Marcella Detroit

Marcella Detroit's soprano voice provided the lead vocals on one of the biggest hits of the 1990s, but has she got the staying power to be an opera diva?

She is probably best known as one half of the band Shakespeare’s Sister and for singing lead vocals on their most popular and memorable hit ‘Stay’, which was number one for eight weeks in the UK singles charts in 1992.

Detroit first started out as a blues guitarist playing with the Bob Seger band, Leon Russell, the Gap Band and Eric Clapton. She also worked as a session musician for a number of world class artists, including Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper and Bette Midler and is a published songwriter, having written material Hayley Westenra and Charlotte Church among others.

She was introduced to Siobhan Fahey, of Banarama fame, in 1988 and together they wrote songs which formed the first Shakespears Sister album, 'Sacred Heart', where Detroit also performed backing vocals before she took centre stage on 'Stay'. They still hold the record for the female group to hold the top position in the chart the most consecutive weeks.

After leaving the duo, Marcella released a solo album 'Jewel' and had three Top 40 hits: 'I Believe', 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing' (a duet with Elton John) and 'I'm No Angel'.

Marcella on opera:

"A friend gave me some Maria Callas CDs, which were wonderful. I love her singing - I really respond to the emotions she brings to her arias."

"The physicality required to sing opera is very challenging. You learn that it's all about support and singing from the diaphragm. It's also about breahting correctly. I think these lessons are going to help my singing enormously. It's invaluable."