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Hazell Dean (born Hazel Dean Poole, 27 October 1956, Great Baddow, Essex) is a British dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top ten hits "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)", "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" and "Who's Leaving Who". She has also worked as a songwriter and producer.
She started her career in the mid 1970s and came to prominence in the 1980s after many years as a club performer and working on the gay scene with her brand of Hi-NRG. Dean was elected three times as the "Best Live Performer" by the "Federation of American Dance Clubs" (US), and twice as a "Best British Performer" by "Club Mirror Awards" (UK).
She participated twice in the A Song for Europe contest. In 1976 she took eighth place (out of twelve) with the ballad, "I Couldn't Live Without You for a Day", written by contest veteran Paul Curtis. 1984 saw Dean finish in seventh place of eight, with another dramatic ballad, "Stay In My Life", which she wrote herself. She also provided backing vocals for Samantha Janus in 1991's Eurovision Song Contest.
Dean gained initial success in the 1980s, in February 1984 when she entered the UK Singles Chart with the double A-sided single, "Evergreen" / "Jealous Love" which peaked at #63. Two months later however, she scored her first Top 10 hit with the re-release of "Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man)", which peaked at #6. Dean then released the follow-up "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" (produced by Stock Aitken Waterman) in August which hit #4. "Whatever I Do" was originally recorded by Michael Prince as "Dance Your Love Away", but the song was re-written by Mike Stock & Matt Aitken because Dean disliked the chorus. It's #4 placing gave Stock Aitken Waterman their first Top 10 hit. Further singles from the album, "Back In My Arms (Once Again)" and "No Fool (For Love)" both peaked at #41.
From her second album, Always, "They Say It's Gonna Rain", reached #58 on the UK Singles Chart, although she secured a #1 single in South Africa with this Stock Aitken Waterman produced single. Subsequent singles fared worse with "ESP", "Stand Up" and "Always (Doesn't Mean Forever)" not reaching the UK chart. In early 1988 however, she achieved her biggest hit in four years with "Who's Leaving Who", which reached #4. The follow-ups, "Maybe (We Should Call it a Day)", made #15, and "Turn It Into Love" (which was originally recorded by Kylie Minogue and included on her debut album, Kylie) peaked at #21.
1990s
Dean left EMI and signed with Lisson Records, releasing two singles for the label. The first was a cover of Yvonne Elliman's "Love Pains" in 1989, produced by PWL producers Phil Harding and Ian Curnow. It reached #48 on the UK Singles Chart. It was nearly two years before she released her next single, the SAW penned and produced "Better Off Without You", which was originally recorded by Lonnie Gordon. It was her final UK chart entry, peaking at #72. After the failure of these two singles, Dean no longer continued to work with Stock Aitken Waterman and began working with Ian Levine who had previously remixed and produced tracks with her in the mid 1980s.
During this time, Dean produced and wrote songs for Bad Boys Inc, Bona Riah (produced "House of Rising Sun"), Miquel Brown (produced "It's a Sin"), MEN 2 B (co-wrote "Love Satisfaction"), Upside Down and Sandra Feva.
1996 saw the release of Dean's next album, The Winner Takes It All, which was released on Carlton Records. This album contained covers of ABBA songs. The title track was released as a single. In 1999, Dean released a cover version of Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" and, in 2001, a remixed version of "Who's Leaving Who" was released. Neither of these singles charted.
Recent career
In 2007, Dean returned to record with Ian Levine, completing the track "Trade Him for a Newer Model" for the album Disco 2008. The music video for Trade Him for a Newer Model was released on YouTube by Levine in 2007.
In 2009, a number of songs (that have never before been available on any Dean album in their original form) were released on ITunes, including some never before released remixes, while Cherry Red Records re-issued Dean's first mainstream pop album Heart First in early 2010.
2010 saw Dean sign to the dance label, Energise Records, who also have The Three Degrees, Sonia, Tina Charles and Nicki French signed to them. With Energise, Dean recorded an updated version of her 1980s single, "They Say It's Gonna Rain". The new track was produced by KlubKidz and has remixes from the Sleazesisters, Glamma and PMG.
Dean continues to perform live and occasionally records with various producers, with tracks appearing via her official website.
After the success of "Searchin'", Dean made her gay club debut at Heaven in London and has subsequently enjoyed a large gay and lesbian following. Always acknowledging the support she has received from the Gay community throughout her career Dean frequently performs at Gay Pride events both in the UK and abroad. She was one of the headline acts at Stockholm Pride in 2010, and Torbay Pride the same year.
In 2010, Dean announced to the press that she was herself gay.
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