Claudia Fontaine

British singer (1960–2018)

Claudia Fontaine (26 August 1960 – 13 March 2018) was a backing vocalist from Peckham, London.

Career

During the 1980s, Fontaine and fellow backing vocalist Caron Wheeler (and later, third member Naomi Thompson) were known as Afrodiziak.^[1] She made an appearance in the video "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" with Soul II Soul.

She joined a number of lovers rock trios, including Mellow Rose, One Love, and True Harmony, then emerged as a soloist. In 1981, she sang a hit single, "Natural High".

She also performed with such artists as The Jam, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Marilyn, Madness, Neneh Cherry, The Specials, Heaven 17, Hothouse Flowers and Howard Jones.^[1] Fontaine sang background vocals on the hit single "Free Nelson Mandela" by The Special AKA.^[2] Fontaine was the lead vocalist on The Beatmasters' hit single of 1989 "Warm Love",^[3]^[1] which is included on their debut album Anywayawanna.

She also sang lead vocals on the song "Deeper into Harmony" on The Beatmasters' album of 1992 Life & Soul.^[1] She performed backing vocals on Pink Floyd's The Division Bell Tour and the subsequent DVD and CD Pulse.^[4] She also toured with Robbie Williams, and performed backing vocals on the album Sing When You're Winning. She was a backing vocalist for the Party at the Palace London concert.

Death

Claudia Fontaine died on 13 March 2018, aged 57.^[1]

Filmography

Pulse (1994)
Showgirls (1995)
Peacetour - Eurythmics (2000)
David Gilmour in Concert (2002)
Alfie (2004)

Discography

"Beat Surrender" (single) – The Jam (1982)
Punch the Clock – Elvis Costello & the Attractions (1983)
Battle Hymns For Children Singing – Haysi Fantayzee (1983)
In the Studio – The Specials (1984)
How Men Are – Heaven 17 (1984)
Dream into Action – Howard Jones (1985)
Despite Straight Lines – Marilyn (1985)
People – Hothouse Flowers (1988)
"Warm Love" (single) – Beatmasters (1989)
Bonafide – Maxi Priest (1990)
Love: And a Million Other Things – Claudia Brücken (1991)
Mothers Heaven – Texas (1991)
Schubert Dip – EMF (1991)
Play – Squeeze (1991)
Flowered Up – Weekender (1992)
"Deeper into Harmony" – Beatmasters (1992)
"Can't Do Both" – Tim Finn (1993)
Funky Little Demons – The Wolfgang Press (1994)
Pulse – Pink Floyd (1995)
Frestonia – Aztec Camera (1995)
Across from Midnight – Joe Cocker (1997)
ReBoot – Sam Brown (2000)
Jealous God – Nathan Larson (2001)
Studio 150 - Paul Weller (2004)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "UK singer Claudia Fontaine has died". Voice-online.co.uk. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
^ Hann, Michael (14 March 2018). "Goodbye Claudia Fontaine, the unknown famous face of 80s pop". The Guardian.
^ Credit: The Beatmasters featuring Claudia Fontaine
^ Mabbett, Andy (2010). Pink Floyd - The Music and the Mystery. London: Omnibus. ISBN 978-1-84938-370-7.