Beverley Craven facts for kids

Beverley Craven (born 28 July 1963) is a talented British singer and songwriter. She is most famous for her 1991 UK hit song "Promise Me". Beverley has released several studio albums, including a special album called Woman to Woman with fellow artists Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham.

Biography

Early Life and Music Journey

Beverley Craven was born in Colombo, Ceylon (which is now Sri Lanka), in July 1963. Her family moved to Buckinghamshire, England, when she was very young. Beverley started playing the piano at age seven. Her mother, who was a classical violinist, encouraged her love for music.

After finishing school, Beverley went to art college. She also played music with different bands in London pubs and started writing her own songs. She was also a good swimmer when she was a teenager, competing in national events.

Beverley didn't start buying pop music records until she was 15. She enjoyed artists like Kate Bush and Stevie Wonder. At 22, she decided to become a singer and songwriter, playing the piano herself. She even toured briefly with soul singer Bobby Womack. Soon, she got a music deal with Warner Brothers and then with Epic Records.

First Album Success

In 1988, Beverley went to Los Angeles to work on her music. She recorded her first album with producer Paul Samwell-Smith. Her self-titled debut album, Beverley Craven, came out in July 1990.

At first, the album was more popular in Europe than in the UK. But in April 1991, her song "Promise Me" became a huge hit in the UK. It reached number 3 on the music charts! This success made her album very popular, and it also reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. The album sold over 1.2 million copies around the world. Other songs like "Holding On" and "Woman To Woman" also became popular.

In 1992, Beverley released a live concert video called Memories. In February 1992, she won the Best British Newcomer Award at the Brit Awards. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to her first daughter, Mollie, soon after.

Love Scenes and Mixed Emotions

Beverley spent time enjoying being a mother and working on her second album. Love Scenes was released in September 1993. It reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album included "Mollie's Song", which she wrote for her daughter. She also covered ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All".

In 1993, she went on a concert tour and performed at the Royal Albert Hall. She was nominated again for Best British Female Artist at the 1994 Brit Awards.

Beverley took a break from music after having two more daughters. In 1999, she released her third album, Mixed Emotions. She produced this album herself in her home studio. After promoting this album, Beverley decided to take a break from the music industry to focus on her children.

Later Career and Health Journey

In 2004, a collection of her best songs, The Very Best of Beverley Craven, was released. Beverley started performing live concerts again to promote it. She later faced some health challenges, including cancer. After receiving treatment, she bravely returned to the stage in 2006 and continued to perform in the following years.

In March 2009, Beverley released her first album in ten years, Close To Home. She wrote and produced this album herself and released it on her own record label.

In August 2010, Beverley released a live DVD called Live in Concert. She also published her autobiography, Truth Be Told, in 2012.

Her fifth studio album, Change of Heart, came out on 1 September 2014. She then went on a tour across the UK.

In 2018, Beverley announced the "Woman to Woman" tour. She toured with Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham. They released a song together called "Safe" and a joint album, Woman to Woman.

Personal Life

Beverley Craven married singer-songwriter Colin Campsie in December 1994. They had three daughters together. They lived in London before moving to Buckinghamshire. Beverley faced health challenges, including cancer, in 2005 and again in 2014. She bravely underwent treatment and continued her music career. Her 2018 "Woman to Woman" tour was postponed but resumed in 2019 after her health improved. Beverley and Colin later decided to go their separate ways in 2010. She met her new partner, Mike, in 2019. In 2020, Beverley became vegan.

Awards and nominations

Discography

• Beverley Craven (1990)
• Love Scenes (1993)
• Mixed Emotions (1999)
• Close to Home (2009)
• Change of Heart (2014)
• Woman to Woman (with Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham) (2018)
• Woman to Woman (The Live Album) (with Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham) (2022)