Alison Wheeler (born 4 March 1972) is a British singer, best known as the female vocalist for

The Beautiful South The Beautiful South were an English pop rock group formed in 1988 by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway, two former members of the Hull group The Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members throughout the band's exi ...

from 2003 until they disbanded in 2007. Wheeler's career in music began at university in a cover band called Melt City, alongside Hal Ritson, now of

The Young Punx The Young Punx are an English electronic dance music group whose eclectic and energetic style encompasses French house, breakbeat and drum and bass, mashed up with elements as diverse as 1980s pop, rock, disco and jazz. The Young Punx's mus ...

, Kev Dowd, now of Lowbrow, James Woods, now of Jam Sandwich and Dom Wilhelm, (of 1990s UK pop punk act Satellite Beach). On arriving in London she joined indie band Junk, subsequently renamed Treehouse, well known on the Camden & Islington gig circuit (The Dublin Castle, Bull & Gate, the Laurel Tree, the Hope & Anchor, Islington). In 1998 Wheeler responded to an audition for a "girl band" Virginia, masterminded by record producer Ian Shaw (founder of

Warm Fuzz Records Warm Fuzz Records is a British independent record label focussing on alternative rock founded by producer Ian Shaw. Artists released on Warm Fuzz *Kelly's Heels *Virginia (featuring Alison Wheeler) *Matt Backer *The Ashes *Trouble Dolls ...

) and then consisting of Louise Miller and Lee Winnick, the latter shortly afterwards replaced by Laura Matthews. Virginia featured repeatedly as guests on BBC Radio, particularly

Janice Long Janice Berry ( Chegwin; 5 April 1955 – 25 December 2021), known professionally by her first married name Janice Long, was an English broadcaster who was best known for her work in British music radio. In a career that spanned five decades, s ...

Jonathan Ross Jonathan Stephen Ross (born 17 November 1960) is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He presented the BBC One chat show ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' during the 2000s, hosted his own radio show on B ...

Gyles Brandreth Gyles Daubeney Brandreth (born 8 March 1948) is an English broadcaster, writer and former politician. He has worked as a television presenter, theatre producer, journalist, author and publisher. He was a presenter for TV-am's '' Good Morning B ...

Nicky Campbell Nicholas Andrew Argyll Campbell, OBE (born Nicholas Lackey, 10 April 1961) is a Scottish broadcaster and journalist. He has worked in television and radio since 1981 and as a network presenter with BBC Radio since 1987. Early life Campbell wa ...

and

Ned Sherrin Edward George Sherrin (18 February 1931 – 1 October 2007) was an English broadcaster, author and stage director. He qualified as a barrister and then worked in independent television before joining the BBC. He appeared in a variety of ...

, as well as TV appearances in Northern Ireland on the Benny Hill Show. Tracks from Virginia's first album ''Firstbite'' had chart success in the US Billboard charts. In 2002 her work with London gospel band Citizen K led to an introduction to Dave Hemingway of the Beautiful South. After working on Hemingway's as yet unreleased solo album, Hemingway promised a recommendation to the Beautiful South's driving force, Paul Heaton, since a new album was in the making, despite the unexpected departure of former band member

Jacqui Abbott Jacqueline Abbott (born 10 November 1973) is an English singer who was a vocalist with the band The Beautiful South from 1994 to 2000, following the departure of Briana Corrigan. With Abbott, the band released several Top 10 singles. Amongst ...

. By 2003, with the release of "Gaze", Wheeler was a member of the band, appearing live first at a Carling Homecoming at the Welly Club in Hull on 18 September 2003. Gaze was followed by albums "Goldiggas Headnodders and Pholk Songs" and "Superbi". She was dubbed Alison 'Lady' Wheeler jokingly by her bandmates in The Beautiful South who felt that her demeanour and education at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge or Oxford. ...

, was in contrast to the band's trademark working-class northern image. She remained busy during her pregnancy in 2005 touring the UK, headlining the acoustic stage at Glastonbury, in the Park and Oxygene. This was followed by nearly 50 gigs in 2006 including 2 UK tours, the V festival, an Irish tour and an American tour. The band split in January 2007 due to "musical similarities". She spent some time enjoying motherhood and recorded a solo project.

The Beautiful South

Members of Beautiful South (including Wheeler and singer Dave Hemingway but minus ex-lead singers

Paul Heaton Paul David Heaton (born 9 May 1962) is an English singer-songwriter. He was the frontman of the Housemartins, who had success with the singles " Happy Hour" and the UK number one "Caravan of Love" in 1986 before disbanding in 1988. He then forme ...

and

) got back together as The New Beautiful South (as a touring band rather than a recording act), which, in time, was re-branded as The South. In 2010, she recorded the track "Move A Little Closer" with Jon Windle (formerly of

Little Man Tate ''Little Man Tate'' is a 1991 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Jodie Foster (in her List of directorial debuts, directorial debut) from a screenplay written by Scott Frank. The film stars Adam Hann-Byrd as Fred Tate, ...

) for his debut solo album ''Step Out The Man''. Since 2008, Wheeler has been working with Amanda Frolich recording children's albums for "Amanda's Action Club". During 2012 and 2013, she toured the UK with The South, playing old Beautiful South songs as well as songs from her album with Dave Hemingway called ''Sweet Refrains''. Wheeler is currently still a member of The South though

Dave Hemingway Dave Hemingway (born David Robert Hemingway, 20 September 1960) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as a vocalist for the Hull-based band The Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007. Previously he had been a member of The House ...

left the band in 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Alison British women singers Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge 1972 births Living people People from Daventry 21st-century British women singers