This UK pop act enjoyed a major transatlantic hit with ‘Walking On Sunshine’ in 1985, but were also well-known for their original version of ‘Going Down To Liverpool’, which was successfully covered by the Bangles. The band was formed by Katrina Leskanich (b. Topeka, Kansas, USA; vocals), Kimberley Rew (guitar), Vince De La Cruz (b. Texas, USA; bass) and Alex Cooper (drums). Leskanich and De La Cruz are Americans, but came to Britain during 1976 when their military fathers served in the UK. Based at Feltwell, Norfolk, the sight of the air force base, Rew and Cooper were both graduates of Cambridge University. Rew was formerly in the Soft Boys and after leaving them released the solo The Bible Of Bop, in 1982. Many of the songs he wrote for his solo career were carried over into Katrina And The Waves, where he became the chief songwriter. The band was formed in 1982 but their first two albums were only released in Canada. They followed up ‘Walking On Sunshine’ with ‘Sun Street’, which was their last UK hit, although they remained a popular act on the college circuit for some time thereafter and ‘That’s The Way’ reached the US Top 20 in 1989.
By the 90s, Katrina And The Waves’ albums were only being released in Germany and it appeared that the band’s future was in serious doubt. Although it caused some surprise Katrina And The Waves were nominated by the British public as the UK entry for the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. The mantric chorus of ‘Love Shine A Light’ appealed to the judges and it became the clear winner; obligatory chart success followed, with the single reaching UK number 3. Leskanich left the band in 1999 to work as a presenter on BBC Radio 2, but continued to record as a solo artist. Rew recorded the solo Tunnel Into Summer before rejoining the Soft Boys in 2001.
