Kim English has died. The House music vocalist from Chicago, USA
I was so shocked to learn that this vocalist, though not the biggest name in House music. Has recently died. Her name is Kim English, from the city of Chicago, Usa.
The city that gave the name of House Music to the world.
This is how we all got the news worldwide about the death of Kim English.
Kim English was born in the city of Chicago, USA in the year 1970.
She began her passion for music with Gospel Music. As does much of the vocal talents that come from the Usa in general. This allowed her to develop her trademark soaring and melismatic vocals.
Kim always gives credit to her vocal talents to a teacher of hers at the school that she attended called Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, Usa.
Teacher's name when asked in an interview that she gave who influenced her the most in music - that being - the famed vocal coach - Lena McLin.
It was then that during the early 1990s, the Chicago Dj Gershon Jackson - https://www.facebook.com/gershon.jackson brought to the attention of Ms. English to one of the members of the group called Ten City.
Who had House Music success in the international market? His name was Bryon Stingily.
“Her voice actually reminded me, very much so, of Anita Baker’s voice,” Mr. Stingily said in an interview. “And to hear that smoky alto voice on a dance song, it was just so unique and so different at the time.”- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/obituaries/kim-english-dead.html
He was so impressed with her voice and the single that was made in regards to the song called "NITELIFE", that he gave a copy to (LOUIE VEGA) to the House Music producers that could do no wrong at the time. Louie then passed it over to the New York record label known as Nervous Records.
"I did know right away the song had something special,” Mike Weiss, a founder of the label, said in an interview. “And once I knew that Masters at Work was going to be doing the remix, then it really was automatic for me.”
Kim English - NITELIFE - 1994
The Kim English and Masters at Work single and remix got licensed to Polydor Records in England, where it did well reaching the national charts.
This for me was the single that still to this day was the single of Kim's English life. What a great track this was.
She and The Masters at Work were in the right place at the right time. Both the music production (Masters at Work), and the vocals done by Kim English are exceptional. And this single when it was released was a must-buy record.
At the time in America, where House music was still underground, the single was played at Mr. Vega’s Underground Network party at the Sound Factory Bar in Manhattan.
Mr. Weiss also adds that Ms. English’s first live performance was there, in 1994.
“And she did it in front of the key individuals and all the key tastemakers in the house music community,” he added.
“She really wasn’t so comfortable onstage, and it was really putting someone in the spotlight without having had any experience in the New York community — but she did great. The song was so strong that as soon as she sang the chorus, everyone started singing along.”
The Armand Van Helden remix took “Nite Life” to another level in Europe, according to Mr. Weiss. Soon, thanks to mixes and remixes, Ms. English’s voice was being matched with house heavyweights like David Morales, Mood II Swing, François K, and Todd Edwards - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/obituaries/kim-english-dead.html
Ms. Mark Weiss said that once Ms. English’s production deal with Ten City was over, she wrote more of her own songs.
Her first No. 1 club hit, in 1999, was a song she co-wrote, “Unspeakable Joy,” a Maurice Joshua production full of church organs and gospel-choir harmonies. In it, Ms. English testified,
“When I wake up, in the morning, gets me out of bed/Keeps me running, skipping, jumping like a little kid.”- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/obituaries/kim-english-dead.html
“As her career and her writing got more developed, she did push more and more toward the religious base,” Mr. Weiss said. “She also wanted to have the word ‘God’ in the songs. I’m very open-minded when it comes to religion, but I did feel like having ‘God’ in a song all of a sudden, you might limit the audience a little bit.”
Ms. Mark Weiss said that for Ms. English, religion had been inseparable from music: “Every single one of the songs that she’s ever put out, whether people know it or not, they’re all related to God.” - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/obituaries/kim-english-dead.html
This seems to make all perfect sense as another House music release that Kim gave us seems to be drenched in gospel vibes. The single is another classic to come from her and the world of House music. What a great song this is.
It is often said that this was House music's best period of time in regards to music being released and being made available to the public.
House music of the 1990s and Kim English were firing on all cylinders.
Kim English - I KNOW A PLACE - 1995
Check another release by Kim English here - check the single below.
Kim English - Treat Me Right (Jon Cutler Vocal Mix) - 2001
Here are just some of the lyrics to the "Treat me right" song above.
“I can’t make you love me
I’ve got to know who I am inside
Cause I know my value
I’ll no longer waste my time
There’s someone who’s for me
Yes it’s only a matter of time
I am strong and can be alone
Until I’m treated right.”
What a great loss to House music, where she made her name. I just hope that the city of her birth in Chicago.
The radio stations there play at least 2 tracks from her on their playlists as some kind of respect to her and her contribution to the music known as HOUSE.
I have said this many times. That the 1990s still is the best musical period that the music of House music has had so far.
For an artist of the caliber of KIM ENGLISH not to have truly reached the top of her profession just shows you how tough the competition was in House Music.
Just to make it through all the other artists trying for the top as well. It shows you how good the music was at that time and yet it was still very much so Underground in the Usa, at the time.
Ms. English is survived by her son Christopher, her parents Annie Joyce English and Ronald English, and brothers Eric, Richard, Ronald Carl, and Layuna Hayes-Cooper, whom she considered a sister. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Well, that's all folks for me now anyway.
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