Mari Wilson

Mari Macmillan Ramsay Wilson (born 29 September 1954, Neasden, London) is a British pop and jazz singer. She is best known for her 1982 UK top-10 hit single "Just What I Always Wanted". She had a further UK top-40 hit in 1983 with a cover of "Cry Me a River".

Career Recording on Compact Records with her backing band The Wilsations, Wilson scored six UK hit singles between 1982 and 1984. Her biggest hit, "Just What I Always Wanted" peaked at No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart in 1982.

In 1983, she released a cover of "Cry Me a River" (UK No. 27) along with her debut album, Showpeople (UK No. 24). Previously known for her beehive hairstyle, she subsequently distanced herself from her beehive days,

In 2005, she returned to recording with the album Dolled Up. This was followed by a compilation of her hits, The Platinum Collection, to celebrate her 25th anniversary in the music industry. Apart from pursuing her solo career, she toured with Barb Jungr and Claire Martin as the cabaret act Girl Talk (though Claire Martin has now been replaced by Gwyneth Herbert).

Wilson has also performed in musicals such as Dusty – The Musical, and has been featured on a BBC Television series about celebrities and their health (she has Type 1 Diabetes).

Her band was known as The Imaginations for their first two singles before becoming The Wilsations, and her backing vocalists were called The Marionettes. Occasional featured artists included Michelle Collins and Julia Fordham.

On 30 September 2018, she appeared with Soft Cell, as an unannounced special guest to sing a duet with Marc Almond, as part of their final live concert 'Say Hello and Wave Goodbye, One Last Time' at The O2 Arena in London.

Personal life Wilson is a longtime resident of Crouch End, north London and is married to TV producer Mal Young. Her parents are from Scotland.

Discography

Showpeople (1983) Rhythm Romance (1991) Dolled Up (2005) Girl Talk (2006) Emotional Glamour (2008) Cover Stories (2012) Pop Deluxe (2016)