Tessa Niles


Tessa Margaret Niles is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of contemporary artists. She began her professional singing career in 1979.
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Early life and career

Niles began her professional singing career, as both a lead and a backing vocalist, in 1979. Throughout her career, Niles has worked with many artists including ABC, Eric Clapton, Kiri Te Kanawa, The Rolling Stones, Annie Lennox, Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, The Police, Take That, Grace Jones, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Morrissey–Mullen, Snowy White, Tom Jones, Marillion, Fish, Pet Shop Boys, Buddy Guy, B*Witched, Victoria Beckham, Nick Carter, Living in a Box, Cliff Richard, Mike + The Mechanics, Zucchero, Status Quo, Robbie Williams, Bill Sharpe, Gary Numan, Wham!, Andrew Ridgeley, Dusty Springfield, The The, Jimmy Nail, Cher, Cabaret Voltaire, Seal, Liza Minnelli, John Denver and The Escape Club.
In 1985, Niles signed with Rainbow Records as a solo artist. Her debut single, "The President's Girl", was released in November 1985 and was followed in May 1986 with "Tough Girls". Both singles failed to reach the UK Singles Chart and Rainbow Records folded before Niles' album could be released.
In the mid-1980s, Niles was featured the lead vocalist for the jazz ensemble Bandzilla, which was led by her then-husband Richard Niles. The band toured and were featured as the resident house band on the Channel 4 television show Don't Miss Wax in 1987. In 1991, the band released their debut album, Blue Movies, again featuring Niles as lead vocalist.
Niles has also voiced and sung on various television commercials for products including Barbie, Levi's, Cadillac, Diet Pepsi, Delta Air Lines, Aquafresh, KFC and DHL.
Her association with Eric Clapton began with his 1986 album August. She toured with him from 1988 to 1992, again in October 1997, and again on his 1999 tour of Japan. She sang backing vocals during the George Harrison/Eric Clapton tour of Japan in 1991 and for Clapton's Unplugged concert in 1992. Niles also appeared at Clapton's Crossroads Benefit Concert on 30 June 1999 and the Concert for George on 29 November 2002.
Niles performed vocals during one version of the song "All I Want For Christmas Is You" for the 2003 film Love Actually.
Niles also performed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985, where she provided backing vocals for David Bowie. On 16 & 17 June 1989 she performed vocals at Cliff Richard's gigs: From a Distance: The Event recorded at Wembley Stadium. In 1993, she featured in the Cliff Richard´s studio album The Album.

Personal life

She is the former wife of American musician Richard Niles, whom she married in 1982. Later she married Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane Jr., the son of Eduardo Mondlane. In 1998, Niles gave birth to twins.

Career highlights

DateAlbumArtistContribution-
1981ChasanovaChas JankelBacking vocals-
1982The Lexicon of LoveABCAdditional vocals-
1983It's About TimeMorrissey–MullenAuthor, vocals-
1983SynchronicityThe PoliceBacking vocals-
1984Private DancerTina TurnerBacking vocals-
1984BerserkerGary NumanBacking vocals-
1984IntoleranceTik & TokBacking vocals
1985Famous PeopleBill SharpeLead and backing vocals-
1985The ExplorersThe ExplorersBacking vocals-
1985Heaven KnowsJaki GrahamBacking vocals
1985Looking at YouChaz JankelBacking vocals-
1985Out of the Darkest NightBarbara PenningtonBacking vocals-
1985Paul HardcastlePaul HardcastleBacking vocals-
1985Slave to the RhythmGrace JonesBacking vocals-
1985The FuryGary NumanBacking vocals-
1986AugustEric ClaptonBacking vocals-
1986Baby the Stars Shine BrightEverything But The GirlBacking vocals-
1986Break Every RuleTina TurnerBacking vocals-
1986Breaking AwayJaki GrahamBacking vocals-
1986Count Three & PrayBerlinBacking vocals-
1986Dancing in My SleepDave AdamsBacking vocals-
1986InfectedThe TheBacking vocals-
1986Loz NettoLoz NettoBacking vocals-
1986NotoriousDuran DuranBacking vocals-
1986SalamandraMiguel BoséBacking vocals-
1986Strange CharmGary NumanBacking vocals-
1987Alphabet CityABCBacking vocals-
1987American EnglishWaxBacking vocals-
1987Clutching at StrawsMarillionBacking vocals-
1987First (The Sound of Music)Then JericoBacking vocals-
1987Fortune and Men's EyesJennifer HallBacking vocals-
1987Living in a BoxLiving in a BoxBacking vocals-
1987Saint JulianJulian CopeBacking vocals-
1987She Loves Me NotAlan RankineBacking vocals-
1987Pop Goes the WorldMen Without HatsBacking vocals-
1987Walk on FireSilent RunningBacking vocals-
1988Big ThingDuran DuranBacking vocals-
1988FurJane WiedlinBacking vocals-
1988IntrospectivePet Shop BoysBacking vocals-
1988Metal RhythmGary NumanBacking vocals-
1988Roll With ItSteve WinwoodBacking vocals-
1988Wild Wild WestThe Escape ClubBacking vocals-
1988Step By StepClive GriffinBacking vocals-
1988The Corporate WorldGail Ann DorseyBacking vocals-
1989Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman HoweBacking vocals-
1989AutomaticSharpe + NumanBacking vocals-
1989Foreign AffairTina TurnerBacking vocals-
1989GatecrashingLiving in a BoxBacking vocals-
1989ResultsLiza MinnelliBacking vocals-
1989Steel WheelsThe Rolling StonesBacking vocals-
1989The Seeds of LoveTears for FearsBacking vocals-
1989The Golden MileWorkshyBacking vocals-
1989JourneymanEric ClaptonBacking vocals-
1989PassionShirley LewisAuthor-
19901234PropagandaBacking vocals-
1990Circle of OneOleta AdamsBacking vocals-
1990Everybody KnowsSonia EvansBacking vocals-
1990In ogni sensoEros RamazzottiBacking vocals-
1990LibertyDuran DuranBacking vocals-
1990ReputationDusty SpringfieldBacking vocals-
1990Son of AlbertAndrew RidgeleyBacking vocals-
1990From a Distance: The EventCliff RichardBacking vocals-
1990Vigil in a Wilderness of MirrorsFishBacking vocals-
199124 NightsEric ClaptonBacking vocals-
1991Blue MoviesBandzillaLead vocals -
1991OutlandGary NumanBacking vocals-
199124 NightsEric ClaptonBacking vocals-
1991Changing FacesBrosBacking vocals-
1991FlashpointThe Rolling StonesBacking vocals-
1991Live in JapanGeorge HarrisonBacking vocals-
1992All the Fool's in TownSweet AddictionBacking vocals-
1992Great ExpectationsTasmin ArcherBacking vocals-
1992UnpluggedEric ClaptonBacking vocals-
1992And Still I RiseAlison LimerickBacking vocals-
1992Dream JuiceEfuaBacking vocals-
1992In the RunningHoward JonesBacking vocals-
1992MiserereZuccheroBacking vocals-
1992The Curse of the HigsonsThe HigsonsBacking vocals-
1993BreakawayKim ApplebyBacking vocals-
1993Clive GriffinClive GriffinBacking vocals-
1993The AlbumCliff RichardBacking vocals-
1993The Wedding AlbumDuran DuranBacking vocals-
1993Beverley CravenBeverley CravenBacking vocals-
1993VeryPet Shop BoysBacking vocals-
1993Painted Desert SerenadeJoshua KadisonBacking vocals-
1994Dog Man StarSuedeBacking vocals-
1994Sean MaguireSean MaguireBacking vocals-
1994The Lead and How to Swing ItTom JonesBacking vocals-
1995ArabesqueMike BattBacking vocals-
1995Big RiverJimmy NailBacking vocals-
1995Hold OnJaki GrahamBacking vocals-
1995Live!The PoliceBacking vocals-
1995Nobody ElseTake ThatBacking vocals-
1995Thank YouDuran DuranBacking vocals-
1996Don't StopStatus QuoBacking vocals-
1996The View from the HillJustin HaywardBacking vocals-
1996Wildest DreamsTina TurnerBacking vocals-
1997Across from MidnightJoe CockerBacking vocals-
1997SalvationAlphavilleBacking vocals-
199811 Maneras De Ponerse Un SombreroMiguel BoséBacking vocals-
1998EdenSarah BrightmanBacking vocals-
1998Marshall & AlexanderMarshall & AlexanderBacking vocals-
1998Awake and BreatheB*WitchedBacking vocals-
1999NightlifePet Shop BoysBacking vocals-
1999Prince's Trust Rock GalaVarious Backing vocals-
2000Here and NowWorlds ApartBacking vocals-
2000Sing When You're WinningRobbie WilliamsBacking vocals-
2001Closer to HeavenPet Shop Boys & Jonathan HarveyBacking vocals-
2001White Lilies IslandNatalie ImbrugliaBacking vocals-
2002EscapologyRobbie WilliamsBacking vocals-
2003What My Heart Wants to SayGareth GatesBacking vocals-
2003Live at Knebworth – Live Summer 2003Robbie WilliamsBacking vocals-
2003Pop ArtPet Shop BoysBacking vocals-
2003Seven Years - Ten WeeksDavid SneddonBacking vocals-
2003Seal IVSealBacking vocals-
2004Allow Us to Be FrankWestlifeBacking vocals-
2004AstronautDuran DuranBacking vocals-
2004A Concert For The Prince's Trust – Live at Wembley Arena London 2004Various Backing vocals-
2018Change Your Mind Bill SharpeLead vocals-