Kaydee
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Jan Kealy, Bob Murphy, Kevin Bruce, Joey Shore |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Kilkenny , Ireland |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Kaydee was an Irish four-member pop rock group originating from Kilkenny, active between 1994 and 1998. A prominent figure from the band, Tara Blaise, went on to establish a noteworthy solo career.
Origins
The band was established in 1994 by Jan Kealy, Bob Murphy, Kevin Bruce, and Joey Shore, with its name derived from the initials 'K.D.'. Jan Kealy, the lead vocalist, had been composing music since she was thirteen years old. Guitarist Kevin Bruce mentioned that My Bloody Valentine influenced their sound. Kaydee frequently performed at venues in Kilkenny and submitted a demo to EMI, which resulted in a contract with EMI’s Irish branch Lime Records, managed by A&R representative Thomas Black.
Their first single, "Cradle," was launched on 20 June 1997 and debuted at number 18 on the Irish Singles Chart. That same month, they recorded a four-track session for Dave Fanning's RTÉ 2fm program, which received repeated airplay throughout the year.
Lineup changes and final phase
After releasing their second single, "Falling Down," on 5 September 1997, Jan Kealy exited the group. In October 1997, Tara Egan-Langley (who later adopted the stage name Tara Blaise) became the new lead singer. Earlier that year, bassist Bob Murphy had left and was succeeded by Mark McCorry from Purple Ocean.
Although their debut album had been initially recorded with Kealy’s vocals, the band re-recorded all tracks featuring Egan-Langley’s voice. Subsequent singles included "Mr. Sweeney" released on 17 April 1998 and "Seven Days" on 3 July 1998. Their first album, Stop! I'm Doing it Again, produced by Paul Staveley O'Duffy, was released on 18 August 1998 alongside a reissue of "Cradle."
Kaydee officially disbanded in October 1998.
Current status
Tara Blaise has since developed a successful solo career. Bob Murphy and Jan Kealy married in 2000 and currently perform together in One Week of Days.
Members
- Tara Egan-Langley – vocals
- Kevin Bruce – guitar
- Mark McCorry – bass
- Joey Shore – drums
Former members
- Jan Kealy – vocals
- Bob Murphy – bass