There is something truly spectacular about award winning singer and songwriter Kate Ceberano. Whether it is her soulful voice, her charismatic nature or exotic looks, she has become a legendary Australian icon over the past twenty-five years. A woman widely respected not only by the music industry, but also for her ability to juggle an abundance of other roles. From television appearances (Dancing with the Stars, It Takes Two, Who Do You Think You Are), to charity work (Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation), to motherhood.
Kate first found fame with her funk band “I’m Talking”, a group that was managed by Ken West, who went on to found the Big Day Out with partner Vivien Lees. The group’s album produced three top ten singles, went Platinum and won Best New Talent (1984) at the Countdown Awards. Kate won Best Female Vocalist (1985) at the Countdown Awards as well as Best Female Singer (1985) at the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards.
Kate’s first solo album was the live set Kate Ceberano and Her Septet (1987). Her following album You’ve Always Got The Blues (1988) earned her an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist (1988). In 1989 Triple platinum selling Brave was the first album by an Australian female to reach the national No.1 spot and it produced four hit singles including Bedroom Eyes. At the end of 1990, she received three prestigious MO Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.
Kate followed this with her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV. ‘Kate Ceberano And Friends’ (1993-1994). In 1996, Kate released her next solo album Blue Box, which went Gold and saw her nominated for another Best Female Artist ARIA. Following this, in 1997 Kate wrote and released Pash. It achieved Gold sales and established Kate as one of our leading female songwriters.
In 2007, Kate saluted the 80’s with her album Nine Lime Avenue which was recorded in an unbelievable three weeks, whilst Kate was also tearing up the stage on season six of Channel 7’s Dancing With The Stars, of which she was crowned champion. The album shot to #5 in the ARIA charts, and achieve Platinum sales. Kate has maintained her position at the top of the Australian Music Industry and in 2008 released her 18th album So Much Beauty to critical acclaim.
2009 saw Kate release ‘Bittersweet’, a collaboration with Grammy Award winner Mark Isham, an album of bitter-sweet, broken-hearted love songs from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. The album reached Gold status. Celebrating 25 years in the industry Kate ventured on the sell out tour ’25 Live’.
Many fabulous and widely acclaimed albums were to follow, including 19 Days In New York, an album of jazz favourites recorded whilst living in New York, and 2005’s LIVE with the West Australian Sympony Orchestra, which Kate considers to be one of the highlights of her career.
In November 2010 Kate re-released her beautiful ‘Merry Christmas’ album complete with stunning duets with Ronan Keating, David Campbell, Mark Vincent and Jimmy Little. The album became the official National Breast Cancer Foundation album with proceeds from each sale going towards the foundation.
As a female artist that has been in the Australian music industry for over twenty-five years, Kate Ceberano has defied all the odds and continues to find success in all that she does. “I know I am privileged to be where I am at in my career. I don’t take anything for granted,” she says. “I am very thrilled to have this opportunity to follow my love of music, but I work hard to be where I am.”
After a successful nationwide tour in late 2011 along with her numerous television appearances, Kate will continue to record new material in preparation for a new album release and can be seen as the host of Channel 9’s most anticipated new show Excess Baggage… Kate Ceberano’s exciting journey continues…