Corinne Bailey Rae Biography

The British singer, songwriter, and guitarist Corinne Bailey Rae was born in 1979 in West Yorkshire. Corinne grew up in the Leeds area, where as a young child she learned to play classical violin and later began singing in her school and church choirs. But it was while she was studying English Literature at the University of Leeds that she met and married musician and sax payer Jason Rae; it was he who encouraged Corinne to pursue a career as a performer.

After performing with a number of small groups, Corrine Bailey Rae embarked on a solo career, releasing her self-titled debut in 2006. The album was a huge success, rising to the number one spot in the United Kingdom and into the top five in the United States. The album also charted internationally, reaching into the top ten in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Corrine Bailey Rae also spawned the singles “Like a Star,” “Put Your Records On,” “Trouble Sleeping,” and “I’d Like To,” and earned Corrine Rae Bailey multiple Grammy nominations, for Best New Artist and for Record and Song of the Year (for “Put Your Records On.”)

Rae’s second album, The Sea, was just as successful, also reaching into the top ten internationally in 2010 and spawning the Grammy-nominated single, “Is This Love.” Additional award nominations for Corrine Bailey Rae include multiple BET Awards (for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Artist), and BRIT Awards (for Best British Single, British Female Artist, and British Breakthrough Act.) Additional singles include: “I’d Do It All Again,” “Paris Nights/New York Mornings,” “Closer,” and “Is This Love.” Rae has also appeared as a featured artist on multiple singles, including the songs “Your Love Is Mine” (with The New Mastersounds) and “Young & Foolish” (with The stiX.)

So far in her career, Corrine Bailey Rae has won three MOJO Awards for Best UK Female, Best UK Newcomer, and Best New Act. She’s also won a BMI Pop Award. Rae’s most recent album, The Heart Speaks in Whispers, arrived in May of 2016 and debut at the number two spot on the R&B charts in the United States, making it her highest charting album to date.