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Wednesday, March 14, 2018 6:32am ET by  

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Legendary backing singer Claudia Fontaine dies at 57

Claudia Fontaine, well known as one of the finest backing singers, has died at the age of 57.

Performing with the likes of Soul II Soul, Marilyn, Dusty Springfield, EurythmicsBetty BooThe Jam, Elvis Costello, Madness, Neneh Cherry, Heaven 17, The Specials, Jimmy SommervilleEMF, Pink Floyd, Texas, Joe Cocker, Aztec CameraHoward Jones, she was almost a weekly fixture in the BBC's music show, Top of the Pops in the '80's and '90's.

Recently she performed backing vocals for Atomic Kitten, Will Young, and Robbie Williams.

Fontaine formed the backing singing collective, 'Afrodiziak', with Naomi Thompson and Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler, and her voice clearly defined the soul sound that became popular pop bands at the time. 

Peckham-born Fontaine sang background vocals on the protest song, "Free Nelson Mandela", by The Special AKA. She is also a recurring vocalist for Incognito.

Cause of death has yet to be announced.

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