West End Girls (Canadian band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Founder | John Dexter, John Livingston |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Albums, singles |
West End Girls was a Canadian pop and R&B female ensemble established in 1990 in Vancouver, British Columbia by producers John Dexter and John Livingston. The initial members were teenagers Camille Henderson, Aimee MacKenzie, and Silvana Petrozzi. Following vocal coaching from Henderson's father, Bill Henderson of the rock group Chilliwack, they launched their first album, West End Girls, under Johnny Jet Records in 1991. This debut included Canadian charting tracks such as "Not Like Kissing You," a reinterpretation of the Jackson 5's "I Want U Back," along with "Say You'll Be Mine" and "Show Me The Way."
In 1992, Petrozzi departed and was succeeded by Janele Woodley. The following year, Henderson exited, making way for Celia-Louise Martin. This formation produced their sophomore album, We Belong Together, which featured singles like "R U Sexin' Me," "Pure," and "Sexy'." Despite these releases, the album experienced diminished commercial impact, culminating in the group's dissolution in 1994. Subsequently, their record company issued a remix compilation of their earlier popular tracks.
The group received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Group in 1992 and served as the opening act for Roxette during the Canadian segment of their 1992 tour.
After disbanding, MacKenzie became part of the Canadian R&B ensemble D-Cru, whose track "Show Me" incorporated a sample from West End Girls' "Show Me The Way"; she later pursued a career as a swimsuit model. Petrozzi/Kane went on to form Pacifika, releasing albums Asunción (2007) and Super Magique (2010), with Kane also issuing a solo album titled La Jardinera in 2012.
Henderson toured extensively as a supporting vocalist for Sarah McLachlan and appeared on Delerium's song "Duende"; she currently works as a vocal instructor. Woodley created the pop rock duo A Perfect Day, releasing the album All Over Everything in 2004. Martin engaged in occasional acting projects.
Albums
- West End Girls, 1991 (Johnny Jet Records/A&M Records)
- We Belong Together, 1993 (Johnny Jet Records/A&M Records)
- Hits, Remixes and Other Cool Stuff, 1997 (Dexter Entertainment Group)
- The Definitive Collection, 2000 (Dexter Entertainment Group)
Singles
| Year | Song | CAN |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Not Like Kissing You" | 12 |
| "I Want You Back" | 21 | |
| 1992 | "Say You'll Be Mine" | 39 |
| "Show Me the Way" | 34 | |
| 1993 | "R U Sexin Me" | 82 |
| "Pure (You're Touching Me)" | - | |
| "Sexy" | - | |
| 1994 | "State of the Heart" | 54 |
Soundtrack use
- The cult film Better Than Chocolate (1999) featured both "Sexy" and "Pure (You're Touching Me)".
Cover Version: In 1992, Hong Kong singer and actress Sammi Cheng recorded a cover of "Say You'll Be Mine" on her Cantonese album Never Too Late.