MySpace.com - Lucie Diamond - UK - Country / Soul / Blues

"Lucie Diamond is a breath of fresh air, like a cool breeze on a parched face. She’s an amazingly talented beautiful young woman. She can’t miss! Her debut album is a piece of magic, and I'm happy to be a part of it."

AWARD-WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER LUCIE DIAMOND - BIO F
(Current Bio - 20/10/08) 
 
2008 started with a bang for singer-songwriter Lucie - winning two major awards at the UK Country Radio awards in February and hearing she had SIX nominations in the European CMA country music awards. 
 
With her brand new all-star band, she headlined the UK awards event and the annual Country Music Messe in Berlin, plus a storming debut appearance in Wales before heading off to Nashville for the 4th trip to Music City in less than 2 years. 
 
Since the release of Lucie's award-winning hit album "I Wanna Be Rich" in July last year, it's been a whirlwind of record-breaking success for Lucie with nominations for Album of the Year, number one hit singles, front cover features and rave reviews in International magazines, radio airplay in dozens of countries, several headline-hitting trips to Nashville and her acclaimed live shows around the world attracting standing ovations. 
 
Lucie's profile and credibility also helped attract such superstars as Delbert McClinton and Albert Lee to her corner. In July 2007, Lucie became the first British artist to headline to more than 45,000 people in France at the biggest country festival in Europe, where she celebrated the release of her debut album "I Wanna Be Rich" on the same day. 
 
Last year, UK-based singer-songwriter Lucie toured and travelled to USA several times, France, Dubai and the Middle East, Belgium, the UK, South Africa and Mozambique among other places. Lucie and her UK band have performed to many, many thousands of people to glowing reviews - and many sold out shows. 
 
She was appointed an Ambassador for the UK-based humanitarian organisation the Mineseeker Foundation, and the South African-based Sole of Africa, whose patrons include Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan, Sir Richard Branson and movie star Brad Pitt. Lucie spent much of September and October 2007 in South Africa and Mozambique on a fact-finding mission and filming several TV documentaries for US and world-wide broadcast. 
 
Despite her hectic touring and work schedule, Lucie always finds the time to help causes close to her heart. As an extremely premature baby herself, Lucie is a "celebrity supporter" for the national charity BLISS, who are the main premature baby care charity in the UK. 
 
In June last year she was invited by the prestigious CMA to fly to the USA and represent the UK at their annual CMA Global Artist Party, to kick off the annual CMA festival. Lucie's set attracted many VIPs to see her show, and she won deserved rave reviews from all those attending the full-house event in downtown Nashville. 
Lucie was voted European Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, after she swept the boards at the annual European CMA country music awards in Spain.

Winning 3 of her 4 nominations - more awards than any other artist and the sole Brit' to win an award - with Dolly Parton just snatching the 4th, Lucie beat Dolly, Faith Hill and Gretchen Wilson to win "Female Vocalist." Judges also decided she was worthy of the ECMA "Future Star" Award. 
 
At the latest awards in 2008, Lucie was the first artist to win the brand new "ECMA Media Award" for her impressive International profile and the "impact" her music has on a world stage and via the global media. She was nominated in 6 categories, and was the sole British artist to win anything. In distinguished company, Lucie is one of only three females to win this year, along with US stars Carrie Underwood and Sheryl Crow. Country legends George Strait, Vince Gill and Brooks & Dunn also scooped awards. 
 
Her 6th single release, the title track from her CD "I Wanna Be Rich" was released in September '07 and spent several weeks at number 2 in the European chart. It has gained national BBC radio airplay on Radio 2 described as "excellent" by DJ Alex Lester on his mainstream show, and "very, very good" by legendary broadcaster Bob Harris on his country programme, after he played "I Wanna Love You Wild Sometimes" from Lucie's CD the week before on his show. 
 
Listener demand prompted him to play her again for a second consecutive week. A sample of the title track was also used in a trail for Bob Harris' country show coming live from the Americana Awards in Nashville. Bob has since been in contact with Lucie’s management and is keeping a close eye on her career. 
 
Lucie also made history by being the very first artist to hit the number one spot in all 3 Hotdisc country charts at the same time - and stayed there for 2 weeks. She spent 8 consecutive weeks at number one in the British country artist chart and won the Hotdisc Single of the Year award - presented to her at the sold-out UK Country Radio Awards held at the prestigious Lakeside venue, Surrey in February 2008, where she and her band also headlined. Lucie also won the coveted Presenters' Award for sheer volume of nominations for her album "I Wanna Be Rich." 
 
Described as "a cross between LeAnn Rimes and Joss Stone" by the UK's biggest-selling daily newspaper The Sun, who also call Lucie "The UK's number one country music export." 
 
The stunning 5' 2", blonde vocal powerhouse has more than made her mark on the global map, since blasting onto the international country music scene at the start of 2005, with her headline-grabbing debut single, “That’s What I Like About You”, featuring Grammy-winning guitar legend Albert Lee, who she has since opened shows for at his request and he has even introduced her to the Everly Brothers. A huge hit on country radio world-wide, spending a record 10 consecutive weeks at number 1 in the British country chart and reaching number 5 in the prestigious European CMA chart. 
 
In just 2 years, she scored 5 major hits in the main European CMA country chart and airplay in up to 60 countries. Norway’s Arly Karlsen dueted on Lucie's first number one record. Rock and roll stars The Jets played on her 4th single - also a chart topper. 
 
Lucie Diamond is the ONLY British artist to have 2 consecutive number ones in the main European country chart. 
 
Lucie wowed audiences in the UK, USA, Denmark, Norway and Berlin in 2005 & 2006. In April 2006 she won new fans when she opened for Live Aid star Paul Young, at his request, at a sold-out London show. She met up with Paul again recently, when they were both guests at a star-studded wedding in the summer. 
 
In May 2006, she visited Nashville for the first time and was overwhelmed with the response to her live shows. Lucie also wrote with some big name songwriters for her debut CD, was in big demand from the media and was asked to give private showcase acoustic performances to magazines, radio stations, record labels and major music business executives. She also performed an emotional private show to the children, parents and staff at the Vanderbilt hospital. 
 
Lucie revisited the USA in October and into November 2006. She was invited to make a 2nd visit to the world famous Bluebird Cafe, to sing her own songs - along with many more prestigious gigs in Music City that month. All very well attended, thanks to major press and media coverage of her visit, inc the State's national 'paper The Tennessean. 
 
Lucie's management arranged a private, strictly "by invitation only" industry showcase for music biz VIPs, at the prestigious Nashville venue 12th & Porter, following requests by record labels and Music Row executives after her sizzling Nashville debut in May. 
 
Platinum-selling country star Jason Aldean loaned Lucie his full band for the showcase set, and a US film crew captured the event for a global broadcast. Over 150 music industry VIPs, including at least 8 record labels in attendance and Lucie won a standing ovation and rave reviews. 
 
She was back in Nashville in May and June 2007, by invitation of the powerful CMA for their Global Artist Party - snapped up after they spotted Lucie at her own showcase the year before. A record attendance for the CMA event and "house full" signs went up early. Representing the UK, Lucie was the only female artist on a bill with 7 male country artists from Australia and Canada, to a triumphant response. She was backed by Pam Tillis' band. 
 
Lucie also recorded her latest songs on that US visit, to finish off her long-awaited debut CD "I Wanna Be Rich," songs co-written with some of the biggest names in that town on previous trips. Of the 12 tracks on "I Wanna Be Rich," Lucie co-wrote 4 of them. The haunting ballad "I Wish I Could Rewrite The Ending," based on a true story from Lucie's life in the UK countryside, (co-written with Rachel Thibodeau who penned a current hit for Martina McBride) was released as Lucie's last single in January 2008. Lucie also wrote "Read My Lips" with UK writer Catherine Rushton. "My Ex True Love" with Bat McGrath, who writes for Kenny Rogers and Wynonna among other big country stars. "Don't Mess Me Up," with Nashville writer Brent Anderson who is signed to Garth Brooks' management, Major Bob Publishing. 
 
The highlight of her time in the studio on Music Row was a duet with Grammy winner Delbert McClinton, track 7 on her new CD. Delbert having previously joined superstars Tanya Tucker, Martina McBride and Bonnie Raitt on duets. Lucie also co-wrote with Delbert on her most recent trip to Nashville (Feb/March 2008), and he also turned up at one of her shows to show support. Delbert has been Lucie's guest on several radio shows she has helped to host, live from his home in Nashville. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
"Lucie Diamond is a breath of fresh air, like a cool breeze on a parched face. She’s an amazingly talented beautiful young woman. She can’t miss! Her debut album is a piece of magic, and I'm happy to be a part of it." 
Delbert McClinton - July 2007 
----------------------------------------- 
 
In summer 2007, she was once again in demand from the media, including a BBC Radio interview live from Nashville to the UK, which included 2 live songs sung by Lucie and accompanied by her Music City acoustic guitarist. 
 
And while in the USA in June last year, she revisited the world famous Bluebird cafe for her 3rd show there - this time as guest of legendary songwriter Kent Blazy (If Tomorrow Never Comes etc with Garth Brooks.) This time a "standing room only" appearance. Her latest trip to Nashville in February 2008, saw the "sold out" signs outside The Bluebird Cafe, when Lucie appeared there, again at the request of Mr Blazy. 
 
This year she has been out on the road for 8 months, touring the UK and Europe with her band and her acclaimed acoustic show. Several dates sold out, and her performances have earned deserved standing ovations. Lucie headlined several major festivals including the prestigious Visagino Country Festival held in Lithuania in August - with her full UK band - to 50,000 and on TV to many millions across the whole of the Baltic States. 
 
Her set was also broadcast live on the national radio station, and she was interviewed after her show live too. Her show went down so well with the audience and the festival organisers, she was voted "Artist of the Year 2008" for being the best artist of the entire festival - presented with a brand new Martin guitar and case by the President, in a surprise move. In September, she headlined a new festival in France to great acclaim. 
 
Lucie is already in demand for shows in 2009, and has just gone back into the recording studio to work on her own songs for the next album, due for release sometime in the first half of next year. 
 
2009 is going to be a BIG year for Lucie Diamond, and exciting plans are well advanced to see her spending a lot of time in the USA and other overseas territories, to push her career much further up the ladder of deserved success. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------ 
Country Music People magazine - Live Reviews - March 2008 
Although her debut CD is amongst my favourites, I’d never seen Lucie Diamond live before and, wow, what a performance she gave in Camberley! (UK Country Radio Awards.) 
This lady has class and a contemporary act that can hold its own with the best of the American scene. She has terrific stage presence and a finely tuned band of top notch musicians. 
Trust me, Ms Diamond is going to be a big star................ 
David Allan - Country Music People magazine 
__________________________________________________________
Lucie is: 
* Ambassador for the Mineseeker Foundation & The Sole Of Africa 
* Celebrity supporter for BLISS - UK's National Premature Baby Care Charity 
* A pro member of NSAI (Nashville Song Writers Association International.) 
* A Sterling member of the CMA. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
With a great voice, great looks and a definite talent for song writing, we need to support a British artist that is certainly capable of taking on the Martina’s and Faith’s of this world. If you only buy one pure country album this year, buy this one. 
Maverick magazine - August 2007 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
* Lucie Diamond has more than made her mark on the global music scene - and now in the literary world with her name added to the pages of a novel and even immortalised in a dictionary. Crime novelist Robbie Fithon was inspired to write his latest book "Nuna" after hearing Lucie's track "Let Me Be Me" and based the love story around it, using Lucie as herself in the book with three mentions. While On-line dictionary "yourdictionary.com" includes reference to Lucie, in its explanation of the word "duet." 
**************************************************************************************************************************** 
www.luciediamond.com
www.myspace.com/luciediamond
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________

Photos of Lucie LIVE in Lithuania - 16th August 2008!

Photos courtesy of Ian Shipley
_______________________________________
"Sexy songstress Lucie Diamond, the UK's number 1 country music export......a cross between LeAnn Rimes and Joss Stone"
The Sun
______________________________________
Lucie LIVE in York - MAY 2008

"Outside Voice" Written by Lucie Diamond & Jace Everett

"Lucie Diamond is a truly exceptional and gifted country singer. Her amazing voice and song-writing abilities have catapulted her into a league of her own.....a star in her own right....."
Sasha Reid - Mink Potential Magazine, Australia. Dec '07.
______________________________________
Lucie LIVE in York - MAY 2008 "Attitude"

The UK’s own breakout phenomenon, Lucie Diamond. Sometimes a lot of praise for a fledgling artist can arouse scepticism, but in Lucie’s case, the plaudits are fully justified. This is one of the best female Country vocalist performances of the year, period.
Up Country magazine
______________________________________
Lucie LIVE in York - "Take It Or Leave It Alone" MAY 2008

York videos courtesy of www.houseconcertsyork.com _________________________________________

"In truth, there isn't a single weak track on this album. and Lucie Diamond is the best female Country singer I've heard in years!"
"My View: THE best Country album of 2008 yet! BUY the thing!! Get to see her live!"
HOT ALBUM! - Rodeo Attitude USA - 2008
------------------
If you only buy one pure country album this year, buy this one.
Maverick magazine
________________________________________
All 12 tracks taken from "I Wanna Be Rich"
(To hear tracks on the music player below pause on the myspace player)

Click "Buy Now" button to purchase

£8.99 (+£1.00 p&p)

* All CD'S ORDERED VIA MYSPACE WILL BE AUTOGRAPHED BY LUCIE.

* Please note: As the CD is opened for her to sign it, all shrink-wrapping will be removed.
______________________________________
Track listing for "I Wanna Be Rich":
Don't Even think About It, Read My Lips, I Wanna Be Rich, My Ex True Love, Let Me Be Me, Did He Mention My Name, Closed Curtain (w/ Delbert McClinton), Don't Mess Me Up, I Wish I Could Re-Write The Ending, Take It Or Leave It Alone, I Wanna Love You wild Sometimes (FEAT Albert Lee), God's Working Overtime.
______________________________________

ALBUM REVIEWS: ________________________________________ Rodeo Attitude USA: Lucie Diamond's gonna be rich! Nashville's talent spotters have missed a trick. They didn't spot the arrival of the hottest new female country artist for years. As they continued to fall over each other to sign up the latest batch of TV Talent show starlets - all of whom will have one hit, one album and then disappear into obscurity - Lucie Diamond slipped in under their radar. This girl IS going to be rich, because she can sing, perform, and write better than ANY talent show winner I've yet come across. And she's no one-hit wonder either! Actually those suits in Music City may well have spotted Lucie ... but immediately dismissed her as a "no-hoper". Most Nashville execs would consider her to have a flaw which - in their eyes - will prevent her from "making it". Lucie, my dear friend, I'm truly sorry, but I have to tell the world. Brace yourselves, folks: Lucie Diamond is BRITISH! (Ouch!!) But set YOUR prejudices aside and take a listen: she's also brilliant! So what's the music like? Well, I'm gobsmacked. It is a class above the majority of what Nashville's pushing out which. Diamond doesn't sound British. She sings it like she was brought up on Arkansas, or Texas, or Tennessee. And there's something of Tanya Tucker at her very best in her delivery. But what impresses most is the energy. Nashville studios have this annoying habit of taking all the rough edges in an artist's performances and smoothing them off - turning the overall sound into a homogenous sound - factory-produced mass-appeal Nashpop - where every song sounds the same. Diamond's producer and manager, Simon Redley seems to have taken the opposite approach. He's honed those rough edges, sharpened them to add to the cut, the impact of each track. So it is that, even on the quieter tracks, there's an edge, an energy that grabs the attention. Brilliant. And there are some wonderful songs here. The title track, "I Wanna Be Rich" - written by Joie Scott & Scarlet Keys - is superb. The lyrics - are excellent - even if sometimes the rhythmic scan struggles a little. The fiddle is placed at just the right place in the mix so that it doesn't overpower, yet it adds a dimension to the song. And Diamond belts the words out. This is production to die for, killer vocals, great lyrics. A hit song waiting to happen. Put simply: if US radio gives this the airtime it needs, this will hit the charts. It's already been a hit in the UK Country charts. "I Wish I Could Re-Write The Ending", written by Diamond and Rachel Thibodeau, is a tremendous number based on a true story. A woman aged 26 who was murdered by her ex fiancee about three miles from Lucie's home. That victim used to ride her horse by Lucie's place and say hello. After her killer got life, the mother did an interview in a national magazine and Lucie read it, and it upset her.This shows this girl can really write, and that she can sing tender songs, and express pain in her voice too. "Take It Or Leave It Alone" has a wonderful rolling blues sound, and Diamond sings it like she's in some New Orleans dive. The rough edges really show on "My Ex True Love" which was written in just an hour by Diamond and Bat McGrath, but Redley went with this recording, and rightly so. Raw energy and vocal skill carry Diamond through and it's another song with chart possibilities. That Diamond is a great vocalist is shown again on "Let Me Be Me" and "God's Working Overtime". The latter - just Diamond and Buddy Hyatt's delicate piano - could be a hit in the mainstream charts! (Lucie, stay Country!!!) The opening track - "Don't Even Think About It" - almost bursts out of the speakers. You can FEEL the song. That energy is there again on "Did He Mention My Name", mainly thanks to Ray Cotton's brilliant guitar work! Albert Lee (a Brit who made it in the USA) makes a guest appearance. So does Country legend Delbert McClinton. That alone speaks volumes for how good this girl is. In truth, there isn't a single weak track on this album. and Lucie Diamond is the best female Country singer I've heard in years! My View: THE best Country album of 2008 yet! BUY the thing!! Get to see her live! By John Lewis HOT ALBUM! Release date:2007 Album: "I Wanna Be Rich" Label: Big Feat Records Artist web site: www.luciediamond.com Tour dates ____________________________________________ NASHVILLE MUSIC NEWS REVIEW "I WANNA BE RICH" - November 2007 Lucie Diamond – I Wanna Be Rich by Bev Moser I listen to music all day every day and this CD really grabbed my attention and kept it throughout its entire length. The first song on this collection is called Don’t Even Think About It and right out of the gate, Lucie grabs you with her upbeat temp and superb vocals. You will hit the repeat button on this one. The title song, I Wanna Be Rich, has very rich vocals and production on this song is top notch. One of my favorites is a tune called Let Me Be Me, which is a ballad with well written lyrics and easy flowing melody. Lucie Diamond is from Britain and will be certainly giving some of Nashville’s female artists a run for their money. She has a great voice and is beautiful inside and out. She can belt out a ballad and immediately change to a fast beat dance track or a pure down home country song emulating some of the greatest singers out there. She is not a newcomer to the industry, as she has won 3 European CMA Awards. You won’t be disappointed when you remove the cellophane from this CD. To learn more about Lucie or to buy this CD, visit her website at: http://www.luciediamond.com/ ________________________________________________________________ Maverick Magazine - Aug 2007 Lucie Diamond I Wanna Be Rich Big Feat Records BIG597602 ***** Stunning debut release from rising star of modern country, and she’s British! A British country artist capable of taking on the Americans at their own game, well on the strength of this release, I definitely think that the answer is a resounding yes! The twelve tracks are all first rate and the album kicks off with a real rocker Don’t Even Think About It, Lucie has a great voice and backed up with the killer guitar of Keith Buck and keyboards courtesy of Mickey Gallagher, this is a great opening track. Read My Lips follows, another track with a hard-driving beat, the song was written by Lucie and Catherine Rushton and really shows how good Lucie’s vocal range is. The first song off the album to be released as a single, due out in September is the title track. I Wanna Be Rich is a bluegrass influenced song featuring some great fiddle playing courtesy of one of Nashville’s finest players Larry Franklin; this song is surely to be a country hit worldwide. To be honest there are quite a few possible singles on the album, My Ex True Love written by Lucie and legendry songwriter Bat McGrath, Let Me Be Me featuring some superb pedal steel from Robbie Turner, and one of my personal favourites Take It Or Leave It Alone a real western swing track, again featuring the killer fiddle of Larry Franklin and Danny Parks playing some superb acoustic guitar. One of the co-writers of this song is Ashley Monroe, a superb writer who in my eyes can do no wrong, this really is a great song sung beautifully. Legendry singer Delbert McClinton obviously thinks that Lucie is the real deal as he performs a duet with her ..d Curtain; this is a real blues rocker leaving behind briefly the country feel. One of the songwriters of this track is Bekka Bramlett daughter of Delaney and Bonnie and it really does have that 1970’s soulful American rock feel about it, you could almost imagine Delaney and Bonnie performing this song. Both Delbert and Lucie sound like they had a good time recording the song and indeed both performers push their vocal ranges to the limit. We even get a slice of rockabilly on the song Did He Mention My Name, this is a great track, Lucie’s backed here by rock and roll legends The Jets and I have to confess that I didn’t realise how good a guitarist Ray Cotton is, this track is a real foot tapper and an absolute corker. In my opinion the best track on the album is I Wish I Could Re-Write The Ending Lucie co-wrote this with Rachael Thibodeau and this is an absolutely classic ballad. With just the backing of Jay Vern on piano and Robbie Turner on pedal steel, the song tells of a young girl being pursued by a stalker, a sad tale with a tragic ending. Lucie performs this song beautifully, and it could be a massive hit for her. The album was produced by Simon Redley, again British, one of the few Brits capable of getting to grips with producing a proper country release. I have to say that the best tracks on the album all have one thing in common and that is that Lucie has had a hand in the song writing, this bodes well for her second album as I’m led to believe that this will feature a lot more of Lucie’s solo compositions. With a great voice, great looks and a definite talent for song writing, we need to support a British artist that is certainly capable of taking on the Martina’s and Faith’s of this world. If you only buy one pure country album this year, buy this one. Maverick Magazine - Aug 2007 I Wanna Be Rich Lucie Diamond Big Feat Records BIG 597602 _____________________________________________________ Ask anyone to name a British-born female country artist who can mix it with the best that Nashville has to offer and you’ll be waiting for a long time for an answer. The truth of the matter is that we’ve never been able to produce a singer that could give the Dolly Partons and Reba McEntires of this world a serious run for their money. Until now. Lucie Diamond is a rare gem. The Kettering-born singer-songwriter is rapidly becoming a country music legend across Europe. She’s just headlined at a country festival in France in front of 40,000 fans and has won a clutch of European country awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year & European Country Artist of the Year. Her debut album, I Wanna Be Rich (Big Feat Records), partly recorded in Nashville, can only enhance her reputation on this side of the Atlantic and will no doubt boost her growing popularity in the US. The lady is small but packs a powerful voice and loves to rock through most of the 12 tracks, including Closed Curtain, on which she duets with US Grammy winner Delbert McClinton. There are three great ballads, too, including the beautifully moving I Wish I Could Re-Write the Ending. Lucie remains true to her country roots but her presentation is decidedly of today. Watch this girl go - she could be destined for major stardom. NEIL BONNER - Glitzmagazine - July 2007 _____________________________________________________ It is not often I get excited about British country music artists, but when I heard this album my faith was restored. Don’t Even Think About It is a fast paced rocker that would make a superb dance track. Read My Lips is one of several tracks that Lucie co-wrote. It is a super east coast swing. I Wanna Be Rich is another cool country track and Lucie reminds me of country legend Bobbie Gentry so very much on this song. Praise indeed. My Ex True Love. A change of mood and not one of my favourites, as it is not country enough for me. Let Me Be Me is a beautiful nightclub two-step, and Lucie shows off her wonderful country voice. Did He Mention My Name is back to the up-tempo style again. Lucie sounds like a young Tanya Tucker. This would make for a great dance track. Closed Curtain is a duet with Delbert McClinton and Lucie sounds very much like soul diva Beverley Knight. This is one of my absolute favourites on the album. Don’t Mess Me Up is for me Lucie’s best effort at Songwriting. This powerful track is more acoustic than the rest. Lucie reminds me of Joss Stone on this one. I Wish I Could Re-Write The Ending is another awesome track, although this is more for listening than dancing to. Think Lucy Silvas and you will get the idea about this song. Take It Or leave It Alone. This song is more country flavoured than some as it features pedal steel guitar, fiddle, mandolin and Dobro, and this has Lucie sounding more of a country diva than a soul singer. I Wanna Love You Wild Sometimes features Albert Lee on guitar. A superb country track that is one of the best dance prospects on the album. I just love it. Final song God’s Working Overtime is not really a dance track as Lucie is accompanied only by a piano, but you will enjoy just sitting back and listening to this thought-provoking, powerful number. A fine end to a fine album. It looks like Britain finally has someone who can claim to be a real country singer. Lucie Diamond has a superb voice and this is a great album. Treat yourself today! Tim Ruzgar - Linedancer magazine’s Official Reviewer - October 2007 Listen: **** Dance: **** **** = Excellent ___________________________________________ Country Routes - September 2007 Lucie Diamond I Wanna Be Rich - Big Feat Records This is the long awaited debut album from a young lady who is getting rave reviews all over the globe. She has earned great respect from her fellow artists, and is the proud winner of 3 Awards from the 2006 European CMA Awards, beating some of the best in the business. Lucie Diamond is a British country music star destined for the top, and this 12-track CD is pure quality through and through - produced by another Brit, Simon Redley, whose first class production makes this an outstanding country CD well worthy of a number one position. Lucie’s vocal talents shine through on each and every song, be it bluegrass orientated, western swing, or pure country. She not only has the vocal talent, but is turning her hand to song writing as well. She has co-written 4 of the songs on this CD: Read My Lips, Don’t Mess Me Up, My Ex True Love and the beautiful ballad, I Wish I Could Re-write The Ending - and has proved she has the song writing ability to go far. This CD is top drawer quality and worthy of any country fan’s collection. ___________________________________________ Up Country magazine - September 2007 Lucie Diamond – I Wanna Be Rich… (Big Feat Records) This is certainly the month for strong women; following hot on the heels of Gretchen Wilson and Lucinda Williams in this edition of Country Mix we have the UK’s own breakout phenomenon, Lucie Diamond. Sometimes a lot of praise for a fledgling artist can arouse scepticism, but in Lucie’s case, the plaudits are fully justified. This is one of the best female Country vocalist performances of the year, period, right up there with Gretchen’s and Martina’s. The fact that she hails from Derbyshire, not Nashville, is simply icing on the cake! The cd kicks off with a rabble rousing pair of bluesy Country rockers in the shape of Don’t Even Think About It (by Shelley Jacobson and British singer/songwriter, Lorna Flowers) and Read My Lips (co-written by Lucie and British singer-songwriter Catherine Rushton). Lucie’s powerful, soulful vocal delivery impresses immediately as she sets her stall out as a confident, no-nonsense kind of woman. Third song I Wanna Be Rich is a more traditionally Country-sounding track, with fiddles all over the place and Lucie showing off the versatility of her vocal range on the tongue-in-cheek lyrics. My Ex True Love is another Lucie co-write, this time with Nashville songwriter Bat McGrath, and it’s another winner, with Lucie again showing off her vocal control. The duet with Delbert McClinton, Closed Curtain, is a raunchy tour de force that radiates raw chemistry as the pair trade vocal licks, and the equally bluesy I Wanna Love You Wild Sometimes featuring Albert Lee on lead guitar is another scorcher. If dramatic Country ballads are more your thing then there are a couple of epic performances to enjoy here, namely I Wish I Could Re-write The Ending and Let Me Be Me. The piano ballad God’s Working Overtime doesn’t quite do it for me, but it’s really the only slightly below par track on the whole thing. Very impressive indeed. Overall rating. Total star quality and great songs from a British vocalist who has already shown she’s got the chops to mix it up with the Nashville elite. ___________________________________________ "I Wanna Be Rich is the very best country album ever to come out of the UK. Lucie is pure star, with the talent and the CD to back up that description. I'm loving the album more every time I listen to it. It truly is a great album." David White, BBC - July 2007 ___________________________________________ The Anglo-American/transatlantic aspect of the project is exemplified from the word go on the belting "Don't Even think About It". It's a blazing rocker with a little of Spirit In The Sky in the rhythm section and rocks out terrifically, propelling the listener headlong into the rest of the album." ....an exciting home grown project: a strong singer and a pretty able songwriter" - Country Music People - August 2007 _________________________________________ "I wanna be rich" a great debut album by Lucie Diamond" Jack, countrymusicfrance.com _________________________________________ Lucie Diamond is a breath of fresh air, like a cool breeze on a parched face. She’s an amazingly talented beautiful young woman. She can’t miss! Her debut album is a piece of magic, and I'm happy to be a part of it. - Delbert McClinton _______________________________________ After listening for the first time I played this album again immediately! - The Country Startpage France - July 2007 The title tune to this British country thrush’s CD is a funky, peppy ditty with plenty of wit and moxie Robert K Oermann, Music Row - Nashville ___________________________________________ <p><b>

Mirande Country Festival France 2007

Lucie LIVE @ the Bluebird Cafe, Nashville Feb 2008 - Acoustic

"I Wish I Could Re-write The Ending" & "Don't Even Think About It" Acoustic

Video Clip of Lucie singing Live in Nashville with USA band "Read My Lips"

MORE VIDEOS OF LUCIE ON MYSPACE TV - JUST GO TO "VIEW VIDEOS"

Lucie swept the board at the annual European Country Music Awards in Spain, July 2006. She won more awards than any other artist, and was the only British artist to take home an award.
She won:
"Female Vocalist of the Year," (beating Dolly, Faith Hill and Gretchen Wilson)
"European Country Artist of the Year"
"ECMA Future Star Award"

_________________________________________
"I Wanna Be Rich is the very best country album ever to come out of the UK. Lucie is pure star, with the talent and the CD to back up that description. I'm loving the album more every time I listen to it. It truly is a great album."
David White, BBC - July 2007
_________________________________________
Ask anyone to name a British-born female country artist who can mix it with the best that Nashville has to offer and you’ll be waiting a long time for an answer. The truth of the matter is that we’ve never been able to produce a singer that could give the Dolly Partons and Reba McEntires of this world a serious run for their money. Until now - Lucie Diamond is a rare gem.
Neil Bonner, Glitz magazine - July 2007
_________________________________________
"In Lucie Diamond we really do have a world class artist, songwriter and performer on our hands and I think this year is going to be the start of a long and successful career. Having seen her perform recently, I would recommend anyone to try and catch one of her shows. She really is something special: a real Diamond." .
Maverick Magazine - July 2007 .

Please add "The Sole Of Africa" Banner to your myspace site or website.
(right click, select all, right click, copy and then paste into your "About Me" section )
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnRoZXNvbGVvZmFmcmljYS5vcmcuemEv"> <img alt="Put Your Foot Down" src="http://www.thesoleofafrica.org.za/Resources/soabanner_largesquare.jpg" width="300" height="250" />
)
In September and October 2007, Lucie travelled to South Africa and Mozambique to visit areas devastated by landmines, meeting victims - many of them young children - and the aid workers on the ground. A film crew followed Lucie as part of major documentaries being produced for US television.

Lucie said: “It is just appalling and beyond belief to think that literally every 19 minutes, someone is maimed or killed by a landmine on our planet, planted deliberately by another human being to do exactly that, in cold blood. I am told there are an estimated 100 million landmines in Africa, and Mozambique is the worst area affected."

The Mineseeker Foundation has helped to develop cutting-edge mine seeking technology mounted on airships, and has offices in the UK, USA and South Africa. Dedicated to the seeking out and removal of landmines around the world, starting with Mozambique at the personal request of Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel. They have launched The Sole of Africa campaign - to step in behind landmine removal and reclaim the land, to turn minefields into farmland. Sending in specialist support teams to teach the communities to sow, grow and sell their own produce, empowering people to self-help for long term solutions to the mine and famine problems. Also working with victims to provide artificial limbs, plus other practical and immediate help.
Lucie in Mozambique

MySpace a place for friends