Annisette

Annisette, the woman singer of Savage Rose, has usually been known and billed by her first name only, though she was actually born Annisette Hansen, and has for several decades had the full name of Annisette Koppel, after marrying Thomas Koppel of Savage Rose. Annisette's distinctive high-pitched, keening vocals, similar in some respects to those of Kate Bush (who didn't start releasing records until a decade after Annisette first recorded), have been integral to the sound of Savage Rose since she joined the group in the late '60s. Her vocals, like those of some other unconventional singers like Bush and Bob Dylan, have a polarizing effect on listeners: some can't stand to be in the same room, others are mesmerized by it. There is no doubt, however, that she is among that class of singers who can be instantly identified and not confused with anyone else once she's been heard.

Koppel started singing in public at the age of 7, performing for traveling amusement shows and children's records. As a teenager, she became heavily influenced by soul music and sang with the Danish band the Dandy Swingers. She took the lead on their cover of Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep, Mountain High," which was popular in Denmark. Attracted by the opportunity to sing more original material, she left to join Savage Rose (as did two of the other Dandy Swingers) before the band's 1968 debut. She would marry one of the group's keyboardist composers, Thomas Koppel, and by the mid-'70s the Koppels were the only remaining members of the original band. Annisette and Thomas Koppel have kept Savage Rose going, with the assistance of various other musicians live and on record, ever since that time. While the early Savage Rose records had been largely co-written by Thomas Koppel and his brother, Anders Koppel, Annisette would in later years co-write material with Thomas Koppel as well. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi