Katie Kissoon: The Soulful Voice of British Pop and Session Singing

Katie Kissoon is a Trinidad-born British vocalist celebrated for her powerful soul and pop voice and her extensive career as a sought-after session singer. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago and raised in London, she achieved significant chart success both as a solo artist and, most famously, as one half of the duo Mac and Katie Kissoon with her brother.

Early career

Born in 1951, Katie Kissoon moved to England as a child and began her professional singing career in the late 1960s. Her early work included providing backing vocals for artists like Van Morrison and she quickly gained a reputation for her versatile and emotive voice within the London music scene.

Breakthrough

Katie's major breakthrough came through her partnership with her brother, Mac Kissoon. Signed to the Polydor label, the duo Mac and Katie Kissoon scored a massive international hit in 1974 with the song "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep", which had been a previous hit for Middle of the Road. The single sold over a million copies in France alone and became a staple on pop radio across Europe.

Key tracks

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep — This million-selling single with her brother Mac defined her commercial peak and remains a classic 1970s pop anthem.

Don't Do It Baby — A later solo single for Polydor in 1975 that showcased her ability to carry a song with her distinct, soulful tone.

You're My World — The duo's follow-up hit, a cover of the Cilla Black song, which further cemented their status on the European charts.

Beyond her own recordings, Katie Kissoon built an extraordinary career as a backing vocalist for some of the biggest names in music. She became a core member of Eric Clapton's touring band for many years and has lent her voice to recordings and live performances by artists including George Harrison, Roger Waters, Steve Winwood, and Elton John.

Her session work extended to major events like the Live Aid concert in 1985, where she performed with Clapton, and the recording of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984. This consistent high-profile work made her one of the most recognizable and respected backing singers in the industry.

Her soul-inflected pop style and session pedigree connect her to other great British vocalists. Madonna shares a similar pop sensibility and hit-making ability. Elton John is another artist with whom she has collaborated directly, sharing a classic pop and rock foundation. Annie Lennox possesses a similarly powerful and soulful vocal delivery. George Michael also blended soul influences with impeccable pop songcraft.

Katie Kissoon's music maintains a steady presence on radio, particularly on classic pop FM stations and dedicated 1970s music channels. Her work with Eric Clapton also earns her plays on classic rock radio stations, while her session contributions appear on countless rock and pop playlists across independent music radio stations.

Listeners can explore the enduring soul-pop sound of Katie Kissoon through the radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to onairium.com to hear her iconic hits and her celebrated vocal contributions across decades of popular music.