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Louise Elizabeth Redknapp (born Louise Elizabeth Nurding, November 4, 1974) is an English singer and television presenter, best known as a member of the girl group Eternal and subsequently as a solo singer (billed simply as "Louise"). Among UK sport fans she is known as the wife of English footballer-turned-pundit Jamie Redknapp. In the July 2004 edition of FHM, she was named Sexiest Woman of the Decade. While out illegally clubbing (at the age of 16) Nurding met music producer Denis Ingoldsby who was forming a girl band. She subsequently introduced him to her friend Kéllé Bryan. Bryan and Nurding, together with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, formed Eternal in 1993. They performed a mixture of heavy R&B, soul, pop and dance. Eternal's debut single "Stay" entered the UK charts at number 4, and their album, Always and Forever sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK. In June 1995 Nurding left the band. In late 1995 Nurding signed a record deal with First Avenue management and EMI Records. Professionally now known simply as "Louise", her debut solo single was the orchestral ballad "Light of My Life" (which reached #8 on the UK charts), followed by "In Walked Love" (previously a hit from the self-titled 1992 album by the dance/pop group Exposé). Her third single, "Naked" reached number 5 in the UK, remaining in the top 20 for many weeks; it also charted charts in the rest of Europe. Nurding 's debut solo album, also entitled Naked, was released shortly after the single. The album received lukewarm reviews. Nevertheless, it peaked at number 7 in the UK album charts, quickly received platinum certification, and sold over a million copies. Two further singles were released: 'Undivided Love' UK #5 - an up-tempo track and the sultry, R&B track 'One Kiss From Heaven' UK #9. In 1997 Nurding returned with the single "Arms Around The World"; the song was criticised by media for sounding like Janet Jackson's "Runaway", yet the single reached number 4. Louise's second solo album, Woman in Me reached number 5 in the UK charts and also charted throughout Europe. The reviews from the album were generally very good, many classing it as a mature and diverse pop album. Louise embarked on a sold-out tour of over 20 dates, including Wembley Arena. "Let's Go Round Again" (a cover of a song by The Average White Band) was the second single released on the album. While the song only reached number 10 in the charts it became Louise's biggest selling single, selling over 250,000 copies. At the start of 1998, Nurding's career was at a high point: her album had gone platinum and sold over a million copies, she was on the cover of magazines such as 'Smash Hits' and 'GQ' and had been voted The Sexiest Woman In The World by the readers of FHM magazine. The Louise Soft and Gentle No Sweat Tour, one of the first tours to be choreographed by director/choreographer Jamie King, was sold out. After getting married, Redknapp spent just under a year making what she described as her most personal album to date, Elbow Beach. Creatively Louise was more involved in the process of this album than her previous two, co-writing all 12 tracks and co-producing most of them. The lead single from 'Elbow Beach', the R&B-styled "2 Faced" went straight into the charts at number 3, and became Louise's highest charting single. Despite the initial hype and critical praise, total sales for Elbow Beach were weaker than the previous two productions, and the album peaked at number 12. After the 'Elbow Beach' was released Redknapp had one album left on her five-album deal with EMI (including Eternal's Always and Forever). The label decided to release a greatest hits compilation, incorporating all of her 15 top-10 hit singles. It was called Changing Faces - The Best Of... and featured 3 new tracks, including a cover of Five Star's "The Slightest Touch". The album was successful enough to merit a second solo tour. Louise played smaller locations across the UK, and all 36 dates sold out. EMI later released a second greatest hits album entitled Finest Moments with a slightly different tracklisting. In 2002 Redknapp signed a £1.5 million contract with her manager Oliver Smallman's Positive Records, a division of Universal Music to record her fourth solo album. She worked with producers on both sides of the Atlantic including teams who had worked with the likes of Destiny's Child, Jamelia, Michael Jackson, Craig David and Sugababes, but the album was never released. After switching managers again (to Merlin Elite), in 2004 several songs were given Internet-only releases: Bounce Back, Slam, Lil' Lou, Don't Ever Change and Make it Fit (co-written by Jamelia). On 3 October, 2007, Louise appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show and stated that her next goal was to reprise her music career, and begin working on a new album in 2008. "I miss it so much," she said. On television, Louise has presented editions of SMTV Live, CD:UK, Soccer Aid: Extra Time, This Morning (interviewing fashion designer Tracy Boyd and others), three series of the revived The Clothes Show for UKTV Style, and in March 2007 the controversial documentary The Truth About Size Zero for ITV1.Alongside her husband Jamie Redknapp and former footballer Tim Sherwood, Redknapp is publishing a magazine called Icon Magazine, aimed solely at professional sports stars and celebrities. She has been seen as the face of a number of advertising campaigns: the Safe And White campaign for Boots, Flora's' Omega 3 products, the new cosmetics company Think Happy: Organics, Hovis Invisible Crust and work for the RSPCA, Boots and BT. She is currently brand ambassador for the new Orbit Complete detox guide to teeth and mouth and a model for Avon. In autumn 2007 Redknapp was unveiled as the new face of Triumph lingerie for 2007 and 2008. |
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