Katrina & The Waves

Katrina and the Waves were a British-American rock band formed in Cambridge, England, in 1981. The group consisted of American lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Katrina Leskanich, English lead guitarist and primary songwriter Kimberley Rew, American bassist Vince de la Cruz, and English drummer Alex Cooper.

Formation and Early Years

The band's origins trace back to the bands The Waves and Mama's Cookin'. The Waves, featuring Rew and Cooper, were active from 1975 to 1977. Mama's Cookin', formed in 1978, included Leskanich and de la Cruz. By 1981, the lineup that would become Katrina and the Waves had solidified. Initially performing as The Waves, they released their debut EP "Shock Horror!" in 1982 before changing their name to Katrina and the Waves.

The band self-funded their first album, "Walking on Sunshine," which was released in Canada in 1983 on Attic Records after failing to secure a record deal in the UK or US. A follow-up album, "Katrina and the Waves 2," was also released exclusively in Canada in 1984. The relative success of these releases and a Canadian tour helped them build a following.

Breakthrough and International Success

"Walking on Sunshine"

The band's international breakthrough came in 1985 after they signed with Capitol Records. They re-recorded a more upbeat version of their song "Walking on Sunshine," written by Kimberley Rew. The single became a massive international hit, reaching the top 10 in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The infectious optimism of the song, coupled with a popular music video, propelled the band to global fame and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. The self-titled album "Katrina and the Waves" (1985) was also a commercial success.

Their follow-up album, "Waves" (1986), did not achieve the same level of success, though it did produce the minor hit singles "Is That It?" and "Sun Street". After the commercial disappointment of "Waves," Capitol Records dropped the band. They released the album "Break of Hearts" in 1989 on SBK Records, which included the US Top 20 hit "That's the Way".

Eurovision Win and Later Career

"Love Shine a Light"

After a period of releasing music primarily in continental Europe and Canada, the band experienced a major resurgence in 1997. They won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with the song "Love Shine a Light," also written by Kimberley Rew. The song won by a landslide, receiving the highest number of points in the contest's history at the time. "Love Shine a Light" became a No. 3 hit in the UK, the band's biggest-ever hit in their home country.

Following their Eurovision victory, the band released the album "Walk on Water" in 1997. However, disagreements within the group led to Katrina Leskanich's departure in 1998. The remaining members attempted to find a new singer but ultimately disbanded in 1999.

Post-Band Activities

After the split, Katrina Leskanich embarked on a solo career, releasing several albums and pursuing work in radio and musical theatre. The other members also continued with individual musical projects. The song "Walking on Sunshine" has remained an enduring pop classic, frequently used in films, television shows, and commercials.