#pop singer

New Album “Daddy Issues” Now on iTunes!!

☆Françoise Hardy in a Paco Rabanne dress, made of gold and diamonds for the opening of the first international diamond fair, organised by French jeweller Arnaud Clerc, Paris, May 19, 1968. At the opening event, Miss Hardy and her dress, dubbed “the most expensive dress in the world”, were protected by armed guards. The first photo was taken by photographer Jean-Marie Périer (French, b. 1940), Hardy’s romantic partner from 1962 to 1967. Credit last photo: Reporters Associes / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. ☆

☆ Tina Turner turns 80 today, November 26, 2019. Here she is on various covers of her second solo album Acid Queen (United Artists Records, 1975). The third pic is the orginal cover, the other two are reissues. ☆

☆ , born in 1939, celebrates her 80th birthday today, November 26, 2019. Here she is performing in Central Park, New York City, in 1970 | Walter Iooss (American, b. 1943) ☆
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5VU7OzlhZM/?igshid=1cdpmed8phurg

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LESLIE GORE! [05/02/1946 - 02/15/2015]

Photo of Leslie Gore | 1963

Happy Birthday to ex Pop Singer turned TV personality  Michelle McManus who hits 42 today.

Born in the Queen Mother’s Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, on May 8th 1980, Michelle was brought up in Baillieston with her four wee sisters, she auditioned for Pop Idol in 2003 and brought criticism from judge  Pete Waterman due to her image and he “fuller figure”, fellow judge Simon Cowell to a shine to Michelle and championed her cause, she beat Mark Rhodes  in the final with 58 percent of the vote.

After signing to Sony BMG, her debut single, All This Time, spent three weeks at number one, while her first album,  The meaning of love reached number three. However, after her second single, the title track “The Meaning of Love,” stalled at number 16, she was dropped by her label, and a year later she parted company with management company 19 Entertainment.

In 2007, she set up her own record label, McManii Records, and released the track Just for You. Michelle has since released a book entitled You Are What You Eat, performed in a production of The Vagina Monologues, and co-hosted the Scottish TV show The Hour. Michelle has also appeared on The Edinburgh Festival Fringe as well as working on numerous Scottish TV shows and guesting as a DJ.

McManus paid tribute and sang two songs at Martyn Hett’s funeral on 30 June 2017. Martyn was one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Bombing on 22 May 2017.  

Michelle recorded a cover version of  Paul MccArtney’s, We all Stand Together in aid of  a collection of a dozen charity choirs.  McManus married Jeff Nimmo on 23rd September 2017.

The couple tied the knot at  St Mary and St Finnan Church at Glenfinnan on the edge of Loch Shiel.  

In January 2020  the couple shared pictures of their first baby, a boy they named Harry. Michelle thanked NHS staff for their “care and attention” following a “challenging pregnancy.

In February this year Michelle announced on twitter the birth of her second son saying;  "….completing our family and our world.“ he is called  Nicholas Peter. She waved goodbye to January, adding: "I don’t know how any other month this year could possibly top you as you’re the month we welcomed the newest addition to our family.”

The Pop Idol star recently returned to the music industry as a singer in the band The Flaming Blackhearts. Michelle has also been on  BBC Radio 4 with  Clive Anderson  on the podcast Loose Ends. 

Dianna Kuksa illustration of Lana del Rey

Charli XCX