Thanks to Dave Haddock for sending me a link to his website, www.ourgracie.com, which although is mainly about Dame Gracie Fields, also includes a big section on Keedie who was an admired neighbour of Gracie’s.

An extract from Dave’s eMail to me:
Quote:
Although the website is mainly dedicated to Gracie Fields I thought it appropriate to include Keedie because not only is she a much admired close neighbour of Miss Beryl Down (the lady who the website has been created for in order to try and raise funds for the Children’s Hospice South West) my family and I are also huge fans of Keedie. We have watched her progress in her career from back in the early 1990s when we lived in Torbay and where she entertained us in many pubs and clubs. Another reason I have created this section is that we now have a growing number of Keedie fans amongst the Gracie fans in the Manhatten area of New York!. A few weeks ago I mentioned to a lady (Gracie Fields fan who writes to me regularly) who resides in Brooklyn USA that we have a young lady over here by the name of Keedie who has the amazing voice range that Gracie had. The lady had never heard of Keedie so I sent her Keedie’s album. Her reply was:

“Keedie truly has an amazing voice - Her soprano notes are definately in league with those who sing at the Metropolitan Opera. One could listen to her for hours and still not get enough of her beautiful music. I brought it to work with me on Friday and treated some of my colleagues to a really great bit of entertainment. They all thought Keedie’s voice is just awesome and our computer wizard Alex was totally mesmorized by her!!. We are all hoping she will eventually perform in New York City and we just know it would be a sell out with SRO. I believe her popularity would really rise if she were able to ever perform in New York".

Athena Tooze, The lady who wrote this, just managed to survive the 9/11 disaster. She was working in the building next to the Twin Towers when they came crashing down. She now says “I have listened to the album at least half a dozen times since receiving it and each time Keedie’s singing brings peace and tranquility to my soul".

Miss Beryl Down (now aged 83 and currently living in a registered care home for the elderly in Torbay) is currently writing poetry about Keedie which will be published to the website quite soon. You will see how the Gracie/Keedie connection comes together when you arrive at the first page of the Keedie section.

To reach the Keedie section log onto www.ourgracie.com scroll through the first few pages until you reach the “Where to Next” page then click onto “Keedie - A Bright New Star in Beryl’s Eyes”

It is well worth spending some time viewing other areas of this wonderful site, not just the Keedie section..

Thanks to Dave for the regular updates and information, and of course for the Keedie section in his website!

Its in the running for the Christmas Top Spot. Now get the ringtones!!!

To order, text the following to 85080.

Vidc Stump 1 for the realtone
Vidc Stump 2 for the poly
Vidc stump 3 for the mono

Eg, to order the realtone, please send vidc stump1 to 85080.

All tones cost 3GBP. All proceeds will go to charities associated with or endorsed by the MCC.

Requirements

WAP must be enabled for polyphonic and Truetone ringtones and colour images. Please ensure that WAP push is enabled in your handset. Please ensure that GPRS is your default connection. Entering a correct code and mobile phone compatibility is the users responsibility, please consult your handset manual carefully.

A new message from Keedies mum:

“Hi Keedies mom here, just a quick message from Keedie, at the moment she is in london promoting the single and hopefully will be back soon to tell you all the news about what she has been up to. All the best to all her fans, Keedies mom”

Cover art for the new single Jerusalam:

Click for a bigger version!

Amazon UK (www.Amazon.co.uk) are taking pre-release orders for the new single entitled “Jerusalem".

Price is 3.99 GBP and the release date is December 12th 2005.

Why not pre-order your copy today - Amazon Link

From Ben Fenton of the Telegraph newspaper:

Though far away from this green and pleasant land, Englands cricketers have their minds very much on Jerusalem.

The team have recorded a rendition of William Blakes poem, set to the traditional music of Hubert Parry, aimed at rising to the top of the Christmas singles charts.

All proceeds will go to charity, particularly those associated with aid to the victims of the earthquake last month in Pakistan, where England are currently engaged in a struggle to beat the host nation.

Jerusalem became central to the summe’s Ashes success, sung on numerous occasions throughout each day of the series. For their record, the team were joined by the 23-year-old pop singer Keedie.

Michael Vaughan, the captain, said: “Jerusalem is a special song and is the reason why the crowd got behind us from half past 10 every morning this summer.”

Monday, 21 November 2005
Press Release
England Cricket Team link up with British singer Keedie to release charity single

Keedie and The England Cricket Team
JERUSALEM
Release Date: 12 Dec 05

In the summer of 2005, the nation went “Ashes” crazy and the song “Jerusalem” captured the public imagination. By the time of the Trafalgar Square victory parade, London echoed to the sound of tens of thousands singing in celebration with the team.

The release of an official CD of the song is a fitting end to a great year and now the England Cricket Team have recorded a charity version of “Jerusalem” with 23 year old classical singer “Keedie” (who had a no.2 chart hit last year with Duncan James from “Blue” and the Andrew Lloyd Webber track “I Believe My Heart").

Keedie had already been known to the England Cricket Team for some time. She was first spotted by Michael Vaughan when she sang at a benefit to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and she had also performed at various cricket events after being initially put forward by Sir Tim Rice. Following the Ashes victory, Keedie was delighted to be asked to perform at the PCA (Professional Cricketers Association) Awards at The Royal Albert Hall. Intended only as a “one-off", Keedie performed the song “Jerusalem” in honour of the team. The response to her rendering of the song was absolutely phenomenal, and the idea began to be muted of an official recording of the song with the team.

When the players travelled to Pakistan for the test series, some of them visited the earthquake zone, and were so shocked by the total devastation, that they asked that proceeds from the single go to the Earthquake appeal and it was decided to release the song for Christmas.

Michael Vaughan: “In England I dont think we realised the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake and it was soon forgotten. There is a lot of work still to do and donations are needed to get the peoples lives back on track. Jerusalem is a special song and is the reason why the crowd got behind us from half past ten every morning this summer. It was played from the beginning of play and it lifted the crowd to get behind us from ball one. Im sure it will be a great success and raise profile and funds for the Earthquake relief.”

Marcus Trescothick: “We have to keep making people aware. It’s been 5 weeks since the quake happened. If people aren’t reminded daily or weekly then the funds won’t come in and the people will not cope with it as well as they could do. We went to one of the hospitals and they said, 3 weeks ago, that they had funds to treat people for one week. And there are millions of people up on the mountains. It is getting very cold nowadays and any support we can give by giving shelter, food, money …people need to be reminded back at home.”

With the team in Pakistan until Dec 22, Keedie, the music producers and video crew flew over to Faisalabad at short notice. Keedie booked into the team hotel – and the hotel management gave a space to create a makeshift recording studio in a room off the hotel lobby!

Keedie (who now lives in Devon, but is originally from Wolverhampton): “I feel honoured and privileged to be asked to sing with the team, especially on an anthem like “Jerusalem". The guys were all great, really down to earth, and I had a lot of fun recording it.”

Jerusalem is set to be a big hit, and is the perfect Christmas present and memento of the “Ashes” victory.

Stewart Allan, HMV Singles Buyer: “When it was recently confirmed there would be an X-Factor Christmas single, we reckoned that all bets for the Xmas No.1 were off, as we couldn’t see what could possibly top that. But if anyone can give them a run for their money, it’s the England cricket team singing “Jerusalem", especially as it will also help raise funds for the South Asia Earthquake Appeal.

“Charity singles always do well at Christmas - often helping to bring communities together - and with the Barmy Army also likely to be filling their Christmas stockings; this single has all the makings of a Number One. It should certainly be viewed among the favourites.

“With Westlife, the Crazy Frog, Nizlopi, The Choirboys, G4, Tony Christie and even Santa himself in the frame, this is going to be one of the most exciting and open races for the Christmas No.1 ever - I can see it going down to the wire and we probably won’t know who’s won until Christmas Day itself, when the Official UK Chart is announced.”

Rupert Adam, spokesperson for William Hill: “Interest in the race for the Christmas Number 1 single has reached new heights this year. Cricket has never been so popular and the release of this single has blown the book wide open, we have to treat this single as a serious contender for the Christmas Number 1 spot”

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN:

The Earthquake Appeal – To help the victims of the recent earthquake in Pakistan and India. Over 73,000 confirmed death, and 500,000 still without shelter as winter sets in.

“A Chance To Shine” – supports the introduction of cricket at British state schools, to help develop the cricketers of tomorrow.

PCA Benevolent Fund – supports former cricketers whose playing careers have been curtailed, sometimes very prematurely, e.g. by injury.

For further information please contact Sue Harris 020 8960 7449 / sue@republicmedia.net

Message from Keedies mum:

Hi this is keedies mom

We are all excited for keedies arrival back in england she has been out in dubai singing for the 2005 soccerex then she flew out to pakistan to record with the england cricket team all is going well.

I will updated very soon we also have new photos bye for now keedies mom