Yazz

b. Yasmin Evans, 19 May 1963, Shepherd’s Bush, London, England. Dance-pop singer who began her career in the music business as part of a quickly forgotten act, the Biz. After becoming a catwalk model and working as George Michael’s stylist, she laid plans for a return to recording work. When she did so, she found rewards immediately, joining with DJs Coldcut on the February 1988 Top 10 hit ‘Doctorin’ The House’. In its wake her revamped version of Otis Clay’s ‘The Only Way Is Up’ soared to the top of the UK charts in August, while ‘Stand Up For Your Love Rights’ reached the number 2 spot. Both of the latter were credited to Yazz And The Plastic Population. After three further Top 20 hits and tours Yazz took time out to have her first baby. She returned alongside Aswad in 1993 for ‘How Long’, but this failed to break the Top 30. A new solo single, ‘Have Mercy’ and the attendant One On One were further evidence of her attempts to re-establish herself via a contract with Polydor Records. Yazz recorded 1997’s The Natural Life at UB40 frontman Ali Campbell’s Kuff Studios. This pleasant reggae-inflected album proved to be her final release of the decade.