New Seekers: Kathy Ann Rae [1957-2011]

When the New Seekers re-formed in 1976 Kathy Ann Rae was brought in as Lyn Paul's replacement. Although Kathy resembled Lyn, she had a very different style and brought a new facet to the sound of the group.

Born on 7th March 1957 in Cambridge, Kathy (pictured below) was the youngest member of the New Seekers.

Before joining the group, Kathy had sung for a year with the Bob Johnstone Band in Birmingham and then with the Ken McKintosh Band at the Hammersmith Palais in London.

Kathy Ann Rae pictured with the New Seekers on the front cover of their 1978 album
Anthem (One Day in Every Week).

   

Kathy recorded two albums and eight singles with the New Seekers. She shared the lead vocal with Marty Kristian on the critically acclaimed single Give Me Love Your Way and sang solo on the group's last single for CBS Don't Stop The Music. Kathy also sang the lead on three album tracks: You Make Me Feel Like A Woman and You Never Can Tell (both featured on the Together Again album) and High In A Singles Bar from the album Anthem (One Day In Every Week).

When she performed with the New Seekers in concert Kathy was dynamite, particularly when she sang I've Got The Music In Me.

Kathy left the New Seekers in 1979 but re-joined again for a short time in November 1980. She sang with the group on their 1981 six-week tour of Russia (53 dates in April and May, including concerts in Kiev, Leningrad and an audience of 11,000 in Moscow). She then opted for a six month solo contract to sing at the Hilton Hotel. At the end of 1982 Kathy re-joined the New Seekers for a short tour of the Far East (Bangkok and Singapore).

In 1983 Kathy entered the Song For Europe contest as a member of a trio called Audio. Their song, Love On Your Mind, was written by Marty Kristian and Trevor Spencer.

Cathy Logan

   

After taking a break from the music business to focus on family life, Kathy (now Cathy Logan) returned to singing in 2000 with solo cabaret performances and a reunion show with Eve Graham in aid of cancer research. In February 2001 Cathy appeared with the New Seekers at the Antwerp Sports Palace. Playing to an audience of 10,000 people, the New Seekers shared the stage with other '60s and '70s acts such as Alvin Stardust and The Fortunes.

Cathy was married and, like Lyn Paul, had a son called Ryan. Ryan was born at 10.00am on 26th April 1984. On Tuesday, 11th January 2011 Cathy died, having lived with cancer for several years. Marty Kristian described her as "a wonderful talent and a beautiful person".

For more information please visit Cathy's website at: http://kathyannrae.abil.ity.me.uk/

Audio

Single

Love On Your Mind (Marty Kristian / Trevor Spencer) /
Can't Do Better Than That (Marty Kristian / Trevor Spencer)
(Rex Record Co. EURO 1) April 1983

Solo recordings

The following recordings are available from the Cathy Logan website:

Amoureuse (Gary Osborne / Véronique Sanson)
Rise (Olli Dagois / Bob Dylan / Gabrielle / Ferdy Unger Hamilton)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Annie Lennox / David A. Stewart)
When The Heartache Is Over (Graham Stack / John Reid)
Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For (Mark True)
You're Still The One (Shania Twain / Robert John "Mutt" Lange)

Lives Remembered - Cathy Hernaman
The Express, Saturday, 15th January 2011.

Today's radio
Daily Mail, Saturday, 26th March 2011.