Catherine Porter

Infobox musical artist


Background = solo_singer
Name = Catherine Porter
Instrument = acoustic guitar Keyboards violin
Genre = Easy Listening Pop Music
Years_active = 1992-present
Associated_acts = Brian May Rich Hall
URL = [http://myspace.com/catherineporter]

Catherine Porter is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is a former member of The Brian May Band and has appeared in several musicals and films. To date, Porter has released one album of solo material, "Something Good", in 2002, and has also worked as a backing singer for the likes of Queen, Tony Hadley, Edwin Starr, Kiki Dee, Paul Rogers, Sam Moore, Mel B and Chaka Khan.

Early career

Her first big job was touring with Michael Crawford in " The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber", before being asked by Brian May, to join his backing band on an American tour supporting Guns N' Roses. She later retained the role on the UK leg of the tour, and appeared on both the 1993 live album Live At The Brixton Academy and his later 1998 solo record " Another World". Porter also sang backing vocals on the 1995 Queen track "Let Me Live".

Her work with Brian brought Catherine to London, which became her home for the following decade. She appeared in the West End in such plays as "Only the Lonely", " Sunset Boulevard" (opposite John Barrowman and later Hugh Jackman), "Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens" and Ben Elton's " Tonight's The Night".

Recent career

In 2000, she attempted to become the United Kingdom's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, with two songs shortlisted. Her composition "The Answer" was elmininated in a radio semi-final, but "Crazy" was selected for the TV heats. She failed to win the bid, losing out to Nikki French, who went on to finish 16th at the Eurovision final.

Throughout this period, Porter wrote songs and even at one point, provided jingles for BBC Radio 2, before landing a deal with Jive Records. However, after the release of one single and album, Catherine parted ways with Jive and has yet to find another contract. After relocating back to New York, getting married and becoming a mother, she has recorded an unreleased album of standards with James Pearson, and is working on new material.

Other Works

Catherine has also made brief excursions into films, making cameo appearances in "Die Another Day" and "Batman Begins". She also performed the title song for the BBC television sitcom "All About Me".

In 2001, she appeared on stage with the comedian Rich Hall, singing three tracks with his character Otis Lee Crenshaw - a performance released on DVD, VHS and audio CD.

Discography

Albums
* 2002: Something Good

Singles
* 2002: She's So Cool

The Brian May Band
* 1993: Live At The Brixton Academy album and vhs
* 1998: Another World - backing vocals on "On My Way Up"

Guest Appearances
* 1994: "Old Friends" by Roger Taylor
* 1995: "Let Me Live" by Queen
* 2001: "Trailerland", "Conjugal Visit" and "Till The Cows Come Home" by Otis Lee Crenshaw & The Black Liars

External links

* [http://www.catherineporter.com Catherine Porter's official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/catherineporter Catherine Porter's official myspace site]
* [http://www.brianmay.com/misc/cathy.html Brian May's webpage on Catherine]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0692058 Catherine Porter on imdb.com]