Lurine Cato


Lurine Lilian Cato is a British gospel singer, songwriter, and session vocalist. She won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act in 2013 and was a finalist on the 12th season of Britain's [Got Talent series 18|Britain's Got Talent] in 2018 with the B Positive Choir. In 2019 she appeared on the BBC programme Songs of Praise. In 2020, she was appointed a Member of the British Empire">Great Britain">British Empire for her contributions to charity and music.
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Early life

Cato was born on 9 September 1974 into a family of 11 children.
She began her musical career at age three at the COGIC UK National Convention. At age 8, she entered the Enfield London Borough Council, performing Deniece Williams' 'Let's Hear It For The Boy' where she won second place. The following year, she won first place with a rendition of George Benson's 'The Greatest Love of All' and was consequently awarded the Aunty G Cup.

Career

Cato toured with the Lighthouse Family and Lynden David Hall in her mid-twenties. She later formed a duo, Redeemed, with Marie Carter. The duo performed as opening acts for artists such as Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin, and the Bibleway Mass Choir.
As a backing vocalist, Cato toured with Australian singer Kylie Minogue on two tours in the early 2000s. In 2008, Cato recorded vocals for Adele's debut album 19 on the track 'Best For Last'. She performed at the 2012 London Olympics for the Evening of Olympians celebration.
Cato was a featured artist at the first annual European True Worship Summit, a gospel conference at the Dominion Centre in Wood Green. The event culminated in a final concert where the B Positive Choir performed with Cato.
Cato was invited by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to sing at his campaign dinner held at the Museum of London and was appointed as the official Vocal Coach for ITV's Sing It To Win It Competition 2018. The competition presenters included Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh and UK-based Afropop and Dancehall duo Reggie 'n' Bollie.
Cato has been involved with the NHS 70th Celebrations performing at York Minster Cathedral. Lurine was the featured soloist with the B Positive choir at Westminster Abbey, a service of celebration for Commonwealth Day. Other performers included the Dhol Foundation drummers, Clean Bandit, William Barton and Alfie Boe.
On 20 October 2019, Cato performed at Rudolph Walker's OBE 80th birthday celebrations at the Hackney Empire. On 17 and 24 November 2019, BBC1 aired its semi-final and final rounds of Songs of Praise' Gospel Choir of the Year, where Cato made a special guest appearance. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to charity and music.
On 6 March 2020, she was awarded the International Women's Day Award by the Mayor of Enfield along with Her Excellency Justina Mutale and Team GB sprinter and Olympics medal winner Desiree Henry.
On 14 December 2021, Cato attended her investiture at Windsor Castle to be presented with the MBE award for services to charity and music. The award was presented by Princess Anne.

Britain's Got Talent 2018

Cato and the B Positive Choir participated in the Britain's Got Talent 2018 competition. After a successful audition on 14 April 2018 on ITV, they received a Yes vote from all four judges. The judges, combined with a public vote, ultimately sent Calum Courtney through to the finals. A decision between Calum and the B Positive choir moved Simon Cowell to give B Positive a wild card.
After a week of performances, the wild card recipient was reported in OK Magazine sending B Positive to the finals of Britain's Got Talent. Cato and the B Positive Choir reprised their audition song. Though they made it through to the finals, they did not make it to the top three.

Awards

Cato's music award wins - aside from her MOBO Awards and nomination - the Premier Gospel Award in 2016 and 2017, GMA Italy, BEFFTA Award 2013, Wise Woman Award 2012, and an Honorary UK Entertainment Award 2017.

Charitable work

Lurine Cato has participated in various charity-related musical performances. In 2016, she performed at St. James’s Palace for the Diana Award’s INSPIRE series, which recognizes young people for their contributions to their communities.
In November 2017, she performed at the MOBO Awards with the B Positive Choir at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. The following month, the choir released a charity single, Rise Up, originally sung by Andra Day, with Lurine Cato as the lead vocalist. Later that December, she sang Christmas songs with the choir at St. Pancras station.
On 11 June 2019, Cato and the B Positive Choir performed at the Audi Sentebale Concert at Hampton Court Palace alongside artists such as Rita Ora, Morena Leraba, and the Inala Zulu Ballet. The event was in support of Sentebale, a charity focused on assisting children affected by HIV in South Africa.

Community work

Cato sang at One Minute in May, a concert focusing on young victims of violent crime held outside Downing Street.
Cato presented and performed at HM Prison Elmley for the Aspire Higher Violence Reduction Program, focusing on personal development, self-reflection, breaking bad habits, positive thinking, motivation, and general inspiration for prisoners and staff.
Cato formed The Mighty Men Experience, a program highlighting positive male role models in society and reducing knife and gun crime. She created the anthem "Keep Fighting", used as the project's main theme.
In April 2020, Cato and several notable British artists came together to record the popular hymn 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cato collaborated with singers from the UK and abroad to record Amazing Grace by Dottie Rambo in aid of the Cavall Nurses' Trust. The effort, led by Cato, raised funds for National Health Service nurses who faced personal and financial challenges.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryCityResult
2022Urban Music AwardsBest Gospel ActUKWinner
2021The Lavine Hudson Award for Vocal ExcellenceStep4wd AwardUKWinner
2021The Music Media Platform AwardsCommunity HeroUKWinner
2020TTM Collective Orchestra Best Gospel Music Album of the YearUSAWinner
2020MBEAwardeeUKAppointed
2020International Women's Day Mayor's AwardAwardeeUKAwarded
2018Trulife Gospel Music AwardsBest FemaleUKPending
2018Premier Gospel AwardsBest Female ActUKNominated
2017MOBO AwardsBest Gospel ActUKNominated
2017UEAOutstanding Contribution to Gospel MusicUKHonorary
2017Premier Gospel AwardsBest Female ArtistUKWinner
2016Gospel Xplosion Music Media AwardsBest RnB Female Artist of the YearUKWinner
2016Premier Gospel AwardsBest Female ArtistUKWinner
2016Gospel Music AwardsBest International ArtistItalyWinner
2016Gospel Music AwardsBest International Female Artist of the YearItalyWinner
2014Gospel Music AwardsBest International Female Vocalist of the YearItalyWinner
2014Gospel Music AwardsBest International Live ConcertItalyWinner
2014Gospel Music AwardsBest International Music EventItalyWinner
2013Gospel Music AwardsBest International Song of the YearItalyWinner
2013Praisetek AwardsBest RnB Gospel ArtistUKWinner
2013BEFFTA AwardsBest Gospel ActUKWinner
2013MOBO AwardsBest Gospel ActUKWinner
2012Wise Woman AwardsMusicUKWinner