Tommy Blaize (born 5 March 1963) is a British vocalist, composer, pianist, and guitarist. He is best known as a vocalist on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.[1][2]
Tommy Blaize | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1963 Toxteth, Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments | Piano, guitar |
| Website | Official website |
Early life
editBlaise was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, to a father who served in the Royal Navy. He was aged nine when he and his two younger brothers were spotted performing in the street by talent scout Hilda Fallon and subsequently performed their first professional gig as The Blaize Brothers.[3]
Career
editBlaize has worked with some of the world's most renowned artists, including Stevie Wonder, Queen, The Beach Boys, Diana Ross, Amy Winehouse, Phil Collins, Robbie Williams, and Joe Cocker.[citation needed]
In October 2017, it was announced that Blaize would release his debut album, Life & Soul, featuring covers of classic soul tracks, on 1 December.[4][5] The album reached the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart.[6]
On 23 December 2019, Blaize appeared in the season premiere of BBC television series The Goes Wrong Show, "The Spirit of Christmas", as himself.[7]
In May 2022, Blaize and his mother Maureen were featured in the BBC series DNA Family Secrets, presented by Stacey Dooley, where it was revealed that his grandfather had been an American GI named Augusta Walls who was originally a farmer, born in 1914, from Fayette County, Tennessee, who died in 1978. Maureen was his only child, although he never knew. One of Maureen's cousins, Joe Nathan Walls, was a saxophonist with the blues musician Howlin' Wolf.[8]
In March 2024, Blaize was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live.[9]
References
edit- ^ Interview: Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize, Sutton & Croydon Guardian, 26 October 2013.
- ^ "Tommy Blaize". Strictlycomedancingband.com. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ Smith, Julia Llewellyn (8 January 2024). "Voice of Strictly Tommy Blaize: 'When I was asked to do the show, it sounded like the naffest thing ever'". Telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize launches debut solo album". BBC News. BBC. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ Griffiths, Eleanor Bley (21 October 2017). "Singer Tommy Blaize reveals the secrets behind the music on Strictly Come Dancing". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "TOMMY BLAIZE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ Banner, Megan (30 October 2022). "Strictly's Dave Arch band singer Tommy Blaize's life from performing aged nine to working with Stevie Wonder". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "DNA Family Secrets - Series 2: Episode 2". Bbc.co.uk. 18 May 2022.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Live, Gaynor Faye, Tommy Blaize, Christian Lewis, Liz Bonnin". Bbc.co.uk. 30 March 2024.
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