Karen Coleman was born in Dublin, Ireland. At 19 she got her first professional job in a jazz club in Spain. At 23 she returned to Dublin and spent two years honing her craft working as a session singer and recording with many of Ireland’s top musicians.
Karen Coleman
While recording backing vocals on an album, she met Rob Strong, father of Andrew Strong from the smash hit movie The Commitments,. Karen was asked to join Andrew’s band for an Irish tour. It went so well she worked the next two years with Andrew, touring Australia, Scandinavia and Europe, playing support gigs with Elton John, Prince and Talking Heads.
In 1993 Andrew went on to record a solo album while other members of the movie The Commitments decided to put a band together. Karen was asked to join them. The Commitments band has toured successfully for many years travelling the world. In 1997 they recorded a live album with Soul legend’s Sam Moore, Steve Cropper, Denis Edwards and Clarence Clemmons. One of the highlights of the album is undoubtedly Karen’s duet with Temptations Dennis Edwards singing Carole King’s iconic ballad Natural Woman.
Two years ago Karen began her journey from backing vocalist to singer songwriter. The result is her Debut Album No Secret. There are twelve tracks on ‘No Secret’ which has elements of jazz, blues, Soul, r’nb, and a little bit of country thrown in along with Karen’s very own distinctive vocals. Not only did Ireland’s senior session musicians play on this album but musicians travelled from New York, Scotland, France, the UK and Italy to play and pay tribute to their friend.
When Karen had written her first few songs she hooked up with Liam Grant., the albums producer. With no support from record companies, this album has been a labour of love and it would never have happened except for the generosity and goodwill of musician friends who willingly gave their time and talent.
‘No Secret’ was recorded in two lake-side houses in the Irish countryside. This was a really magical journey with so many wonderful musical moments; one of which was Karen’s daughter Paris singing backing vocals on three tracks, most notably the song Karen wrote for her ‘Tapestry’.
Karen will launch her album on March 31st 2010 in The Sugar Club, Dublin.
Karen is also currently working on writing her first stage musical called ‘Kate’
