Annie Haslam

Early History

Originally a fashion student in Cornwall, she worked for a Saville Row tailor in London, and then began studying under opera singer Sybil Knight in 1970.

Career with Renaissance

In February 1971, she became the new lead singer of Renaissance, after answering an advertisement in the British periodical Melody Maker, and auditioning for the band in Surrey. Charles Snider stated "Annie Haslam's voice, soaring high along with the melody, is the big news. Far more West End than Carnaby Street, it would come to define the band."

With Renaissance, Haslam was lead vocalist on seven studio albums during their classic period (1972–1979), four studio albums from 1981–present, and a number of live albums. For more information see the Renaissance Discography.

Solo career

In 1977, she began her solo career with her album Annie in Wonderland, produced by Roy Wood who played most of the musical instruments, and who also duetted with her on one track, and also performed on the Intergalactic Touring Band album. Haslam and Wood were engaged to be married for four years, which she later described as "four of the funniest years of my life". She has since released eight studio albums, three of which were released through her own record label, White Dove. She has also collaborated with Steve Howe on a number of projects.

Surviving breast cancer

In 1993 Haslam was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she survived and which became the inspiration for her 1994 album, Blessing in Disguise.

Her 2006 Live Studio Concert, was also released as her first solo DVD. Haslam released an EP called Night and Day, her first solo recording for some years, with Welsh rock band Magenta in 2006.

Visual arts

"Haslam as few among us, is blessed to channel her muse in a variety of ways" wrote Melinda Rizzo in Fine Art Magazine. One of these is visual arts:

Festive season concert

Starting in 1999, Haslam has, each year, performed a Christmas show called In the Spirit of the Holidays, originally at the Upper Tinicum Lutheran Church, and then at the larger Sellersville Theatre in Sellersville, Pennsylvania since 2006. The Christmas show has been held every year except 2012, due to the death of her friend and colleague, Michael Dunford, in November of that year. Haslam stated that "there was just too much sadness at the time." Included in the program are secular, and religious Christmas carols, as well as her own compositions, and a few Renaissance favourites.

Because Philadelphia was one American city where Renaissance found a reliable number of listeners and a devoted audience, Haslam relocated, before 1999, to Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where she currently resides.

Solo discography