Grace Kennedy (singer)

{{Short description|British television presenter and singer}}

{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Grace Kennedy

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Montego Bay, JamaicaWho's Who in Popular Music – Sheila Tracy (1984)

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| occupation = singer, television presenter, actress, entrepreneur

| television = Grace Kennedy Show

| years_active =

| known_for = - top UK and US charts hit songs
- TV entertainment show
(BAFTA award)
- Magnum, P.I. actress role
- luxury events designer

| notable_works =

}}

Grace Kennedy is a British, BAFTA award winning, television presenter and recording artist with UK and US charts hit songs.

Singer

Grace Kennedy first came into the public eye after winning the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1977Barr, G. (2005, Apr 29). "Gracing musical theatre", [01B edition]. Evening Chronicle and then also featuring in a 1979 episode of Star Treatment.{{cite web|title=Star Treatment - Grace Kennedy (15 January 1979)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5760862/|publisher=IMDB}}

In the next years, she developed a successful musical career, with albums and singles released by DJM Records and BBC labels.{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/103799-Grace-Kennedy|publisher=Discogs}} Many tracks were arrangements by Peter Knight and John Coleman. "Starting Again" reached number 34 on the US Dance Songs chart, and she featured on the charity single "The Wishing Well" which reached number 22 in the UK.{{cite web|title=Grace's World|url=http://www.gracekennedyevents.com/graces-world/|work=Grace Kennedy Events}}{{Cite magazine |title=Grace Kennedy |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/grace-kennedy/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title= Grace Kennedy - I'm Starting Again |url=https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Grace+Kennedy&titel=I%27m+Starting+Again&cat=a |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Spanishcharts.com}}

Her interpretation of "'Love Is Serious Business" turned into a Northern soul alternative female version of the Alfie Davidson classic,{{Cite web |title=Alfie Davison |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/459378-Alfie-Davison |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Discogs}} with a rare Canadian Rio Records release, as it was typical of many Northern soul records.{{Cite web |title=Grace Kennedy – I'm Starting Again (Rio Records) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/12957409-Grace-Kennedy-Im-Starting-Again |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Discogs}}

In 2021–2022, her music albums were digitalized and released on the major download platforms.{{Cite web |title=Grace Kennedy (Digital) |url=https://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/grace-kennedy-digital/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Demon Music Group}}

Discography

Television presenter and actress

In 1981, Grace Kennedy was signed by the BBC to present her own Saturday night primetime entertainment show, The Grace Kennedy Show, which ran for six series between 1981–1983 and won a BAFTA award.{{cite web|title=Television Craft - Sound Supervisor in 1984|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1984/tvcraft/sound-supervisor|work=BAFTA|accessdate=27 September 2011}} Guests included Bruce Forsyth,{{cite web|title=Youtube – Grace Kennedy and Bruce Forsyth| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9dvbj1f4OI}} Al Jarreau,{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c38eff409c3b4bd995981c98b63f1b21|date=15 February 1982|work=BBC}} The Pointer Sisters{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e2e18f3515df4867855d76968bdb07fc|date=8 February 1982|work=BBC}} and Derek Griffiths.{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b844bbc4864944f584f57ad59397affd|date=16 February 1981|work=BBC}}

She has appeared on other series, among them The Royal Variety Performance,{{cite web|title=Royal Variety Performance|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b2cc838606724a33b14e2dba371b9543|date=23 November 1980|work=BBC}} Live From Her Majesty's,{{cite web|title=Live from Her Majesty's[18/03/84] |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8257919b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619170541/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8257919b|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 June 2018|work=British Film Institute}}{{cite web|title=Live from Her Majesty's[06/10/85]|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7c3ad788|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619165028/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7c3ad788|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 June 2018|work=British Film Institute}} String Sound,{{cite web|title=String Sound|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e216d9ef6c09490085d7b8cfd7adee5f|date=9 August 1981|work=BBC}} Saturday Night is Gala Night,{{cite web|title=Saturday Night is Gala Night|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b2647e6fddc9404fb4714edceecdf9b8|date=9 January 1982|work=BBC}} Home on Sunday,{{cite web|title=Home on Sunday|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5f0c4506f494407a9e6ec5830ece3ddb|date=15 July 1984 |work=BBC}} Lena Zavaroni and Music,{{cite web|title=Lena Zavaroni and Music|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4b9ca9354af34e1bb1bb5ad2ddf0f143|date=30 May 1979 |work=BBC}} The Good Old Days,{{cite web|title=The Good Old Days|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/49baf00f47394d42aec4ee577d8500ce|date=6 August 1980|work=BBC}} Des O'Connor Tonight,{{cite web|title=Des O'Connor Tonight|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8222a23496c94984a1448330f8fa5d3e|date=1 December 1980|work=BBC}} The Les Dawson Show,{{cite web|title=The Les Dawson Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a38c5ee4814d4b34b7822faa2dac8c70|date=15 January 1983|work=BBC}} The Rod and Emu Show.{{cite web|title=The Rod and Emu Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9e520132265a49db908d7fbdaa4ecdca|date=25 February 1984|work=BBC}}

She was also a featured actor with Tom Selleck in a 2 part special of Magnum, P.I.{{cite web|title=Magnum P.I. TV-Serie (1980-1988)|url=https://www.synchronkartei.de/serie/2056|date=25 February 1984|work=Synchron Kartei}}

Onstage, Kennedy starred in the 1992 West End Cotton Club musical revue,{{cite web|title=

Grace Kennedy Broadway and Theatre Credits|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Grace-Kennedy/|publisher=BroadwayWorld.com}} the 1994 production of Carmen Jones (directed by actor Simon Callow){{cite web|title=Opera North present 'Carmen Jones', Birmingham Hippodrome|url=http://birminghamhippodromeheritage.com/bht_collection/poster-opera-north-present-carmen-jones-birmingham-hippodrome/|publisher=Birmingham Hippodrome Heritage}} and the 2005 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie alongside Lesley Joseph, Elaine C Smith and Donna Steele.{{cite web|title=Review: Thoroughly Modern Millie|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/04/05/millie_review_feature.shtml|publisher=BBC}}

Luxury events designer

Kennedy founded and is the managing director of Grace Kennedy Events, a luxury event planning business which organises high end luxury/celebrity parties. She transitioned into this field through the experience she acquired in organising her own concerts and stage events. After being approached by Toyota to sing and organise the production of six concerts to launch a new car in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, she continued by arranging further concerts and gala events for companies such as Renault, Tetra Pak, British Airways and Gillette. She then expanded her business by designing and organising luxury celebrity and society events.{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy: From International Singer to Events Innovator|url=http://www.gracekennedyevents.com/press-and-media/luxurious-destination-collection-featured-good-property-guide/|work=The Good Wedding Guide (April 2017)|date=6 September 2017 }} In June 2011, she organised the wedding of Vincent and Carla Kompany.{{cite web|title=Vincent & Carla Kompany's Fairy-tale Wedding|url=http://www.gracekennedyevents.com/press-and-media/vincent-carla-kompanys-fairy-tale-wedding/|work=Grace Kennedy Events|date=22 June 2011 }}

In 2014, she was invited to present several awards at The Luxury Lifestyle Awards ceremony.{{cite web|title=The Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2014|url=http://www.gracekennedyevents.com/press-and-media/luxury-lifestyle-awards-2014/|work=Grace Kennedy Events|date=14 September 2014 }}{{cite web|title=Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2015 ME to honour the best of luxury|url=https://ameinfo.com/luxury-lifestyle/lifestyle/luxury-lifestyle-awards-2015-me-to-honour-the-best-of-luxury/|work=Ame Info}}

In 2018, she launched The Luxurious Destination Collection as the signature brand of Grace Kennedy Events. The collection is a partnership with a network of luxury destinations in the world handpicked by Grace, like Blenheim Palace, the Mandarin Oriental, the Royal Mansour{{cite web|title=Luxury Royal Mansour Marrakesh|url=https://www.royalmansour.com/en/|website=Royalmansour.com}} and several discreet private islands, where the clients enjoy exclusive personal and bespoke options. There are three categories of destinations, In the Country (palaces, stately homes in places like Britain, the French Riviera, Lake Como Italy, the Spanish mountains), In the City (in Morocco, Dubai, Europe etc.), By the Sea (such as some private islands in the Caribbean, Maldive).{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy launches signature brand The Luxurious Destination Collection|url=http://www.theluxecafe.com/stories/grace-kennedy-launches-signature-brand-luxurious-destination-collection/|work=The Luxe Cafe}}{{cite web|title=Luxurious Destination Collection|url=http://www.gracekennedyevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Your-Mayfair-Article.pdf|work=Your Mayfair|date=April 2018}}{{cite web|title=The Luxurious Destination Collection|url=http://onlinemagazine.cbfnet.co.uk/tag/the-good-property-guide-magazine/|work=The Good Property Guide|date=September–October 2017}}

Personal life

Grace Kennedy has a daughter, Natalie (Winsor), from her first marriage, herself a successful actress. Her second marriage was to entertainment lawyer and entrepreneur Nigel Angel, in 1999.{{cite web|title=Hello Magazine|url=http://www.crazyaboutmagazines.com/ourshop/prod_121609-Hello-magazine-Jerry-Hall-cover-15-June-1999-Issue-564.html|website=Crazyaboutmagazines.com}}

Charity

Grace Kennedy is an ambassador for the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals.{{cite web|title=Ambasadors|url=https://www.nfrsa.org.uk/ambassadors/|date=|work=National Foundation for Retired Service Animals}} She recorded a fund raising top 20 single with Boy George for "The Wishing Well" Appeal Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Additionally Grace supports the following:

  • Royal Variety Performance{{cite web|title=Grace Kennedy – VIP Guest at Royal Variety Performance|url=https://www.gracekennedyevents.com/royal-variety-performance-2016/|date=|work=}}
  • Variety The children’s Charity
  • Guys & St Thomas Hospital trust
  • Sportsman Aid Society
  • Royal Gala charity
  • Candlelight Ball charity Gala
  • Starlight children’s foundation Charity Gala
  • Mayflower Gala Charity Show
  • Joy to the World, The Royal Albert Hall{{cite web|title=Joy to the World|url=https://catalogue.royalalberthall.com/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Performance&id=Ularoxon_Veat&pos=1|date=|work=The Royal Albert Hall}}
  • Foundation for Children with Leukemia

References

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