Faye Tozer

Faye Louise Tozer (born 14 November 1975)^[1] is an English singer-songwriter, dancer and stage actress, famous for being one of the three female co-lead singers of British pop group Steps.

Music

Steps were a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001. Their name was based on a simple marketing gimmick: each of their music videos were choreographed, and the dance steps were included with most of their single releases. Steps formed on 7 May 1997 and disbanded on 26 December 2001. In total Steps sold over 25 million records, including 15 million albums, worldwide.

Since Steps split on 26 December 2001, Tozer has only returned to the pop charts once, duetting with Russell Watson, whom she met at a BBC Proms in the Park concert in 2001. Their UK single "Someone Like You" charted at No. 10 in May 2002 and she joined him on his extensive UK tour around the same time. In July 2006, Tozer was featured as a guest vocalist for Plastic Cinema for two songs: "Take Me Under" and "Any Minute Now".

Ever since Steps' break-up, rumours had circulated that they would reunite in one form or another. In 2009, backup singer Lee Latchford-Evans revealed that the band had been approached to perform a series of concerts. He hinted that a future reunion was possible, but that "it isn't the right time right now".^[2] In September 2011 Steps said in an interview with Digital Spy that they believed there is a gap in the market for their brand of "happy pop".^[3] Steps released their Ultimate Collection on 10 October 2011 which became the band's third number one album. Later, the announcement of a nationwide area tour was confirmed for 2012, followed with a possibility of a new studio album.

Film and theatre

Tozer has enjoyed combining a successful pop career with theatre work and acting. In 2004 she made her professional musical-theatre debut in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman musical Tell Me on a Sunday. She and Patsy Palmer alternated in the role. After her initial musical success, Tozer was invited to tour with the musical Love Shack, which also featured former pop singers Jon Lee and Noel Sullivan, and soon after invited to star as Jubilee Climax in a production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens at The Venue Leicester Square in London's West End.

In 2006 she toured in a production of Me and My Girl opposite Sylvester McCoy, acted in the film Lady Godiva Back in the Saddle and appeared in the charity fitness DVD The Allstar Workout. In 2007, Tozer appeared in a production of Dial M for Murder and in October began touring with the production Over the Rainbow - the Eva Cassidy Story playing Eva Cassidy. The tour continued into 2008, and ended in November. At Christmas 2007, she appeared in the pantomime Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

Over Christmas 2008, Tozer played alongside X Factor finalist Ray Quinn in Aladdin, at the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough. Tozer has filmed roles in the independent films Kung Fu Flid & Mixed Up. In 2010, Tozer appeared in "In The Spotlight - Songs From The Musicals" which completed a UK tour, directed by Karen Edwards and choreographed by Tom Gribby. In December 2010 starred in "Aladdin" at the Grove Theatre in her home town of Dunstable alongside Sooty, Sweep and Richard Cadell.

In 2011, Tozer starred alongside her fellow Steps group member Ian "H" Watkins in a UK premier tour of a new musical called Rhinestone Mondays. The musical was the first Country and Western to be produced with Tozer playing the part of Annie; the musical also starred Sean Williamson and Lyn Paul

In 2013, Tozer most recently starred in a new musical called The Tailor-Made Man at the Arts Theatre in London's West End for a limited 8-week run. The musical was based on a true story and she played the part of silent movie star Marion Davies.

Discography