Gabrielle.

A debut single that entered the UK charts at number two and then topped them is a rare start, and Gabrielle's 'Dreams' was exactly that. Born Louisa Gabriella Bobb in Hackney, London, in 1969 to parents from Dominica, the singer and songwriter grew up with her mother's love of soul and reggae, then absorbed a run of 1980s pop, from Madonna to Duran Duran, alongside a devotion to Michael Jackson. That blend of soul warmth and pop sheen is what gives her work its character.

The debut album, Find Your Way, kept the momentum going, with 'Going Nowhere' reaching number nine, while her self-titled 1996 follow-up gave her 'Give Me a Little More Time', which peaked at number five and returned her to the UK top ten. After a few quieter years, she came back in 2000 with 'Rise', her second UK number one, and the album of the same name topped the UK Albums Chart for three weeks. 'Out of Reach', from the Bridget Jones's Diary soundtrack, climbed to number four, and in 2001 she issued the compilation Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1.