Caron Wheeler

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Caron Wheeler bigraphy, stories - English singer

Caron Wheeler : biography

19 January 1963 –

Caron Wheeler (born 19 January 1963) is a British recording artist who gained fame by writing and singing the lead vocals on the two biggest hits for Soul II Soul, "Keep on Movin’" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)". She also was a backing vocalist for Elvis Costello in 1983, The Special AKA in 1984 and Howard Jones in 1985. She also provided backing vocals for a track on Erasure’s album, The Innocents in 1988. She was a member of the female trio Afrodiziak.

Career

Wheeler was also a founder member of the female vocal group Brown Sugar, along with vocalist Kofi. The two were re-united in October 2005 at the Metropolitan Black Police Association’s annual gala at The Barbican in London.

After her success with Soul II Soul, Wheeler embarked on a solo career, and released two albums: UK Blak (1990) and Beach of the War Goddess (1993). Her biggest solo success single is "Livin’ In The Light" from her first solo album, which hit #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a week at #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989. It also reached #14 in the UK Singles Chart.

Wheeler’s only other solo Top 40 hit single was the title track from UK Blak. She also featured with Soul II Soul on the soundtrack to the Angela Bassett movie, How Stella Got Her Groove Back in 1998. More recently, Wheeler featured on Richard X’s 2003 album, Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1.

In 2003, she also contributed the track "Another Star" to the Stevie Wonder tribute album "Conception – An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Songs."

During the 1980s, she was a member of the female vocal quartet Afrodiziak, and sang on records by Madness, Elvis Costello, and Dexys Midnight Runners, among others.

She is reportedly working on a new solo album to be released in 2012. She is also back in the recording studio with Jazzie B recording tracks for a new Soul II Soul album for a 2012 release.

Discography

Albums

Year Album UK US
1990 UK Blak 14 133
1993 Beach of the War Goddess 81

Singles

Year Title UK US US R&B Album
1989 "Keep on Movin’" (with Soul II Soul) 5 11 1 Club Classics Vol. I
"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" (with Soul II Soul) 1 4 1
1990 "Livin’ In The Light" 14 53 3 UK Blak
"UK Blak" 40 44
1991 "Blue (Is The Colour Of Pain)" 37
"Don’t Quit" 53
1992 "I Adore You" 59 99 12 Mo’ Money – OST / Beach Of The War Goddess
1993 "Beach Of The War Goddess" 75 Beach Of The War Goddess
"In Our Love" 61
1993 "Soul Street"
1996 "Keep On Movin’ (Remix)" (with Soul II Soul) 31 Non-album single
"Just the Two of Us" (Toshi Kubota featuring Caron Wheeler) Sunshine, Moonlight
1999 "Star" 82 Non-album single