The Story of Britian's foremost successful black female artist

Jaki Graham is a unique vocalist and one of the most appealing Soul entertainers to emerge from the UK. Born in Birmingham on the 15th September 1956, Jaki’s childhood was far from easy. Her parents came from Jamaica, moving to England in the fifties, to a small rented bedsit in Handsworth, Birmingham. At 15, Jaki met future husband, Tony Ormsby who wooed her with his Irish charm (older brother of ex-Aston Villa footballer and Leeds United Captain, Brendon Ormsby). To many people, they had nothing in common. She was black, he was white! But at 17, Tony proposed and they married in 1976. With much shame, there were many who showed prejudice and intolerance towards the mixed race coupling. Stones instead of confetti were thrown at their wedding car as they set off to begin married life together. However, those who had little faith or understanding were proved wrong as thirty-three years later, they are still going strong. The first band she joined was ‘One Night Affair’, followed by the ‘SRO Band’ and then ‘Ferrari’. After recording a session for a jazz funk group called ‘Medium Wave Band’, it is here she was spotted by a talent scout. She signed with EMI in 1983 and ‘Heaven Knows’ became the title track of her debut album. Her second single entitled ‘What’s the Name of Your Game?’ gave Jaki her first TV appearance on ‘Crackerjack’.