Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, and record producer. She is known for her eclectic musical style, literary and unconventional lyrics, and innovative use of dance and visual performance. Her work has influenced a wide range of artists across genres.
Bush began writing songs at the age of 11 and was later signed to EMI Records after David Gilmour of Pink Floyd helped fund a professional demo recording. In 1978, aged 19, she achieved a four-week run at number one on the UK Singles Chart with her debut single, "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first female artist to top the chart with a song she had written entirely herself. Her debut studio album, "The Kick Inside" (1978), reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. She subsequently became the first British female solo artist to top the UK Albums Chart and the first female artist to enter the chart at number one. All nine of her studio albums have reached the UK top 10, including the number-one albums "Never for Ever" (1980) and "Hounds of Love" (1985), as well as the compilation "The Whole Story" (1986). From "The Dreaming" (1982) onwards, she produced all of her studio albums. After "The Red Shoes" (1993), she took a 12-year hiatus before releasing "Aerial" (2005). Her albums "Director’s Cut" and "50 Words for Snow" were both released in 2011.
Bush has released 25 UK top 40 singles, including the top 10 hits "The Man with the Child in His Eyes" (1978), "Babooshka" (1980), "Running Up That Hill" (1985), "Don’t Give Up" (a 1986 duet with Peter Gabriel), and "King of the Mountain" (2005). In 2014, she returned to live performance with the concert residency "Before the Dawn", her first shows since the "Tour of Life" in 1979.