Few British female singers have made the major impact on the international dance music market that Hazell Dean has achieved. During the Eighties Hazell had no less than ten major hit singles in the U.K. charts alone, and her records packed dance floors wherever they were played around the world. Although Hazell did not have her first hit until 1984, she had already paid her dues and demands as a singer, writer and performer by then. Her professional singing career started back in the Seventies and she was at one point managed by the late Vic Billings who, during the Sixties, had guided the careers of both Dusty Springfield and Kiki Dee.

Hazell recorded several singles during this period, albeit without any commercial success, and she developed her stage confidence with many tours and live appearances, working with many of the biggest names in entertainment, and appearing at the LONDON PALLADIUM among many other top venues. Hazell developed her singing style by performing pop and soul numbers, but she eventually started veering towards dance music, marking a new stage in her career. in February 1984 she had her first chart entry with the double A-sided "Evergreen/Jelous Love" which made the U.K. Top 75. Two months later Hazell was back in the pop charts with her electrifying recording of "Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man)" which sailed to number 6 and remained in the Top 75 for 15 weeks.

Between then and the end of the Eighties Hazell became a chart regular, thanks to hit singles like "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" which reached number 4, and spent 11 weeks in the Top 75, "Back In My Arms (Once Again)" which reached number 41, "No Fool (For Love)" (number 41), "They Say It's Gonna Rain" (number 58), "Who Is Leaving Who" (number 4), "Maybe (We Should Call It A Day)" (number 15), "Turning Into Love" (number 21), and "Love Pains" (number 48). Hazell was one of the first artists to work with the top writing and production team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman (who subsequently had over a hundred Top 40 hits) and her recording of "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" provided them with their first all-important TOP 10 HIT. She went on to have worldwide success, and appeared regularly in Europe. Her records were also best-sellers.

In the United States Hazell was three times voted the 'BEST LIVE PERFORMER' by the Federation of American Dance Clubs, and although she failed to crossover into the general pop charts many of her singles topped the various import and dance charts there. Hazell has continued to be a major attraction on the club circuit, but she has also developed her talents as a songwriter and producer. Among those who have recorded her songs are Bad Boys Inc., Upside Down, and Aretha Franklin's backing singer Sandra Feva. She has also recently started recording again and it can only be a matter of time before the name Hazell Dean is once again back in the pop charts.

© Copyright by Chris White