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 The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

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 st ...

. 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 word ''gicleur,'' coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made using inkjet printers. The name was originally applied to fine art prints created on a mo ...

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 List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, 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 dow ...

. 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'', and auditioning for the band in Surrey. Charles Snider stated: "Annie Haslam's voice, soaring high along with the melody, is the big news. Far more West End than Carnaby Street, it would come to define the band." With Renaissance, Haslam was lead vocalist on seven studio albums 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'', 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 ...

, who played most of the musical instruments, duetted with her on one track, and performed on the '' Intergalactic Touring Band'' 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 le ...

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 blu ...

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, 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 r ...

, 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 English ...

Solo discography

*1977: '' Annie in Wonderland'' *1985: '' Still Life'' *1989: '' Annie Haslam'' *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'' by

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

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