Joan Armatrading made waves with her orchestral-backed rock-soul single Love And Affection in October 1976. It catapulted the reserved and enigmatic St Kitts-born, Birmingham-raised singer-songwriter to stardom, where she’s remained for five decades.
Being awarded two British honours for her services to music – an MBE in 2001 and a CBE in 2020 – placed her firmly in the songwriting royalty tier, and her honest, observer’s approach to life and love remains on her most recent record album How Did This Happen And What Does This Now Mean, on which she engages in some sizzling guitar playing.
