loving & Free, I’ve Got the Music in Me, Kiki Dee, and Stay With Me. In 1976, Elton and Dee dueted on the transatlantic No. 1 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” Post-Rocket, Dee charted with “Star” from her 1981 Ariola release Perfect Timing.

Background

Kiki was born Pauline Matthews on March 6, 1947, in Bradford, an industrial city in West Riding of Yorkshire. The youngest of three, Pauline won a talent show at 10; inspired by her brother’s collection of Elvis Presley records.

At 16, Pauline worked days at a local Boots retailer and performed nights with a dance band in nearby Leeds, where a talent scout invited her to London for an audition with Fontana Records, which linked her with songwriter Mitch Murray, who renamed her Kiki Dee and penned her first a-side, “Early Night,” released in May 1963 (b/w “Lucky High Heels”), produced by Harry Robinson.

I’m Kiki Dee

Kiki Dee released her debut album, I’m Kiki Dee, in March 1968 on Fontana.

Great Expectations

Kiki Dee released her second album, Great Expectations, in August 1970 on Tamla Motown.

Loving & Free

Kiki Dee released her third album, Loving & Free, in December 1973 on Rocket.

I’ve Got the Music in Me

Kiki Dee released her fourth album, I’ve Got the Music in Me (billed to the Kiki Dee Band), on November 14, 1974, on Rocket.

Cage the Songbird

Kiki Dee completed her fifth album in the spring of 1976 but Rocket vetoed its release. In 2008, EMI issued the contents as an archival disc, Cage the Songbird.