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Artist
Clare Teal
12+ albums
jazzfemale vocalistsfemale jazz vocalistbritish jazzfemale jazz contemporary
about
Clare Teal (born 14 May 1973) is an English jazz singer from the historic county of Yorkshire who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording deal by a British jazz singer. Teal was brought up in the Kildwick area of Keighley, West Yorkshire where she was born. She developed an interest in jazz from an early age, through her father's collection of 78rpm records, becoming obsessed with big band singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Loss. She took music lessons (first on the electronic organ, then more formally on clarinet), before going on to study music at Wolverhampton University. While at university, Teal found herself without her clarinet for an unexpected examination. Deciding to sing instead, she not only got her "best grades ever", but discovered that she loved singing in public. After graduation, she started a career in advertising, singing in her spare time with various amateur and semi-professional bands. Teal's break came when she was asked to stand in for Stacey Kent at a weekend festival in Llandrindod Wells. This led (after some determined self-promotion, in which she drew upon her advertising skills) to a three-album contract with the jazz specialist label Candid Records. Her popularity soared, with appearances on radio and television bringing her to the attention of a wider public. This eventually led to her being signed by Sony in what was the biggest recording deal by any British jazz singer. In live pe
