Tina Charles

Tina Charles (born Tina Hoskins on March 10, 1954, in Whitechapel, London) is an English singer, who achieved success as a disco artist in the late 1970s. Charles began her career as a backing vocalist and session artist, and recorded her first solo single in 1969 with a then-unknown Elton John singing backing vocals. In 1971 she made a record called "Joe" (about a little puppy). She provided the lead vocals for 5000 Volts' 1975 disco hit "I'm On Fire". Although not publicly acknowledged as a group member at the time, Charles was considered to have a stronger voice than the group's official lead singer. The song reached number 4 in the UK, and number 26 in the US. Tina Charles' big break came in 1975, when Indian-British music composer and producer Biddu, who had just enjoyed massive success worldwide composing the Disco hit Kung Fu Fighting for Carl Douglas, composed and produced the single I Love To Love for her. The single spent three weeks at number one on the UK singles chart in February 1976 and was major hit around the world. Biddu's collaboration continued on a future album and other huge hits like Dance Little Lady Dance. Hits like Love Me Like A Lover, Dr Love, Rendezvous and Love Bug made her a star throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand but she was never able to achieve success in the US. By 1979 her career was somewhat in decline, and disco music was losing some of its public appeal. Charles married and had a child, and devoted herself for some years to her family life, putting her singing career on the back burner. In the mid 1980s she had a resurgence with a remix of I Love To Love which was produced by Sanny X. Since 2000, Charles has performed throughout Europe where disco music and her hit singles have been reappraised, and she has become a popular live performer. Tina is enjoying yet another comeback and is featured on a Top 5 Billboard hit called "Higher". The song is produced by longtime friend and associate Sanny X. She has also signed a record deal in the US with Wizard Records and has a new album entitled "A New Beginning" scheduled for release in 2007.