Linda Lewis Biography and Net Worth, Husband, Age, Children, Ethnicity, Nationality, Education
Linda Lewis was a British singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit singles such as “Rock-a-Doodle-Doo” (1973), “Sideway Shuffle” (1973) and her version of “Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” (1975). Let’s read more about her full biography and net worth below.
Besides her solo career, she also provided backing vocals for various artists including David Bowie, Al Kooper, Cat Stevens, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman, Rod Stewart, Peter Bardens, Hummingbird, Joan Armatrading and Jamiroquai.
Linda Lewis was the eldest of six children, three of whom also pursued singing careers. She taught herself how to play guitar and keyboard and was influenced by artists like Harry Nilsson, Billie Holiday and Smokey Robinson, as well as Joni Mitchell.
Her music combined elements of folk, funk and soul. Lewis released her first album, Lark, in 1972, and later went on to release Not a Little Girl Anymore (1975), Woman Overboard (1977) and Second Nature (1995), which gained popularity in countries like Japan.
Linda Lewis Biography
Linda Ann Fredericks, born on 27th September 1950 in West Ham, Essex, England, was a talented musician, singer, and songwriter who passed away on 3rd May 2023 at the age of 72. ((en.wikipedia.org)) Linda’s music covered various genres such as pop, soul, rock, ska, and funk. She played the guitar and was known for her powerful vocals. Linda’s career spanned over 55 years, from 1968 to 2023.
She worked with various record labels, including Polydor, Reprise, Raft, Arista, Ariola, Electricity, Turpin, and Tangential. Linda’s contributions to the music industry will always be remembered, and her fans will miss her dearly.
Husband | Children
Lewis was married to musician Jim Cregan in 1977 but they divorced after three years due to being apart too much and both being unfaithful. ((savedaughters.com)) In 2004, she married music agent Neil Warnock, who survives her. Sadly, Lewis passed away on May 3, 2023, at the age of 72 in her home, peacefully. ((ghgossip.com))
Nationality | Ethnicity
Linda Lewis was born on September 27, 1950, in West Ham, Essex, England. She was a Black woman. ((allfamousbirthday.com)) Linda Lewis would have been 72 years old at the time of her death on May 3, 2023.
Critical Reception
Linda Lewis had a powerful and dynamic voice with a five-octave range. She could even sing in the whistle register, which means hitting really high notes.
Her voice has been compared to those of Mariah Carey and Minnie Riperton, but she had a wider vocal range than Riperton.
Some reviewers noted that Lewis’s singing was more controlled than it used to be, and that she could better channel her range to match the emotions of the song.
Early Years
Linda Fredericks, born in West Ham, Essex, attended stage school and had small TV and film roles. She started her career as a singer with The Q Set, a British band that played Jamaican-style music. She signed with Polydor and recorded “You Turned My Bitter into Sweet” as Linda Lewis.
In the 1970s, she formed White Rabbit and then joined The Ferris Wheel. She appeared at the first Glastonbury Festival and signed with Warner Bros.
Linda became popular with the single “Rock-a-Doodle-Doo” and album Fathoms Deep, but it was her album Not a Little Girl Anymore that made her a star.
Her cover of “The Shoop Shoop Song” was a hit, and she toured with Cat Stevens. She continued to release albums and recorded with her sisters as Lewis Sisters.
Later Years
Linda Lewis was a British singer and songwriter who started her career in the late 1960s. She had many hit songs and worked with famous musicians such as Joan Armatrading and Basement Jaxx.
After a successful run in the 1970s, Lewis took a break from public life in the 1980s and moved to Los Angeles. However, she returned to music in the 1990s with the album “Second Nature” which did well in Japan.
She continued to release albums and perform live shows, including appearances at the Glastonbury Festival. In 2005, her song “Old Smokey” was used by rapper Common on his album “Be.”
Linda Lewis recorded “Live in Old Smokey” in 2006 and collaborated with Basement Jaxx on the song “Close Your Eyes” in 2007. In 2023, Lewis collaborated with UK band The Paracosmos on the song “Earthling,” which was her last release before she passed away.
Discography
Studio Albums
- 1971 – Say No More (Reprise)
- 1972 – Lark
- 1973 – Fathoms Deep (Raft Records)
- 1975 – Not a Little Girl Anymore (Arista)
- 1977 – Woman Overboard
- 1979 – Hacienda View (Ariola)
- 1983 – A Tear and a Smile (Epic)
- 1995 – Second Nature (Sony)
- 1997 – Whatever… (Turpin)
- 1999 – Kiss of Life
Live Albums
- – Born Performer: Live in Japan (Sony, 1996)
- Live in Old Smokey (Market Place, 2006)
- Hampstead Days (The BBC Recordings) (Troubadour, 2014)
Collaboration
- Have You Noticed? Ludmilla featuring Linda Lewis (Reprise, 1993)
Compilations
- Heart Strings (Reprise, 1974)
- The Best of Linda Lewis (compilation) (BMG, 1996)
- Best of Linda Lewis (Camden, 1997)
- Reach for the Truth: Best of the Reprise Years 1971–74 (Rhino, 2002)
- Legends (compilation) (BMG, 2005)
- Hampstead Days (previously unreleased 1970s sessions and concert material) 2014
Singles
- 1971 – “We Can Win”
- 1972 – “Old Smokey”
- 1973 – “Reach for the Truth”
- 1973 – “Rock-a-Doodle-Doo”
- 1973 – “Play Around”
- 1974 – “Sideway Shuffle”
- 1975 – “It’s in His Kiss”
- 1975 – “Rock and Roller Coaster”
- 1975 – “(Remember the Days of) The Old Schoolyard”
- 1976 – “Baby I’m Yours”
- 1976 – “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter”
- 1976 – “Winter Wonderland”
- 1977 – “Come Back and Finish What You Started”
- 1977 – “Can’t We Just Sit Down and Talk It Over”
- 1978 – “It’s Good”
- 1979 – “I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You”
- 1979 – “109, Jamaica Highway”
- 1980 – “Sleeping Like a Baby Now”
- 1982 – “Why Can’t I Be the Other Woman”
- 1983 – “This Boy”
- 1983 – “(Close the Door) Take Your Heart”
- 1984 – “Class/Style (I’ve Got It)”
- 2000 – “Reach Out” (Midfield General featuring Linda Lewis)
- 2023 – “Earthling” (The Paracosmos with Linda Lewis)
Our blog is one of the fast-rising blogs that provide individuals with all the background information about celebrities around the world. You can also check out the full Wikipedia biography and net worth of Angie King. Thank you for reading the full biographical information of Linda Lewis.