Tessa Niles

Tessa Niles

Born: January 27, 1961
in Ilford, Essex, England, UK
Tessa Margaret Niles (née Webb; born 27 January 1961 in Ilford, Essex) 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.

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 the mid-1980s, Niles was featured the lead vocalist (along with Clive Griffin) 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 in 1985, where she provided backing vocals for David Bowie (who introduced her as "Theresa" in the prelude to "Heroes"). On 16 & 17 June 1989 she performed vocals at Cliff Richard´s gigs: From a Distance: The Event recorded at Wembley Stadium. In 1992 she featured in the Cliff Richard´s studio album The album.

Movies for Tessa Niles...

Eric Clapton: The Definitive 24 Nights - Rock
Title: Eric Clapton: The Definitive 24 Nights - Rock
Character: Backing Vocals
Released: June 23, 2023
Type: Movie
In 1990, Eric Clapton performed 18 nights at one of his favourite venues - the famous Royal Albert Hall in London. During the 18 run of shows, Clapton performed with three different line-ups: a rock band, a blues band, and an orchestra. Eric returned to the same venue in 1991 with the same three line-ups and played a further 24 shows. The huge undertaking of rehearsing for performances of three distinctly different genres was made even more challenging by the line-up for the rock shows varying from 4, 9 or 13 band members.
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Concert for George
Title: Concert for George
Character: Self
Released: October 3, 2003
Type: Movie
As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitable Foundation. The film was shot using discreet cameras from over twelve locations.
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Eric Clapton - Live in Hyde Park
Title: Eric Clapton - Live in Hyde Park
Character: Herself - Backing Vocals
Released: November 20, 2001
Type: Movie
Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton is filmed performing live in one of the most beautiful parks in his native England, London's Hyde Park, for the annual Prince's Trust Charity Concert in 1996. In his usual breathtaking way, the man they call "Slowhand" masterfully performs renditions of some of his most adored classics, including "Layla," "I Shot the Sheriff," "Wonderful Tonight," and "White Room."
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Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert
Title: Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert
Character: Self
Released: October 26, 1999
Type: Movie
In Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua is a live concert film featuring performances by the British rock musician Eric Clapton and invited friends, such as David Sanborn, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige and Bob Dylan.[citation needed] The DVD and VHS releases hit the market on 26 October 1999 under license of Warner Bros. Records. The concert tickets revenue was donated to the Crossroads Centre Foundation. It was the first Crossroads Guitar Festival, although titled differently at the time.[1] The release reached various national charts and sold more than 225,000 copies worldwide.
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Eric Clapton - MTV Unplugged
Title: Eric Clapton - MTV Unplugged
Released: March 11, 1992
Type: Movie
Recorded at Bray Studios, England before a small audience for the MTV Unplugged series, Eric Clapton performed a live acoustic set which included his successful 1991 single “Tears in Heaven” and an acoustic version of “Layla”. The accompanying album became the most successful live album ever released.
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Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Title: Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Released: March 11, 1991
Type: Movie
ErIc Clapton plays old hits and new ones in this Grammy Award winning special
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Eric Clapton: Philadelphia 1988
Title: Eric Clapton: Philadelphia 1988
Character: backing vocals
Released: January 1, 1988
Type: Movie
Eric Clapton, featuring Mark Knopfler, performs live in Philadelphia 1988.