Grace Kennedy, the Bafta-winning entertainer who became a defining voice of British television during the late 1970s and 1980s, is making her return to music with a brand new album.
Titled D-Zire, the record is due out on October 2 with BBC Records behind the release.
Her comeback also marks a return to live performance for the first time in many years.
Ms Kennedy herself has spoken about what the new record means to her.
Grace Kennedy is returning to the stage
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“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response since word got out that I’m making new music,” she said. “This album means the world to me, it’s been years in the making and every track feels like a piece of who I am, both then and now.”
She described the renewed partnership with BBC Records as a natural fit. “Working with BBC Records again has been wonderful, they understood exactly what I wanted to say,” she added.
“I can’t wait for people to hear ‘Strong,’ it sets the tone for everything that’s coming.”
Ms Kennedy was particularly enthusiastic about performing live once more. “Getting back on stage again, in front of a live audience, that’s the part I’ve missed most. This isn’t a nostalgia trip, it’s a new chapter, and I’m so ready for it.”
Ms Kennedy’s trajectory to stardom began in 1977 with a memorable turn on the talent programme Opportunity Knocks, which prompted the BBC to offer her a prime-time Saturday evening series.
The Grace Kennedy Show went on to span six seasons, earning a Bafta award along the way.
The programme welcomed an impressive roster of guests, among them Bruce Forsyth, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau and Lulu.
Ms Kennedy also worked alongside composer Marvin Hamlisch and comedian Les Dawson during the show’s run.
Grace Kennedy landed her own BBC show in the 80s
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She was among the first Jamaican female performers to host her own BBC programme, and her blend of disco, R&B, pop and soul made her one of the most distinctive artists of her era.
As one of the earliest Jamaican female entertainers to front a BBC series, Ms Kennedy broke significant ground in British broadcasting.
On the recording front, Ms Kennedy partnered with DJM Records and BBC labels to produce a series of albums that fused disco with R&B.
Tracks were arranged by Peter Knight and John Coleman across releases including Grace Kennedy, Desire, I’m Starting Again and One Voice, all issued between 1979 and 1981.
Her single Starting Again broke through internationally, reaching the US Top 30. A charity collaboration with Boy George, The Wishing Well, climbed to the UK Top 20, raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Her version of Love Is Serious Business also gained a following on the Northern soul scene, with a rare Canadian pressing on Rio Records.
In 2021–2022, her back catalogue was digitised and made available on major download platforms.
Ms Kennedy will now work with Champions Music and Entertainment, the UK’s leading agency for party bands and corporate entertainment, as she continues to develop new projects, release music and expand her live performances.