Beverlei Brown's first interest in music came from her mother who sang in the local church gospel choir.

As she was growing up in Birmingham, Beverlei couldn't wait to join the choir herself and eventually she became leader of her local choir, even getting the chance to sing a solo part with the US gospel act The Clarke Sisters.

"One day my music teacher told me that a local band were looking for some gospel type singers to help on a recording project, so my mum, sister a cousin and I went along to audition for the group, who turned out to be the Fine Young Cannibals.

"After they got their record deal they asked me if I would perform with them and, although I was only in my early teens I got taken around the world singing background vocals for them in Europe and America. It was a wonderful first experience as a professional singer."

After the tour and her school work finished Beverlei got a job as a receptionist in a lawyer's office, but only until the next touring opportunity came - providing vocal backing for Ruby Turner for more than two years.

Later touring work followed singing for Simply Red, Snap! and the Brand New Heavies, as well as Chaka Khan, one of Beverlei's favourite artists. "She gave me the most encouragement and confidence and told me to believe in myself - and you can't argue with Chaka Khan, can you?"

In 1996 Beverlei got her lucky break to begin work as a solo artist in her own right, recording with writer/producers Gary Benson and Livingston

Brown. The resulting single "On and On" was a huge club hit in the UK and Beverlei completed an album to follow it.

Unfortunately the collapse of her then record label resulted in the album never being released, but after a couple of years of frustration Beverlei was approached by the UK R&B label Dome to resume her solo career with a new album deal.

Now moved to London, Beverlei has been working on the album with a variety of UK producers, including her long-time producer associate Ronnie Knight, Full Crew's Michael Daley, Simon Payne and the Full Flava team of Rob Derbyshire and Paul 'Solomon' Mullings. In all she has co-written six of the songs.

She also flew to New Jersey to record a duet with label mate Dennis Taylor, working with his production team of Fred McFarlane and Darryl James on "Could Be You"

Ronnie Knight has been working with Beverlei for more than two years, and among the tracks he contributed to her album is the co-written song "Part Time Lover", as well as "Unhappily Ever After"

Full Crew producer Michael Daley is part of the hottest production/remix team in the UK, whose work in 2000 included R&B mixes on both the initial Craig David singles and production of the album by Shaila Prospere. He has co-written two songs with Beverlei, including the club-friendly groove "Love You Yes". He also produced Beverlei's treatment of "Somebody Knows How You Feel", first recorded by Ivan Matias. Among the backing vocalists on this cut are Chris Ballin, Sean Cummings of Kreuz and Hazel Fernandes, former lead singer with UK group the Affair and one of Beverlei's closest friends.

Rob Derbyshire and Solomon Mullings first worked with Beverlei when she contributed guest vocals on "Unwrap", one of the tracks on their 1999 Full Flava album, and they were keen to contribute a track to her solo project. The song chosen is another club-friendly tune, "Gonna Get Over You", first recorded in the disco era by Canadian singer France Joli.

Producer Simon Payne has released albums himself in an acid jazz style in both the UK and US under the group name Spirit Level, and has worked closely with Hil St Soul engineer Roger Benou. He co-wrote "I've Had Enough" with Beverlei for her album.

Following a two-week promotional visit to Japan undertaken by Beverlei in March, her album has become the hottest selling Japanese import CD at R&B/soul retailers in the UK. The 14-track UK release of the album includes three songs not included on the Japanese version.
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