Gail Ann Dorsey

Dorsey grew up in the 1970s in West Philadelphia. She played guitar from the age of nine and cites Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Kath of Chicago, Jimi Hendrix, and Nancy Wilson of Heart as early influences. She acquired a bass guitar shortly after her 14th birthday but did not consider herself a bass player until she was 20. Dorsey attended the California Institute of the Arts in the School of Film and Video. Her screenplays and short Super 8 films earned her a full scholarship. Dorsey was the only woman in her freshman class and the youngest woman to be admitted to the Live Action department up to that point. After completing three semesters she felt unsuited for the film industry and once again turned to a career in music. == Career ==

At the age of 22, Dorsey moved to London, England, to pursue her musical career, where she was in a musical collaboration/band 20To with keyboard player/composer Pete Stern. Their first demos were engineered and produced by Paul "Doc" Stewart at Village Way Studio in London. Stewart was responsible for their introduction to CBS Records, which led to Dorsey's first recording deal. She also composed the music for the Theatre of Black Women play Chiaroscuro in 1985, and was in the band for the show. She then established herself through collaborations with artists such as Boy George, Anne Pigalle, and Donny Osmond. Dorsey's first high-profile job was as a guest vocalist in the original line up of The Charlie Watts Big Band and its 1985 premiere at London's famous West End jazz club, Ronnie Scott's. An important point in Dorsey's solo career was her appearance on The Tube, a weekly music television hosted by Jools Holland and Paula Yates. In December 1987, Dorsey signed with Warner Music Group and in 1988 released her first solo album, The Corporate World. The album was produced by bassist Nathan East of the jazz quartet Fourplay and included appearances by artists such as Eric Clapton. It received a five-star review and was voted one of the Top 50 Albums of the Year by London's Q magazine. she provided vocals and bass for Earthling (1997), Heathen (2002), Reality (2003) and The Next Day (2013). She recorded "Planet of Dreams", a duet with Bowie on the 1997 EMI UK benefit CD release, Long Live Tibet, as well as several other live recordings and videos. She was on board for the last six tours Since 2022, she collaborate with Matthieu Chedid on album (Rêvalité) and on stage. == Style and influences ==

Dorsey's musical style has a broad span and incorporates rock, funk, country, and pop influences. == Discography ==

Solo • 1988: The Corporate World (Sire Records) • 1992: Rude Blue (Island Records) • 2004: I Used to Be (Sad Bunny Records) Gang of Four • 1991: Mall – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals • 2015: What Happens Next – Gail Ann: vocals on "First World Citizen" The The • 1995: Hanky Panky – Gail Ann: bass Tears for Fears • 1993: Elemental – Gail Ann: bass player for "Elemental" and participation in their "Elemental Tour" (1993–95) • 1995: Raoul and the Kings of Spain – Gail Ann: bass and participation in the writing of "Queen of Compromise" David Bowie ; Studio albums : • 1997: Earthling – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals • 2002: Heathen – Gail Ann: bass on "Conversation Piece" • 2003: Reality – Gail Ann: backing vocals • 2013: The Next Day – Gail Ann shares bassist position with Tony Levin, being present on bass on 8 songs and on backing vocals on 7 ; Live albums : • 2000: LiveAndWell.com – Gail Ann: bass, keyboards, backing vocals • 2000: Bowie at the Beeb – Gail Ann: bass, guitars, backing vocals on CD 3 • 2009: VH1 Storytellers – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals • 2010: A Reality Tour – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals • 2018: Glastonbury 2000 – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals ; Compilation : • 2022: Toy – Gail Ann: bass, clarinet, backing vocals ; EP : • 2020: Is It Any Wonder? - David Bowie EP recorded during the Earthling album sessions; Gail Ann is present on 5 of the 6 titles of the EP Rachid Taha/Khaled/Faudel • 1999: 1,2,3 Suns – Gail Ann: bass, backing vocals; Steve Hillage of the band Gong produced the album and played guitar Collaborations 2023: Album Rêvalité by French singer/songwriter Matthieu Chedid – Gail Ann: chorus and bass; vocals on digitally released tracks "Space Oddity" and "Life on Mars". 1990: Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde – Gail Ann: bass on "Tomorrow, Wendy" == References ==