b. Billie Paul Piper, 22 September 1982, Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Teenage pop sensation Billie was groomed for stardom from an early age, training at London's prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School (whose other alumni has included members of the Spice Girls and All Saints and television personalities Nick Berry, Denise Van Outen and Samantha Janus). A bit part in EastEnders was followed by the prominent use of Piper as the face of a Smash Hits advert in August 1997. This high-profile campaign was instrumental in Virgin Records subsidiary Innocent signing the 15-year old Piper. She recorded tracks for her debut album while still studying at school, but the hard work paid off when her debut single "Because We Want To" went straight in at UK number 1 in July 1998. Her follow-up "Girlfriend" also debuted at number 1 in October, making Billie the first UK female solo artist to have two number 1s in the same year since Cilla Black in 1964. The success of her first two singles meant that November's number 16 placing for her debut album was viewed as something of a disappointment. "She Wants You" failed to attain the UK Christmas number 1 slot, debuting at number 3 in December. The album's title track, a more adult-orientated swingbeat number, reached the same position in March 1999.

Listen to Billie at Finetune.

• (1998)  Honey To The B

• Because We Want to
• Honey to the Bee
• Girlfriend
• Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can)
• Officially Yours

• Backstreet Boys
• Spice Girls
• Will Smith
• Five
• Nirvana
• Beastie Boys
• Kanye West
• The Goo Goo Dolls
• Oasis
• John Williams
• Bush
• TLC
• Smash Mouth
• Sugar Ray
• Des'Ree
• B*Witched
• Chingy
• Sting
• Marvin Gaye
• Nine Inch Nails

• julianapop
• hellnback
• proveisso
• prekawika