July 10: Irish musician Imelda May, is 39-years-old today.

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Imelda Mary Clabby – AKA - Imelda Mary Higham and professionally as Imelda May – was born 10 July 1974 in Dublin, Ireland. By the age of nine, she was a fan of Rockabilly and Blues, particularly Elmore James and Billie Holiday. At the age of fourteen, Imelda sang in an advertisement for Findus Fish Fingers.

May began her career in music at age sixteen—performing with a number of local bands and musicians. She was occasionally barred from her own shows at Dublin's Bruxelles club for being underage. She formed her own band in 2002.

Imelda released her debut studio album, No Turning Back, in 2003 and relocated to London, United Kingdom with husband and guitarist Darrel Higham after its release. Following an appearance on the BBC music programme Later... with Jools Holland in 2008, she released her second studio album, Love Tattoo in 2009.
May collaborated and toured with a number of artists following its release. Her similarly-received third studio album, Mayhem, was released in 2010 and earned her a nomination for the Choice Music Prize.

Although known primarily as a singer, May also plays the bodhrán, guitar, bass guitar and tambourine. Described as "a unique vocal talent," May is known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to well-known female jazz musicians including Billie Holiday; one of her idols. 

Imelda  won the Best Female Artist of the Year award at the 2009 Meteor Awards. On 31 January 2010, she performed at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck in tribute to Les Paul.

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For more about Imelda, visit her Website at –

http://imeldamay.co.uk/

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