Helen DeMacque facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pepsi DeMacque
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DeMacque performing as part of Pepsi & Shirlie at the Liverpool Echo Arena, 25 June 2011
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Pepsi |
| Born | 10 December 1958 Paddington, London, England |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | |
Helen "Pepsi" DeMacque-Crockett, born on December 10, 1958, is a British pop singer. She is famous for being a backing singer for the popular group Wham!. She was also part of the music duo Pepsi & Shirlie in the 1980s.
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Early Life
Pepsi DeMacque was born in London, England. Her parents moved to Britain in the 1950s from the island of Saint Lucia.
Music Journey
Singing with Wham!
In 1983, Pepsi joined the music group Wham!. She became one of their two singers and dancers. Pepsi took the place of Dee C. Lee. She performed alongside Shirlie Holliman. Her first appearance was in the music video for the song "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go".
Forming Pepsi & Shirlie
After their time with Wham! ended, Pepsi and Shirlie Holliman started their own group. They called themselves Pepsi & Shirlie. This duo was formed right after Wham!'s last concert. Their music had a fun and upbeat pop sound.
Pepsi & Shirlie had two big hit songs in the UK. "Heartache" reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. "Goodbye Stranger" reached number 9.
Later Music Work
Pepsi & Shirlie took a break in 1989. They came back briefly in 2000. They sang backing vocals for Geri Halliwell's number one hit song "Bag It Up". The duo also reunited in 2011 for the Here and Now Tour.
Pepsi also worked with musician Mike Oldfield in 1998 and 1999. She joined his "Then & Now" tour. She also performed at the premiere of his album Tubular Bells III. She sang at a concert in Berlin for the year 2000 celebration. She also sang on a song from his album The Millennium Bell. In 2011, she sang with a group called Forthright.
Acting Roles
Pepsi DeMacque has also worked as an actor. She has appeared in films and on TV. She played the famous performer Josephine Baker. She also acted on stage in the musical Hair. This show was at the Old Vic Theatre in London.
Personal Life
Pepsi DeMacque lived in Wellington, New Zealand, for several years. She worked at a gift shop there. While in Wellington, she worked with New Zealand electronic artist 50Hz. She also performed with composer Rhian Sheehan early in his career.
By 2006, she moved to Daventry, England. She worked for a medical aid business until 2010. Later, she moved to St Lucia. There, she and her husband, James Crockett, run a sailing business. Her nephew, Cesár Sampson, represented Austria in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2021, Pepsi DeMacque and Shirley Kemp released their book. It is called Pepsi & Shirlie: It's All in Black and White. The book shares stories about their time touring the world. They wrote about performing with Wham! and as the duo Pepsi & Shirlie.
