N'Dea Davenport - Additional Information

Additional Information

• The acid jazz label applied to The Brand New Heavies music was popularized by Eddie Piller and British record executive Gilles Peterson, perhaps in hopes that he could keep interest in the music on a par with the then-ubiquitous acid house music. The musical style was patterned after an admiration for 1970s funk ranging from James Brown to Rufus and the Average White Band. Peterson named his fledgling label Acid Jazz Records as well, and the Heavies recorded for this label in the United Kingdom.
• Davenport recut the vocal track on "Never Stop" "Stay This Way", and "Dream Come True" after Jaye Ella Ruth (the band's prior lead vocalist and co-writer) had ceased to be a member of the group, but preceding the major release of these recordings.
• Davenport's participation in sessions for both Malcolm McLaren's Waltz Darling and Madonna's I'm Breathless provide a curious link between "Deep in Vogue" and "Vogue" respectively. Madonna's originality has been contested vis-a-vis these two songs.
• Davenport provides backing vocals on the November 2006 Robbie Williams single Lovelight, a cover of a Lewis Taylor song. Fellow Brand New Heavies member Andrew Levy provided bass.
• Davenport provides vocals on Natalie Merchant's song "Break Your Heart" featured on Merchant's album Ophelia.
• Davenport's "Save Your Love For Me" is a cover of a song originally performed by Nancy Wilson. Wilson's original song appears on an album of the same name.
• Davenport appeared in the music video for Breakfast Club's "Right On Track" dressed as a giant singing hen in 1987.
• Davenport is also a drummer.
• Davenport is a spinto soprano.