Vicki Brown - Biography

From Shel Talmy’s Facebook post of 28 Jan. 2024:

You may have noticed that I’m a “collector” of great voices, for whom I have the greatest respect-- I wish I could sing like they can!

One of the best was Vicki Brown. Vicki was born in Liverpool, England in August, 1940. In the 1950s, she joined a 16-member girls choir formed in Liverpool, known as The Vernons Girls, who had success singing standards and were part of the pioneering pop TV show “Oh Boy” for 2 seasons.

Keeping a group that size together was always difficult, and so it eventually shrank down to 3 girls.

Before it got that far, Vicki had left to form a trio aptly named The Breakaways, consisting of Vicki, Margo Quantrell and Jean Hawker.

They became the premier session backing singers for the major UK pop acts of the 60s, accounting for dozens and into the hundreds of appearances.

You could also see, and hear, The Breakaways on TV and radio, and they found just enough time to record some “breakaway” singles, but were so busy they never had enough time to promote them.

Later Vicki was recruited by one of my favorite arrangers, Tom Parker, who had formed the New London Chorale to perform “classics” along with many other music genres. A little-known fact is that she was also an accomplished classical pianist.

Vicki, who continued to perform brilliantly for the rest of her career, tragically died of breast cancer at the young age of 50 in September, 1991.

« Back to Discography

Edit This Biography : Biography Credits