Biography
Pop sensation Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been in the entertainment business since the 1960s. She is most famous for her hits Shout and Boom Bang-a-Bang, the latter winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969.
Lulu has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including David Bowie, Elton John and Take That. With her impressive career spanning decades, Lulu's star appeal will surely shine through during the competition.
Career
Lulu started singing at an early age - when she was 14 she joined a local group called the Gleneagles. They played in clubs in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh. One evening in 1964, Lulu was discovered at The Lindella Club and subsequently exploded onto the British and International pop scene with her single Shout, which reached number 7 in the UK charts.
In 1966, Lulu landed a role in the movie To Sir With Love and also sang the title song which made it to number one in the USA. Then in 1968 Lulu entered the Eurovision Song Contest with Boom Bang-a-Bang, coming joint first with three other entries.
In 1974, David Bowie produced and played on her hit The Man Who Sold The World which reached number 3 in the UK charts. In the same year she also sang the title theme to the James Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun.
Lulu was back in the limelight and at number one in the UK charts in 1993 when she sang guest vocals on Take That's Relight My Fire.
Background
Lulu was born Marie MacDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, in Lennoxtown, Glasgow in 1948. She is the eldest of four children and her father was a local butcher.
Lulu attended Whitehill School - where she was always in trouble for singing during lessons.
In 1969 she married The Bee Gees' Maurice Gibb, having apparently met in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ canteen for a recording of Top of The Pops. The marriage dissolved four years later and the couple divorced.
In 1976, she married celebrity hair stylist John Frieda and had one son with him, Jordan. The marriage ended 15 years later and they were finally divorced in 1995. Lulu has remained single ever since, although she has been linked to a number of young bachelors.
Trivia
Lulu is quoted as saying: "I've had a varied career as an entertainer, but started out as a real rock 'n' roller. In my heart and soul that's where I am the happiest and where it is the most real."
In both the 1979 and 1983 UK General Elections, Lulu had been a staunch and highly visible supporter of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party.
Dancing partner
Lulu is dancing with Brendan Cole.
Fan of Team Brulu?
Join in the discussion on Lulu and Brendan's Fanblog page - ""!
