Louise was born in Lewisham, London, but grew up in Eltham, London and Oxted, Surrey.
A graduate of the Italia Conti Academy stage school, she first came to prominence as a member of the all girl group Eternal. After a string of hits in 1993-4 from debut album Always & Forever (which became the first by an all girl group to sell over one million copies in the UK), she left the group in 1995 to pursue a solo career.
So far, Louise has registered twelve Top 20 hits, and earned herself several BRIT Award nominations. Her debut solo album Naked sold over a million copies world wide as did the follow up 1997's Woman In Me. Both albums went Platinum in the UK. 1997 also saw Louise set off on her first UK tour. Playing at over 20 sell out venues across the country including Wembley Arena.
She married now-retired Liverpool and England football player Jamie Redknapp in the Caribbean on June 29, 1998. They have a son named Charley.
In 2001, after trying out a more grown up sound on her third LP Elbow Beach (named after the place where she got married), Louise left her record label and a "best of" album, Changing Faces, was released. This was followed by another "best of" collection from EMI (but with a slightly different tracklisting), Finest Moments, in 2002.
She has since completed a 2002 UK-wide tour, tried her hand at TV presenting (on SMTV Live and CD:UK) and hit the UK Top 5 again with Pandora's Kiss in 2003.
In the July 2004 edition of FHM, she was named Sexiest Woman of the Decade.
Louise has said she is nervous about releasing new material as the music industry has changed so much to when she was at her peak. She has just signed to a new management company Merlin Elite. Five clips of new songs have been placed on the internet - Bounce Back, Slam, Lil' Lou, Don't Ever Change and Make It Fit (co-written by Jamelia). The songs which were originally recorded for Louise's never released 2004 album, have received a huge amount of praise and interest - many classing it as a fresh new sound for Louise.
While Louise has been quiet on the music scene for the last three years she has still remained in the public eye.
Alongside her husband Jamie Redknapp and footballer Tim Sherwood, Redknapp has recently entered into publishing; producing a magazine called Icon, which is an exclusive magazine aimed solely at professional footballers.
Redknapp has recently been seen as the face of a number of advertising campaigns, the Safe And White campaign for Boots, Flora's' Omega 3 products, the new cosmetics company Think Happy: Organics, Hovis Insible Crust and work for the RSPCA and BT.
In a poll, Redknapp has been voted the best footballer's wife of all time.
In 2006, Redknapp ws one of the presenters of Soccer Aid: Extra Time on ITV2.
Redknapp has recently been seen as a guest reporter on This Morning, she interviewed the fashion designer Tracy Boyd and as one of the host's of The Clothes Show on digital channel UKTV Style.
In March 2007, Redknapp was seen as the presenter of the controversial documentary The Truth About Size Zero for ITV1.
Redknapp is currently spokesperson for the new Orbit Complete detox guide to teeth and mouth.[citation needed]
Eternal
At the age of 11, Louise Nurding joined the Italia Conti Academy stage school. On her first day at Italia Conti, Redknapp met Kellé Bryan - and the pair would spend almost every day together for the next 10 years. They remain friends today. While out illegally clubbing (at the age of 16) Louise met music producer Denis Ingoldsby who was forming a girl band. She subsequently introduced him to Bryan
Bryan and Nurding, together with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett became the early 1990's award-winning, multi-million selling, chart-topping British R&B girl group Eternal. At the time of their release, Eternal were different from other girl bands on the UK market. Their music was not mainstream pop but a mixture of heavy R&B, soul and dance. Their image was not 'pretty' but rather 'street chic'
Eternal's debut single 'Stay' shot straight into the UK charts at number 4, and their album, 'Always and Forever' sold over 1.5 million units in the UK alone (the first by an all girl group to do so in the UK). Eternal were an instant success and the girls were touring and promoting all around the globe.
At the peak of their fame, it came as surprise to both fans and critics in June 1995 that Louise decided to leave the band - by coincidence, the same day Robbie Williams left Take That. Many saw Louise's decision as madness - she was part of the biggest girl band in Europe, breaking records and about to crack America. However Louise was not happy within the band; she felt alone and homesick on the increasingly longer world tours, missing her friends and family. Most importantly though she felt creatively and artistically restricted - not surprising considering Easther Bennett sang lead on virtually every Eternal song leaving Kellé, Vernie and Louise with few solo vocal opportunities.
Although Louise did not announce her solo ambitions when she left the band, she knew that was the direction she wanted to take
Going Solo - 'Naked'
After leaving 'Eternal' Louise did not get back in the studio straight away. In late 1995 Louise signed a solo record deal with First Avenue management and EMI records.
In October 1995 Louise released her debut solo single, the big orchestral ballad 'Light of My Life'.
Louise's second single "In Walked Love" (previously a hit for Dance-Pop group, Expose), didn't chart as well as 'Light of My Life' and there were doubts as to whether or not Louise would actually be successful as a solo artist. Her third single, 'Naked' was a huge hit, arguably the biggest of her career, charting at number 5 in the UK (it remained in the top 20 for many weeks) and topped many charts in the rest of Europe. The video for 'Naked' would also have a huge effect on Louise's career. While the videos for 'Light of My Life' and 'In Walked Love' portrayed Louise as the pretty girl next door, 'Naked' showed a more sexy and raunchy side to Louise - soon she would be voted 'The Sexiest Woman In The World'. 'Naked' established Louise as a solo artist in her own right.
Louise's debut solo album, also entitled 'Naked', was released shortly after the single. The album received lukewarm reviews. Nevertheless, the album peaked at number 7 in the UK album charts, quickly received platinum certification, and sold over a million copies (including sales for Europe). To push the album, two further singles were released; 'Undivided Love' - a fun, up-tempo track and the standout track of the album; and the sultry, R&B track 'One Kiss From Heaven'.
'Woman In Me'
In 1997 Louise returned with the single 'Arms Around The World', which offered a slightly different sound - still pop, yet not typically conventional, incorporating 'worldly' sounds. The single was a huge hit and until 2000's '2 Faced' was Louise's highest charting track reaching number 4.
Louise's second solo album was more successful than her first. The album reached number 5 in the UK charts and also went on to chart in other European territories. The reviews from the album were generally very good, many classing it as a mature and diverse pop album[citation needed].
'Let's Go Round Again' (a cover of the original The Average White Band track) was the second single released on the album. While the song only reached number 10 in the charts it became Louise's biggest selling single, selling over 250,000 copies.
At the start of 1998 Louise's marketing was very strong; she was one of the reigning UK pop queens. Her album 'Woman In Me' had gone platinum and sold over a million copies, she was on the cover of every magazine from 'Smash Hits' to 'GQ' and had been voted 'The Sexiest Woman In The World' by the readers of FHM magazine. The 'Louise Soft and Gentle No Sweat Tour' was a sell-out, and was one of the first tours to be choreographed by famed Madonna (singer) tour director/choreographer Jamie King.
While Louise was on tour the final single was released from 'Woman In Me': 'All That Matters'. The single's choice was the source of much controversy with fans and critics. Fans wanted the title track 'Woman In Me' or the pop anthem 'Shut Up And Kiss Me' to be released as they felt they were the best tracks on the album.[citation needed] Critics saw 'All That Matters' as a step backwards for Louise as the track was a pop number that would have fitted in better on the 'Naked' album.[citation needed] The single charted at number 11.
'Elbow Beach'
After the success of the album 'Woman In Me', Louise spent most of 1999 out of the public eye, as she married long-time boyfriend Jamie Redknapp. After the honeymoon, Louise spent just under a year making what she claimed was her most personal album to date. Titled 'Elbow Beach', the location of her honeymoon, the album served as a snapshot of Louise's life at that point. Creatively Louise was more involved in the process of this album than her previous two, co-writing all 12 tracks and co-producing most of them.
In 2000 all looked ready for Louise to take over the UK charts again. The lead single from 'Elbow Beach', the RnB '2 Faced' went straight into the charts at number 3, and became Louise's highest charting single. Despite the hype and receiving critical praise, total sales for 'Elbow Beach' were weaker than the previous two productions, and the album peaked at number 12. To help push the album the critics’ favourite track, the dance/pop track 'Beautiful Inside', was released. While the single received a lot of airplay on radio and rotation on TV it charted at number 13.
Louise was voted 'Sexiest Woman In The World' by the readers of FHM for the 3rd time in 2000, and also received the GQ award for 'Sexiest Woman In Britain'.
'Changing Faces'
After the 'Elbow Beach' period Louise was coming to the end of her 5-album deal with EMI (1 includes 'Always and Forever'). EMI were worried about releasing another studio album after the relatively mediocre sales of 'Elbow Beach'; and if Louise was to release another album under them they would want her to revert to her classic 'pop' sound heard on 'Woman In Me', which wouldn't have pleased Louise has she was heading another direction musically. Instead it was decided that a greatest hits package would be released, incorporating all of Louise's 15 top-10 hit singles. The greatest hits package, entitled 'Changing Faces: The Best Of Louise' would feature 3 new tracks and be Louise's final release under EMI. For the album Louise released a cover of 'Stuck In The Middle', which entered the UK chart at number 4. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 9 in the album charts and receiving gold certification. Before the album's release Louise was signed to front ITV's Saturday morning kids' TV shows sSMTV Live and CDUK with her friend Cat Deeley for the summer. She was then asked back Christmas the same year to present a further 3 shows.
Because of the success of the album Louise decided to take the album on the road with her second solo tour. Louise played smaller locations right across the country. The tour was a big success; with all the 36 dates becoming a 'sold-out' event.
After all the touring and promotion of 'Changing Faces', Louise had officially left EMI, which meant she was a free artist although she was still signed to her managing company First Avenue. It became clear that although EMI felt that Louise had lost her magic, many other major labels didn't[citation needed](and bearing in mind they would be receiving Louise's back catalogue, which is worth a lot in itsself)[citation needed] and so a bidding war erupted to sign Louise. In 2002 Louise signed a £1.5 million contract to her manager Oliver Smallman's Positive Records, a division of Universal Music. Almost instantly Louise was rushed off to record her highly anticipated 4th solo album.
This was an exciting time for Louise as her new label were encouraging her to develop a fresh, new sound; and were prepared to spend the money to give her this. Louise worked with a whole host of A-list producers on both sides of the Atlantic including teams who had worked with the likes of Destiny's Child, Jamelia, Michael Jackson, Craig David and Sugababes - the result is said to be a brand new style of sound for Louise.
