Kate Bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kate Bush
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Bush in 1985
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Catherine Bush
30 July 1958 Bexleyheath, Kent, England
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| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Danny McIntosh
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Catherine "Kate" Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, and artist famous for her unique music and performances. She started writing songs at just 11 years old. David Gilmour from the band Pink Floyd noticed her talent and helped her get a record deal with EMI Records.
In 1978, when she was 19, her first single "Wuthering Heights" went to number one in the UK. This made her the first female artist to have a number-one hit with a song she wrote all by herself. She has had many hit songs and albums, and she is known for producing her own music since 1982.
Bush is also famous for taking long breaks between albums. After her 1993 album, The Red Shoes, she took a 12-year break before releasing Aerial in 2005. In 2014, she returned to the stage for her first concerts in 35 years.
In 2022, her 1985 song "Running Up That Hill" became a huge hit again after it was featured in the Netflix show Stranger Things. The song went to number one in the UK and many other countries. It also became her first top-ten hit in the United States.
Bush's creative and unusual style has inspired many other musicians. She has won numerous awards, including a BRIT Award in 1987. In 2023, she was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Music
A Musical Childhood
Kate Bush was born on 30 July 1958, in Bexleyheath, Kent, England. Her family was very artistic. Her mother was an Irish dancer, her father played the piano, and her brothers, Paddy and John, were involved in folk music. This creative environment encouraged her to start playing the piano when she was 11. Soon after, she began writing her own songs.
Getting a Record Deal
When Bush was a teenager, her family made a demo tape of her songs. A friend gave the tape to David Gilmour, the guitarist for Pink Floyd. Gilmour was very impressed and helped the 16-year-old Bush record a more professional demo. This new tape got her a contract with EMI Records.
EMI decided to wait before releasing her music. They wanted her to be ready for fame. During this time, Bush finished school and took dance and mime classes. She also wrote nearly 200 songs and performed with her own group, the KT Bush Band, in London pubs.
Career Highlights
1978–1979: A Big Debut
In 1978, Bush released her first album, The Kick Inside. She insisted that "Wuthering Heights" be the first single, even though the record company wanted a different song. She was right—the song became a number-one hit in the UK and Australia. This made her the first British woman to top the UK charts with a song she wrote herself.
Her second album, Lionheart, came out later that year. While it was successful, Bush later said she wished she had more time to work on it. In 1979, she went on her one and only tour, called The Tour of Life. It was a spectacular show with music, dance, magic, and 17 costume changes.
1980–1984: New Sounds and Styles
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For her 1980 album Never for Ever, Bush started co-producing her music. She also began using new technology like the Fairlight CMI, a type of synthesiser and sampler. This album was the first by a British female solo artist to reach number one on the UK album chart. It included the hit single "Babooshka".
In 1982, she released The Dreaming, the first album she produced entirely on her own. She experimented with many different sounds, which made the album very unique. Some critics found it unusual, but it showed her growing confidence as an artist.
1985–1988: Hounds of Love
Bush built her own private studio to have more control over her work. In 1985, she released Hounds of Love, which became one of her most famous albums. It knocked Madonna's album Like a Virgin from the number-one spot in the UK.
The album had two different sides. The first side included hit singles like "Running Up That Hill" and "Cloudbusting". The second side, called The Ninth Wave, was a single piece of music made of seven connected songs. It told the story of someone lost at sea.
In 1986, she released a greatest hits album, The Whole Story, and had another top-ten hit with "Don't Give Up", a duet with Peter Gabriel.
1989–1993: The Sensual World and The Red Shoes
Her 1989 album, The Sensual World, was her best-selling album in the United States. The title song was inspired by the famous novel Ulysses by James Joyce.
In 1993, Bush released The Red Shoes. The album featured guest artists like Eric Clapton. She also directed and starred in a short film called The Line, the Cross and the Curve to go with the album's music. This was a difficult time for Bush, as she lost some people close to her, including her mother.
1994–2006: A Long Break and Aerial
After The Red Shoes, Bush took a long break from the public eye to focus on her family. In 1998, she had a son named Albert, or "Bertie." Many fans wondered when she would release new music.
Finally, in 2005, she returned with the double album Aerial. The first single, "King of the Mountain", was a big hit. Like Hounds of Love, Aerial was split into two parts. The first part, A Sea of Honey, was a collection of songs. The second part, A Sky of Honey, was a single piece of music that followed the sounds of a 24-hour day.
2011–2021: New Projects and a Return to the Stage
In 2011, Bush released two albums. Director's Cut featured reworked versions of songs from her older albums. 50 Words for Snow was a collection of new songs about winter, and it featured a duet with Elton John.
In 2014, Bush surprised everyone by announcing her first live shows in 35 years. The 22-night concert series, called Before the Dawn, was held in London. Tickets sold out in just 15 minutes. The shows were a huge success and received amazing reviews.
2022–Present: Stranger Things and Renewed Fame
In 2022, Bush's 1985 song "Running Up That Hill" found a new generation of fans. It was featured in the fourth season of the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. The song became a worldwide sensation, topping charts in the UK, Australia, and other countries. It reached number three in the US, giving Bush her first American top-ten hit.
The success was so huge that her album Hounds of Love also re-entered the charts. Bush said she was thrilled by the song's new life. In 2023, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her incredible impact on music.
Artistic Style
What Makes Her Music Special?
Kate Bush is known for her eclectic musical style, which means she mixes many different types of music. Her songs can include elements of pop, rock, classical, and folk music from around the world. She is often called an "art pop" artist because she treats her music like a form of art.
Her lyrics are also very creative. Instead of writing about her own life, she often tells stories inspired by books, movies, and history. For example, "Wuthering Heights" is based on the novel by Emily Brontë, and "Houdini" is about the famous magician. Her songs can be emotional, funny, or even a little spooky.
An Influential Artist
Many musicians have been inspired by Kate Bush's unique style. Artists like Björk, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, and Big Boi from OutKast have all said she was a major influence. Her willingness to experiment and be different has encouraged other artists to be more creative.
Her dancing has also been influential. For her 1979 tour, she was one of the first performers to use a headset microphone. This allowed her to sing and dance at the same time, something many artists like Madonna and Janet Jackson later did.
Discography
Studio albums
- The Kick Inside (1978)
- Lionheart (1978)
- Never for Ever (1980)
- The Dreaming (1982)
- Hounds of Love (1985)
- The Sensual World (1989)
- The Red Shoes (1993)
- Aerial (2005)
- 50 Words for Snow (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Kate Bush para niños
- List of British Grammy winners and nominees
