Christine Quaite

Among the myriad British teen singers signed to major label deals in the rush to replicate the success of 13-year-old superstar <a href="spotify:artist:05kB8yh0Bbxj73qH63Ob3C">Helen Shapiro</a>, Christine Quaite enjoyed commercial and creative success greater than most, even cracking the U.S. charts with 1964's "Tell Me Mama." According to a comprehensive overview at the Spectropop website, Quaite was born in Leeds on May 11, 1948. At age eight, she entered her first talent showcase and became a fixture of the local amateur circuit, later joining the Judean Club, a Jewish youth performance group whose ranks included teen Vivienne Foreman, later known as British pop sensation Julie Grant. After placing second in a Manchester talent contest, Quaite received a contract offer from Oriole Records, and in early 1962, the 13-year-old issued her debut single "Oh My," quickly followed by a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:48QdHdRanCXdBt6lygsDES">Johnny Crawford</a>'s "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow." Neither sold, and a similar fate befell her excellent third single "Whisper Wonderful Words," which borrowed its melody line from <a href="spotify:artist:2D7RkvtKKb6E5UmbjQM1Jd">Bizet</a>'s opera Carmen. However, with 1964's "Tell Me Mama," Quaite ascended to the number 89 spot on the Billboard pop charts, guaranteeing a worldwide release for the follow-up, the <a href="spotify:artist:7ndXQ4XNWOzIPq3ElQhrEP">Ellie Greenwich</a>/<a href="spotify:artist:4h4nyO6EOTwCGe7LwwHR4I">Jeff Barry</a>-penned "Here She Comes." In the wake of her next release, "Mr. Stuck-Up," Oriole went bankrupt and in June 1965 Quaite signed with manager Bunny Lewis, who negotiated a deal with the New York City label Laurie for the <a href="spotify:artist:5gPEo032lzARtzuVqJIm9o">Bobby Goldsboro</a>-written "If You've Got a Heart." Laurie never advanced the single past the acetate stage, however, and instead it came out on the U.K. label Stateside, also home to the follow-up, the <a href="spotify:artist:35y7CZMg7jbG8Q96JY7dyC">Burt Bacharach</a>/<a href="spotify:artist:4SneDShROaEhPgKm12KZ3W">Hal David</a> composition "Long After Tonight Is All Over." The single was Quaite's swan song. Little is known of her subsequent musical pursuits, although she later married and started a family. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi