BIOGRAPHY

MARCELLA DETROIT a.k.a. MARCY LEVY

Marcella Detroit a.k.a. Marcy Levy is gifted with multi-faceted musical talent.  Arguably one of the top popular music vocalists around, she is also an accomplished guitar player and a prolific songwriter.  Embracing blues, pop, rock, and everything in between, she has performed and written with an impressive A-list roster of music industry greats.  Both her work as a solo artist and as half of pop outfit Shakespear’s Sister has met with critical and chart success.

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Marcy Levy’s musical career hit the ground running.  She joined Bob Seger’s band in the early 70s and went on to tour with Leon Russell before becoming a member of Eric Clapton’s band in the mid-70s.  In addition to touring and recording with Clapton, she wrote several songs with him, including the million-selling hit “Lay Down Sally.”  Marcy then left Clapton to pursue her solo career – although she did rejoin his band in 1984 to record and tour with him for another year which included taking the stage at Live Aid in 1985 – working with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper, Bette Midler, David Foster, and Robin Gibb to name a few.  

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In 1987 Marcy united and began songwriting with former Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey, and the enormously successful Shakespear’s Sister was launched.  It was during this period that Marcy adopted the name Marcella Detroit after the city of her birth.  The band’s debut album Sacred Heart made quite a splash in the UK top ten, as did the single “You’re History.”  1992’s follow-up Hormonally Yours was an even bigger success with four chart-topping singles including the worldwide megahit “Stay” which holds the record in the UK for the longest-running #1 single by a female artist.  The melodramatic ballad featuring Marcy’s soaring lead vocals and its very memorable music video secured Shakespear’s Sister’s place in pop music history.  

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Despite their success, the band split up and Marcella moved forward with a planned solo release, taking a brief hiatus to record “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” with Elton John for his Duets album.  In 1994 Marcella Detroit’s Jewel was released to great critical acclaim and spawned two hit singles, “I Believe” and “I’m No Angel.”  Marcella then decided to showcase her rock credentials with the edgy album Feeler which she released on her own label; the album and particularly the single “Boy” were very well received and enjoyed exceptional success in Japan.  

 

 

Next up Marcella further stretched her wings and released an experimental electronica album aptly titled Dancing Madly Sideways; US music industry trades declared the single “Lust for Like” her most commercial release yet and All Music gave the “brilliant, angry, aggressive, exciting dance/rock album” four stars.  Never one to rest on her laurels, Marcella then resolved to return to her roots and set out to make an authentic blues record.  She called in her blues connections and pulled together the Marcy Levy Band; the stellar result was 2006’s The Upside of Being Down.

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Having mastered so many musical genres, it is quite apropos that Marcella in 2011 embarked on quite an adventure as a contestant and finalist on the UK’s television show Popstar to Operastar.

With the incredible support of her publishers Marcella went onto create  no less than two new albums! Marcella recorded an album entitled Skin I’m In with renowned musician / songwriter / producer Larry Klein – who lent both his production and world-class bass skills to this special project.  Marcella then dove right back into the studio waters to record a self-produced album in an astonishing 14 days; the album, entitled The Vehicle, was debuted live with a full band in September 2012 at Largo in Los Angeles.  She later toured the UK promoting this record and the single "You can't keep a good girl down".

 

Marcella's constant drive to explore all genres led to her next album called GRAY MATTERS a fresh dance inspired collection that included her song " Last night I kissed a drag queen". A massive hit with her LGBTQ fans. She promoted the song in the UK on TV and Radio.
Next stop Marcella was invited to perform at the BOISDALE club in London. A unique one woman show exploring her amazing career with songs from her childhood through her entire career. It was then she realised Eric Clapton was playing in London's Hyde Park concert series. She reunited with him in front of 75 thousand adoring fans sing  "Lay down Sally" and "The Core". The last time they had played together was LIVE AID!
During that time she reconnected with Siobhan Fahey and in 2019 Shakespears Sister rode again with new music, video and a Triumphant UK tour. 

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Then came the pandemic and Marcella busied herself writing over 50 new songs for her new publisher PEERMUSIC. Also using the time to share her music and try to give a little back to her fans with a series of Live Streamed shows.

 

Out of those 50 or more songs she is now collating a new album with International producers and will celebrate her Birthday on June 21  with a new single "VICIOUS BITCH".

She will later release over 200 unheard/released songs and a brand new Collection of her most recent songs.

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