|
Beverley Craven is an English singer/songwriter and pianist, specialising in orchestrated ballads that position her as a kind of easy-listening Kate Bush. Since 1990, she has recorded a handful of albums for Epic, and though each has sold less than its predecessor, she remains a popular live figure, her profile only dented by long lay-offs between recordings.
Craven (b. 28th July 1963, Colombo, Sri Lanka) grew up in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England. Encouraged by her mother, a classical violinist, she took up piano at the age of seven. Upon leaving school, she attended art college, whilst performing with various bands in London pubs, and writing songs. When her compositions came to the attention of Bobby Womack, she was invited to tour Europe with him for several months as a backing vocalist. In the late 1980s she signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, followed by a recording contract with Epic. Sessions for her debut album were initially supervised by Simply Red producer Stewart Levine, but Craven considered the results too glibly commercial, and started from scratch with veteran Carly Simon producer Paul Samwell-Smith, a choice far more in keeping with her subdued, confessional songwriting. Following the astonishing success of her first single "Promise Me," now widely acclaimed as a contemporary standard, her self-titled debut album exploded throughout Europe. Intriguingly, when the Levine versions of such hits as "Holding On" and "Memories" appeared as b-sides, they were labelled, with obvious derision, as "west coast version". At the 1992 Brit awards, eight months pregnant with her first child, Craven took Best British Newcomer, performing to an enraptured audience. Since then, Craven's career has lost momentum. She has devoted time to her three daughters with songwriter husband Colin Campsie (whose work has appeared on albums by Natalie Imbruglia and Bewitched), and recorded only occasionally. Subsequent albums have not lived up to the commercial standard set by her debut, although she remains an intermittently active presence both on the lower reaches of the UK chart, and with the occasional concert hall gig.
----
Beverley was born on 28th July 1963 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, whilst her father was working there. When she was just 18 months old, the family returned to live in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England, where Beverley later attended Bridgewater School and Ashlyns School.
Her mother, a classical violinist, encouraged her to take piano lessons from the age of seven. She later became an accomplished swimmer, competing in junior national championships against Sharon Davies before deciding that there was more to life than ploughing up and down a swimming pool.
The first record Beverley bought was 'Telephone Line' by ELO, when she was 15. She became interested in singer-songwriters such as Elton John & Stevie Wonder, but was particularly inspired by Kate Bush and bought some of her sheet music.
When she was seventeen, her previously happy childhood came to an end when her parents split up, 'One of the main tragedies of my life . . . . I didn't take sides but the whole thing was so confusing. I think it would have been good if my parents had explained what was happening to me, so that I had a chance to understand and come to terms with the split.'
Beverley has a brother, two sisters, and one half-sister.
After leaving school, Beverley went to Amersham Art College.
Fame proved hard to come by, Beverley endured countless odd jobs (including Waitress, Chambermaid, making sandwiches on a cross-channel ferry, 6 weeks in McDonalds in Regent St, and a couple of hours in a dodgy "gentleman's club") whilst performing with various bands in London pubs. It was at this time that she began writing songs. 'I'm a slow writer. I can't just write to order, write a song for the sake of writing another one. I had this desire to get down and capture a moment, be able to relate a story as concisely as possible with a melody that fits. It has to be perfect.'
Bobby Womack was so impressed by her songs, that she was asked to tour Europe with him for several months as a backing vocalist. She accepted this offer, but declined a further offer to sign with Womack's US production company.
After hearing one of the demo cassettes which she always had with her, John Glover (then manager of Go West) became her manager, and negotiated a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, and a development deal with Epic Records.
Beverley's first professional demo tape was made in 1988. Epic Records then arranged two months of live solo performances in clubs around Los Angeles. 'It was for seasoning really. It wasn't easy either, being alone at the piano with no album out and no name recognition. But in the end I think those gigs were good for me.'
Three tracks were initially recorded with producer Stewart Levine, but Beverley felt that the recording style did not reflect the mood of her music. Fortunately, Muff Winwood of Epic Records agreed with her, and subsequently teamed her up with producer Paul Samwell-Smith (formerly of The Yardbirds). The Stewart Levine productions of Joey, Holding On, and Memories subsequently appeared on some of the early CD singles, and were labelled as 'west coast version'.
Her debut album was released in July 1990, and was soon successful in Ireland, Belgium, & Holland; but it was not until May 1991, following appearances on Wogan and Top of the Pops on BBC television, that it reached number 3 in the UK album chart. In August 91 she performed solo, or with just saxophone accompaniment, at ten venues across the USA; followed by a fifteen date tour of the UK, including sell-out dates at Birmingham Symphony Hall, and Hammersmith Odeon, London.
Despite her hectic schedule during 1991, romance blossomed for Beverley after she met her future husband Colin Campsie backstage at a Tear For Fears concert.
At the 1992 Brits awards, she won Best British Newcomer, but unlike other winners, didn't walk up on stage to collect her award - instead the curtains drew back to reveal her already seated at a piano - she was 8 months pregnant at the time!
After enduring twenty-two hours of labour in giving birth to her daughter Mollie Megan in March 1992, Beverley was 'far too busy being a mother to be writing songs'; so it was not until September 1993 that her second album, Love Scenes, was released. The accompanying tour of nine venues in the UK, saw her male fans dissappointed not to receive the gift bag which was handed out to women entering the venue - until they realised that the tour was being sponsored by Tampax!
Beverley and Colin married in 1994, and their second daughter Brenna was born the following year. (Brenna is an unusual name in England, and, according to one source means 'raven-haired'.
I also found an article about the possible origins of the name.)
In June 1996, Beverley appeared at the Royal Gala Concert at the NEC, and also performed two concerts, one of which was an open air concert at the Ludlow Festival, of which a review is available.
Autumn 1996 saw the arrival of her third daughter, Connie.
The prelude to the release of her long-awaited third album was an exclusive concert at BBC Broadcasting House on 30th November 1998, which was recorded for subsequent transmission on Radio 2, and is reviewed here.
Mixed Emotions was released on the 31st of May, and was followed by a tour of some twenty small venues throughout the UK.
A further small tour took place in October 1999.
|
