Katrina Leskanich

Katrina Leskanich is an American-born singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the pop rock band Katrina and the Waves. The band achieved international success in the early 1980s with their hit single "Walking on Sunshine." In 1997, the band won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with the song "Love Shine a Light."

Leskanich was born in Topeka, Kansas, on April 10, 1960. Her father was a Vietnam War veteran who became a colonel in the United States Air Force. Katrina and her five siblings (four sisters and a brother) moved frequently during her childhood, living in the United States, Germany, and England.

Leskanich began her musical career in the early 1980s, when she met Kimberley Rew, who was then playing in a band called The Waves. The two musicians formed a new band, Katrina and the Waves, and released their debut album, "Walking on Sunshine," in 1983. The album was a commercial success, spawning the hit singles "Walking on Sunshine" and "Do You Want Crying?"

Katrina and the Waves continued to release albums and tour throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 1997, the band won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with the song "Love Shine a Light." The song was a worldwide hit, and helped to launch the band's career in the United States.

Katrina and the Waves disbanded in 1999, but Leskanich has continued to pursue a solo career. She has released four solo albums, and has toured extensively. She has also written songs for other artists, including The Beach Boys, Don Henley, and Fleetwood Mac.

Leskanich is a talented singer and songwriter who has made significant contributions to the music industry. She is a Grammy-nominated artist, and has won numerous other awards, including the Brit Award for Best British Single for "Walking on Sunshine." She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

In 2019, Leskanich announced that she would be reuniting with Katrina and the Waves for a tour in support of their new album, "Walking on Sunshine: The Best of Katrina and the Waves." The tour was a success, and the band has continued to perform together sporadically since then.