# Kate Ceberano

Catherine Yvette Ceberano AM (/səˈbrɑːnoʊ/ or /sɛbəˈrɑːnoʊ/, born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the soul, jazz, and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar. Her single "Bedroom Eyes" received a platinum sales certification in 1989. As of 2023, Ceberano has 11 platinum and 8 gold albums Ceberano was the artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

## Early life

Catherine Yvette Ceberano was born in Melbourne, Australia, to an American father of Filipino descent and an Australian mother. Her father is karate master Tino Ceberano, from Hawaii . Her maternal forebears were some of the earliest settlers and government officials in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

## Career
### Music

Ceberano first came to prominence singing back-up vocals with Melbourne, Australia band Models. The band produced a Top 5 album in 1985 called Out of Mind, Out of Sight, before Ceberano found fame with her funk band I'm Talking. I'm Talking are acknowledged as the band "who pioneered New York-style art pop in Australia during the Jurassic Period of Pub Rock". The group was managed by Ken West, now known for being a co-founder of the Big Day Out events. The group's debut album, Bear Witness, included three top ten singles and achieved a platinum sales certification. Ceberano won the Most Popular Female Performer award at the 1986 Countdown Awards.
After the debut album, the group broke up and Ceberano went solo. It was then, in the late 1980s, that she earned a reputation for her soul, jazz and pop repertoire. Radio stations labelled her as having "one of the greatest voices our music industry has ever produced". Ceberano's first solo album was the live recording Kate Ceberano and her Septet, released in March 1987. In September 1987, Ceberano represented Australia at the 1987 ABU Popular Song Contest with the song "Time Can't Keep Us Apart", written by Allan Zavod, winning the contest.
In 1988, she collaborated with Wendy Matthews on the album You've Always Got The Blues, which was the soundtrack to the ABC Television show Stringer. The album peaked at No. 7 on the ARIA charts and earned her a nomination for the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist in 1988.
In 1989, Ceberano released her album Brave. The album was the 20th highest-selling album in Australia in 1989 and spawned four singles, including "Bedroom Eyes", which became the fifth highest-selling single in Australia in 1989 and the highest-selling single by an Australian artist that year. Two tracks, "Young Boys Are My Weakness" and "Obsession", were recorded with Phil Harding and Ian Curnow at PWL Studios, with Harding recalling, "for us to work with such a great singer was an unusual treat."
At the 1989 ARIA awards, she won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist and ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single for "Bedroom Eyes". At the end of 1990, she received three Mo Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.
Ceberano contributed "Nature Boy" to The Crossing soundtrack, before releasing the albums Like Now in 1990 and Think About It! in 1991. In 1992, she joined the cast of the Australian national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, taking the role of Mary Magdalene. The album was the highest-selling album in Australia in 1992, certified four times platinum. Three singles were released from the album, including "Everything's Alright" (with John Farnham and Jon Stevens), which peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA charts. Ceberano won a Logie Award for Most Popular Music Video in 1993 for "Everything's Alright". "I Don't Know How To Love Him" was the second single and won Ceberano another nomination for Best Female Artist in 1993. Ceberano followed this success with a late-night cabaret show on ABC-TV called Kate Ceberano and Friends (1993–1994). The album from the program was certified gold and peaked at No. 19 in 1994.
Ceberano travelled to New York and recorded a number of songs which were to appear of an album with the working title of Globe. The album was scrapped by label Elektra Records. However, a number of recordings from this session appears on her 1996 album Blue Box which also went gold. She was nominated for another Best Female Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995. In 1997 she co-wrote and released "Pash", a pop song which went platinum. The album Pash went to No. 5 on the ARIA charts, was certified gold.
Following the success of Pash, Ceberano released her first greatest hits collection, True Romantic: The Best of Kate Ceberano, in 1999. The album included 16 hits from her career to date, along with two new singles: "True Romantic" (co-written with her Pash collaborator Mark Goldenberg) and "I Won't Let You Down" (a cover of the Ph.D single from 1980). The greatest hits album was a strong commercial success, peaking in at No. 9 on the ARIA Album Charts, selling double platinum and stayed in the charts for 27 weeks. Ceberano was part of two major Australian tours that year – the John Farnham ("I Can't Believe He's 50") tour and her own greatest hits Australian tour (supported by Vika & Linda and Vanessa Amorosi).
In the early 2000s, Ceberano made a further attempt at the US market by relocating to Los Angeles and signing with Chicago Kid Records, which released her single "Yes" in 2002. As Ceberano wrote in her autobiography, she wrote an album titled The Girl Who Ruled The World, which was ultimately declined by her Australian record company. Returning to Australia, Ceberano signed with an Australian manager and released her 2003 studio album The Girl Can Help It. In 2007, Ceberano saluted the 1980s with her cover album Nine Lime Avenue, which was recorded in three weeks while she was on television show Dancing with the Stars. The album was a commercial success, peaking at No. 4 and gave Ceberano her first top 5 album since 1989's "Brave". Ceberano toured in late 2007 before recording another cover album, released in 2008, titled So Much Beauty, which peaked at No. 9 in Australia.
Ceberano released three albums in 2009: the first is a collaborative jazz album that was recorded with Mark Isham, titled "Bittersweet", which earned Ceberano a nomination at the 2009 ARIA awards; the second, an indie album with Dallas Cosmas, titled Dallas et Kate; and in November, Ceberano released her first Christmas album, simply titled Merry Christmas, which was certified gold.
In 2010, Ceberano was crowned Queen of Moomba, while Molly Meldrum was crowned King.
Ceberano launched a studio album in August 2013, titled Kensal Road, and it was her first album of new material in ten years. The album was preceded by the single release "Magnet" and Ceberano toured nationally in October 2013.
On 6 May 2016, her 3-disc Anthology album was released. On 15 April 2018, Ceberano performed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
On 17 October 2018, Ceberano confirmed that she will reunite with I'm Talking, who will return to the stage in 2019 for to support Bryan Ferry's Australian tour. "I never, ever thought I'm Talking would reform and I'm a very optimistic person. The band split due to external pressures. So this reunion feels really good. Everything's amicable, we're all getting along. You learn a lot in hindsight. After 30 plus years things take on a treasured hue. You're not tired of the songs. They actually sound awesome. We are a time capsule."
In 2019, Ceberano released Tryst with Paul Grabowsky. The album won the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2019.
In February 2021, Ceberano released Sweet Inspiration, her 17th studio and 28th career album. It includes ten cover versions and two original tracks.
In May 2023, Ceberano released My Life is a Symphony with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

### Film and television

Ceberano made her acting debut in a feature film, playing Jenna in Dust Off The Wings, directed by her husband, Lee Rogers.
In 1993, Ceberano hosted her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV called Kate Ceberano And Friends.
In 1999, Ceberano starred in the film Molokai: The Story of Father Damien, which was directed by Paul Cox.
In 2005, Ceberano was a judge in the inaugural season of X Factor Australia, along with Mark Holden and John Reid, before joining Dancing with the Stars in 2007, of which she was crowned champion. Late that year, Ceberano participated in series 2 of It Takes Two, where she mentored Australian swimmer Daniel Kowalski. She returned in 2008 for series 3 and mentored Australian Football League (AFL) player Russell Robertson, who would go on to be runner-up.
In January 2008, Ceberano's family tree and career was documented in SBS's Who Do You Think You Are? (series 1/ episode 2).
From January 2011, Ceberano was a presenter on the Nine Network's Getaway television series, as well as a relief host for Kerri-Anne Kennerley's morning program also on the Nine Network. In November 2011, Ceberano was announced as the host of the Nine Network's television series Excess Baggage.
In late 2019, she was eliminated seventh from The Masked Singer and revealed to be the 'Lion'.

### Other work

As the Berlei Curves ambassador, Ceberano launched the debut Berlei Curves Spring Summer 2010 collection and remained in this role in September 2012.
Ceberano was appointed the Victorian Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As the Victorian Ambassador, she helps to raise funds and awareness about breast cancer. Ceberano explained: "I like to be as involved as I possibly can in causes I feel strongly about. Yes, I am a musician, but if I can do more to help others then I will."
From August to October 2012, she played the part of Bloody Mary in the Bartlett Sher directed revival of the musical South Pacific throughout the Australian east coast. The show included Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lisa McCune, and Eddie Perfect.
Her memoir, I'm Talking: My Life, My Words, My Music, was published by Hachette Australia in 2014. She co-wrote the book with Tom Gilling.
On 3 October 2015, she sang the Australian national anthem before AFL Grand Final at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia.

## Personal life

In February 1996, Ceberano married Lee Rogers after an almost four-year engagement. They married at Mietta O'Donnell's Queenscliff Hotel on Port Phillip Bay. In 2004, she gave birth to their daughter.
Portraits of Ceberano have twice won the Archibald Packing Room Prize: Peter Robertson's in 1994 and Kathrin Longhurst's in 2021. Christine O'Hagan's portrait of her was also an Archibald finalist in 2010.
Ceberano is a Scientologist.

## Discography

* 1988 You've Always Got the Blues (with Wendy Matthews)
* 1989 Brave
* 1990 Like Now (as Kate Ceberano & Her Sextet)
* 1991 Think About It!
* 1996 Blue Box
* 1998 Pash
* 1999 True Romantic
* 2003 The Girl Can Help It
* 2004 19 Days in New York
* 2007 Nine Lime Avenue
* 2008 So Much Beauty
* 2009 Bittersweet (with Mark Isham)
* 2009 Dallas et Kate (with Dallas Cosmos)
* 2009 Merry Christmas
* 2013 Kensal Road
* 2015 Lullaby (with Nigel MacLean)
* 2016 Anthology
* 2019 Tryst (with Paul Grabowsky)
* 2020 The Dangerous Age (with Steve Kilbey and Sean Sennett)
* 2021 Sweet Inspiration
* 2023 My Life is a Symphony (with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

## Awards and nominations
### AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2020 | Tryst | Best Independent Jazz Album or EP | Won | |
| 2024 | My Life Is a Symphony | Best Independent Pop Album or EP | Nominated | |

### APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Ceberano has been nominated for one award.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | "Love Is Alive" (Mark Goldenberg and Kate Ceberano) | Most Performed Australian Work | Nominated |

### ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1988 | — | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1989 | You've Always Got the Blues | Best Female Artist | Won |
| 1989 | You've Always Got the Blues | Best Adult Contemporary Album (with Wendy Matthews) | Nominated |
| 1989 | You've Always Got the Blues | Best Jazz Album (with Wendy Matthews) | Nominated |
| 1990 | "Bedroom Eyes" | Highest Selling Single | Won |
| 1990 | Brave | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 1990 | Brave | Best Female Artist | Won |
| 1991 | Like Now | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1992 | Think About It! | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1993 | "I Don't Know How to Love Him" | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1994 | "You've Got a Friend" | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1996 | "Change" | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1996 | "Change" | Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated |
| 1998 | "Pash" | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 2009 | Bittersweet | Best Jazz Album (with Mark Isham) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Tryst | Best Jazz Album (with Paul Grabowsky) | Won |
| 2023 | My Life Is a Symphony | Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated |

### Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2014 | herself | Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame | inducted |

### Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2021 | Kate Ceberano | Lifetime Achievement Award | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Kate Ceberano | Lifetime Achievement Award | awarded | |

### Countdown Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987. The Countdown Music and Video Awards were succeeded by the ARIA Awards. The 1986 awards ceremony was held on 19 July 1987 at Sydney Opera House, it followed the last regular Countdown show.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1984 | herself ("Trust Me" by I'm Talking) | Best Female Performance in a Video | Nominated |
| 1986 | herself | Most Popular Female Performer | Won |
| 1986 | herself ("Do You Wanna Be?" by I'm Talking) | Best Female Performance in a Video | Nominated |

### Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001. Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2008 | Nine Lime Avenue tour | Best Performance in an Australian Contemporary Concert | Nominated | |

### Logie Awards

The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by magazine TV Week, with the first ceremony in 1959, known then as the TV Week Awards, the awards are presented in 20 categories representing both public and industry voted awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1993 | "Everything's Alright" (with John Farnham and Jon Stevens) | Most Popular Music Video | Won |

### Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Ceberano won four awards in that time.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
| 1989 | herself | Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year | Won |
| 1989 | herself | Female Rock Performer of the Year | Won |
| 1989 | herself | Rock Performer of the Year | Won |
| 1990 | herself | Jazz Performer of the Year | Won |

### Order of Australia

In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ceberano was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts, particularly music, as a singer, songwriter and entertainer, and to charitable organisations.

### World Music Awards

The World Music Awards is an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. The event is based in Monte Carlo. Awards are presented to the world's best-selling artists in a number of categories and to the best-selling artists from each major territory.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1989 | herself | Highest Selling Australian Artist | Won |

## Film and television
### Films

* 1986 Love Della (short film), Director: Graeme Wood
* 1987 Australian Made: The Movie, Director: Richard Lowenstein
* 1989 Arguing the Toss of a Cat (telemovie), Director: Christine Sammers
* 1997 Dust Off the Wings (feature film), Director: Lee Rogers
* 1999 Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (feature film), Director: Paul Cox
* 1999 Opening theatrical sequence for Sydney's Fox Studios, Director: Baz Luhrmann

### Television highlights

* The X Factor (Australia) (Channel 10, 2005)
* Dancing with the Stars (Channel 7, 2007) — winner of series 6
* It Takes Two (Channel 7, 2007–2008) — runner-up of series 3
* Who Do You Think You Are? (SBS, Series 1, Episode 2, 2008)
* Neighbours (Channel 10, 2010)
* Getaway (Channel 9, 2011)
* The Living Room (Channel 10, 17 July 2015)
* The Masked Singer Australia (Channel 10, 2019) — eliminated seventh