The queen of retro pop back in the limelight
"THE beehive queen of retro pop" – Mari Wilson is back and ready to shove copy cats Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen out of the limelight.
"THE beehive queen of retro pop" – Mari Wilson is back and ready to shove copy cats Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen out of the limelight.The ’80s singing sensation has just launched a new album, Emotional Glamour, and will be showcasing the songs at The Cresset theatre, in Bretton, Peterborough, on Sunday.
Mari Wilson first arrived on the scene in the early ’80s with her skyscraper beehive hairdo, bizarre sense of fashion and fully choreographed 12-piece band The Wilsations!
In 1982, Mari’s records began entering the charts and she soon had six hit singles, the biggest being Just What I’ve Always Wanted and Cry Me A River.
In the mid-’80s after constant touring of the UK, Europe and the United States, Mari reduced the size of her band (and her hairdo), changing direction with a jazz quartet, playing venues such as Ronnie Scotts and The Royal Festival Hall (supporting the legendary Stan Getz).
Mari has also appeared in musical theatre, playing Nickie Pignatelli in Phil Willmott’s production of Sweet Charity, Annabel in the black comedy The Chainsaw Manicure, and Dusty Springfield in Dusty The Musical.
After appearing with Boy George in the West End musical TABOO, Mari wrote, produced and recorded her album, Dolled Up, which was released in 2005.
In September 2007, marking the 25th anniversary of Just What I Always Wanted being in the Top 10, Warner Bros released Mari Wilson – The Platinum Collection, and Mari toured the UK.
Singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe will be supporting Mari.
His formidable piano technique (described by jazz singer Ian Shaw as “a cross between Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Les Dawson”) and vocal range stem from a classical training starting when he was five.
He has drawn comparisons with other singer/pianists such as Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr, Buddy Greco and former Candid artist Jamie Cullum, but soon more people will discover Joe Stilgoe in his own right and relish the chance to listen to a serious musician having fun.
Tickets to see Mari Wilson cost 16, 18 or 20, and can be booked from The Cresset Box Office on 01733 265705
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Thursday 18 March 2010
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