ANNIE LENNOX

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As one of the world's finest and most outstanding musical voices, singer songwriter Annie Lennox is celebrated as an innovator, an iconoclast, and a symbol of enduring excellence.

Her songs, both with Eurythmics and as a solo artist, are part of the soundtrack to our collective lives.

In 1971, at the age of 17, Annie left her native Scotland to attend the Royal Academy of Music in London.

From a chance encounter with Dave Stewart a few years later, the pair went on to form The Tourists, achieving significant chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia.

It was not until the break up of the band in '79 however, that they decided to form a duo, which would come to be known as Eurythmics.

They released their first album, In The Garden in 1981, but it was not until the worldwide success of their second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) in 1983, that Eurythmics became the musical phenomenon we know today.

Spanning over a decade of records, tours and groundbreaking videos, they sold over 75 million albums, and achieved over 20 international hits across the world.

Annie released her debut solo album entitled Diva in 1992, entering the charts at number 1 in the UK. The album sold around six million worldwide, two and a half million of those in the USA. It included the Top 10 singles Why , Walking On Broken Glass

In 1995, Annie released Medusa an album of lovingly crafted reinterpretations of some of her favourite songs. The album also debuted at number one in the UK and included the massive single No More I Love You's. Medusa sold around 5 million copies.

Several years later, in June 2003 Annie released her third solo album Bare to much critical acclaim, achieving the position of number 4 in the US Billboard Charts.

In September 2005 Eurythmics issued Ultimate Collection as an updated version of the classic double album Eurythmics Greatest Hits

In October 2007 Annie released her much-anticipated 4th solo album, Songs Of Mass Destruction to critical acclaim. The album featured “SING” (www.annielennoxSING.com). a new song featuring 23 of the world’s most acclaimed female superstars, invited by Annie to appear on the record to help draw attention to the HIV AIDS pandemic, especially focusing on the country of South Africa, where women and children are worst affected. The track will support the grass roots organisation Treatment Action Campaign TAC (www.tac.org.za).

“After personally witnessing Nelson Mandela describing the African HIV AIDS pandemic as a genocide, with women and children being the frontline victims, I set out to try and do something.” – Annie Lennox.

Annie Lennox was first invited to Cape Town in 2003, to take part in the inaugural concert of Nelson Mandela's 46664 HIV campaign. It was there that she personally witnessed the plight of people struggling to cope with the situation - in clinics, orphanages, hospitals and townships. South Africa has one of the world's highest HIV prevalence rates, with a thousand people dying from AIDS related causes on a daily basis, and an estimated one thousand four hundred people becoming infected each day. HIV primarily affects young women and children, with approximately one third of all pregnant women carrying the virus. However, with appropriate intervention, their babies can be born HIV negative. The SING campaign continues to raise funds and awareness in order to contribute to support and change. The money raised through SING helps prevent the spread of HIV in South Africa in different ways, most importantly through treatment literacy programs at a direct grass roots level. SING has already reached out to thousands of people.

Annie’s 5th solo album ‘The Annie Lennox Collection released 2009 paints a vivid portrait in song of the most successful female British artist in pop music history. This 14-song retrospective brings together Annie’s finest solo work on a single disc for the first time, and includes a pair of new songs ‘Shining Light’ and ‘ Pattern Of my Life.

In 2009 Annie also joined David Gray for the duet Full Steam, featured on his album – Draw the Line.

In 2010, Annie Lennox announced a new record deal with Universal Music Group, signalling the end of her 30-year relationship with the RCA Label. Her first album as part of this new exciting deal was “A Christmas Cornucopia” released on Island Records in the UK and Decca in the US. The album features Annie’s versions of traditional festive songs along with a new track, ‘Universal Child’. Annie donated her publishing royalties for the new track to The Annie Lennox Foundation.

As a dedicated activist and campaigner, Annie works with numerous organisations, including: The SING Campaign (founder), Oxfam, Amnesty International, The British Red Cross, Comic Relief, Greenpeace. Annie is also a Patron of The Elton John Aids Foundation, Ambassador for HIV and Aids in Scotland and a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador.

Throughout her career Annie has been honoured with prestigious awards in recognition for both her music and the campaigning work she does for humanitarian causes around the world. The long list of accolades include: the prestigious Ivor Novello Award, eight BRIT Awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award, three Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, a World Music Award, ASCAPs including the Founders Award (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), The Billboard Century Award and an Oscar for her work on Lord Of The Rings. In Jan 2010 Annie was awarded an OBE (Order Of The British Empire) for her work fighting HIV and poverty in Africa. For a full list of awards Annie has received to date visit the memorabilia rooms on www.annielennox.com where you can explore awards, discs and outfits spanning Annie’s career.