Annie Haslam (born 8 June 1947) is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave

vocal range Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...

. From 2002, Haslam has developed a parallel career as a

visual artist The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts al ...

, producing paintings on canvas, painted musical instruments and

giclée Giclée ( ) is a neologism, ultimately derived from the French language, French word ''gicleur,'' coined in 1991 by Printmaking, printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art Digital printing, digital prints made using inkjet printers. The name was origin ...

Early history

Originally a fashion student in

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, Haslam worked for a

Savile Row Savile Row (pronounced ) is a street in Mayfair, central London. Known principally for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men, the street has had a varied history that has included accommodating the headquarters of the Royal Geographical ...

tailor in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. While there, she listened to the Beatles rooftop concert. Interview with Robin Cook https://www.furious.com/perfect/anniehaslam.html She later began studying under

opera singer Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libretti ...

Sybil Knight in 1970.Romano, Will (2010). ''Mountains come out of the sky: an illustrated history of prog rock'' (1st Ed.). Montclair, NJ: Blackbeat Books. p. 132.

Career with Renaissance

In February 1971, Haslam became the new lead singer of Renaissance, after answering an advertisement in the British periodical ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'', and auditioning for the band in

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. Charles Snider stated: "Annie Haslam's voice, soaring high along with the melody, is the big news. Far more West End than

Carnaby Street Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in Soho in the City of Westminster, Central London. Close to Oxford Street and Regent Street, it is home to fashion and lifestyle retailers, including many independent fashion boutiques. Stre ...

, it would come to define the band." With Renaissance, Haslam was lead vocalist on seven

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

s during their classic period (1972–1979), four studio albums from 1981–present, and a number of live albums. In August 1978 the band's single "Northern Lights" reached the top 10 in the UK singles charts.

Solo career

In 1977, Haslam began her solo career with her album ''

Annie in Wonderland ''Annie in Wonderland'' is the first solo album by Annie Haslam, vocalist with the 1970s band Renaissance (band), Renaissance. It was produced by Roy Wood, who also wrote some of the material, arranged all the songs, played nearly all of the instr ...

'', produced by

Roy Wood Roy Wood (born 8 November 1946) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a n ...

, who played most of the

musical instrument A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...

s, duetted with her on one track, and performed on the ''

Intergalactic Touring Band The Intergalactic Touring Band (IGTB) was not an actual music group but rather a science fiction pop music concept album released in 1977 by the now defunct Passport Records in America and Charisma Records in England. The ensemble album featur ...

'' album. She has since released eight studio albums, three of which were released through her own record label, White Dove. Haslam has also collaborated with

Steve Howe Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to l ...

on a number of projects. Her 2006 ''Live Studio Concert'', was also released as her first solo DVD. Haslam released an EP called ''Night and Day'', her first solo recording for some years, with Welsh rock band

Magenta Magenta () is a color that is variously defined as pinkish- purplish-red, reddish-purplish-pink or mauvish-crimson. On color wheels of the RGB (additive) and CMY (subtractive) color models, it is located exactly midway between red and blue. I ...

in 2006.

Visual arts

"Haslam as few among us, is blessed to channel her muse in a variety of ways"Rizzo, Melind
"Annie Haslam: Renaissance woman. The Sound and Colors of Love, Light and Peace"
''Fine Art Magazine'' Spring, 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2014. wrote Melinda Rizzo in ''Fine Art Magazine''. One of these is visual arts: * her paintings have been used as cover art on the albums: ** ''One Enchanted Evening'', by Annie Haslam ** ''Woman Transcending'' by Annie Haslam – ** ''Night and Day'' by Annie Haslam with Magenta ** '' Grandine il Vento'' / ''Symphony of Light'' by Renaissance ** ''Speak'' by

I and Thou ''Ich und Du'', usually translated as ''I and Thou'', is a book by Martin Buber, published in 1923, and first translated from German to English in 1937. Premise Buber's main proposition is that we may address existence in two ways: # The attit ...

** ''Song of Times'' by Starcastle * she has helped others to design her on-stage clothing * she has painted musical instruments including guitars, and violins * she has created giclées of many of her paintings * in 1975 she artistically hand-lettered the lyrics to "

Mother Russia The personification of Russia is traditionally feminine and most commonly maternal since medieval times. Most common terms for national personification of Russia are: *Mother Russia (russian: Матушка Россия, tr. ''Matushka Rossiya'' ...

" for a British tour program.

Festive season concert

Starting in 1999, Haslam has, each year, performed a Christmas show called ''In the Spirit of the Holidays,'' originally at the Upper Tinicum Lutheran Church, and then at the larger Sellersville Theatre in

Sellersville, Pennsylvania Sellersville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 4,249 at the 2010 census. It is in the Pennridge School District. History Sellersville was founded in the early 18th century. It was centered on a major road known as B ...

, since 2006. The Christmas show has been held every year except 2012, due to the death of her friend and colleague, Michael Dunford, in November of that year. Haslam stated that "there was just too much sadness at the time." Included in the program are secular, and religious

Christmas carols Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...

, as well as her own compositions, and some Renaissance songs.

Personal life

In 1993, Haslam was diagnosed with

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...

, which she survived and which became the inspiration for her 1994 album, ''Blessing in Disguise''. Haslam was engaged to musician

for four years, which she later described as "four of the funniest years of my life". In 1991, Haslam married Marc I. Hoffman of

North Wales, Pennsylvania North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is a suburb of Philadelphia and is one of the three historic population centers that make up the North Penn Valley, which is centered on the borough of Lansdale. It is approximately ...

. The marriage ended in divorce. She now resides in

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 646,538, making it the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Doylestown. The county is named after the Englis ...

Solo discography

*1977: ''

'' *1985: ''

Still Life A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly wikt:inanimate, inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or artificiality, m ...

'' *1989: ''

Annie Haslam Annie Haslam (born 8 June 1947) is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band Renaissance since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave vocal r ...

'' *1994: ''Blessing in Disguise'' *1995: ''Supper's Ready'': (Genesis tribute Album) (guest vocalist) *1995: ''Tales From Yesterday'' (Yes tribute Album) (guest vocalist) *1998: ''Live Under Brazilian Skies'' *1999: ''The Dawn of Ananda'' *1999: ''

Portraits of Bob Dylan ''Portraits of Bob Dylan'' is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's ninth solo album, released in 1999. The album features his son Dylan Howe on drums and several other guest artists, including (former) Yes band members Jon Anderson and Geoff ...

'' by

(album) (guest vocalist) *2000: ''It Snows in Heaven Too'' *2002: ''One Enchanted Evening'' *2005: ''Icon'' by

John Wetton John Kenneth Wetton (12 June 1949 – 31 January 2017) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Known for his dexterous bass playing and booming baritone voice, Wetton first gained fame in the early 1970s. Wetton was the singer and p ...

Geoff Downes Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia. Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London ...

(album) (guest vocalist) *2006: ''Miles of Music'' by Bob Miles (guest vocalist) *2006: ''Live Studio Concert'' *2006: ''Night and Day EP'' with

written for Haslam by Rob Reed and Christina Booth *2007: ''Woman Transcending'' *2012: ''Songs of the Century'': (Supertramp tribute Album) (guest vocalist) *2014: Live' Studio Concert Philadelphia 1997'' (Re-release) *2017: ''Don't Give Up Single,'' duet with

Jann Klose Jann Klose is a pop singer-songwriter, who has released seven albums and two EPs. Based in New York City, Klose was raised in Kenya, South Africa, Germany, and northeast Ohio. He is the singing voice of Tim Buckley in the movie Greetings from Tim ...

References

External links

AnnieHaslam.com – Official website
– (Including a gallery of Haslam's art)
Annie Haslam's Facebook pageRenaissance – Official page''Fine Art Magazine'' article on Haslam's art
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haslam, Annie 1947 births Living people English songwriters English rock singers Women rock singers Progressive rock musicians Singers with a five-octave vocal range 20th-century English painters 21st-century English painters Musicians from Manchester Musicians from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton English expatriates in the United States People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania 20th-century English women artists 21st-century English women artists 20th-century English women singers 20th-century English singers 21st-century English women singers 21st-century English singers Renaissance (band) members