Amelle Berrabah

Amelle Berrabah
Amelle Berrabah in 2006, performing in the Taller In More Ways Tour
Background information
Born	(1984-04-22) 22 April 1984 (age 32)
Origin	Aldershot, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Pop, R&B, dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Island, RCA, HitMan
Associated acts	Sugababes, Tinchy Stryder

Amelle Berrabah (born 22 April 1984) is an English singer, songwriter and former member of the Sugababes who replaced founding member Mutya Buena in the group in December 2005. She achieved a solo number one single in 2009 after collaborating with Tinchy Stryder on their single "Never Leave You", making her the first and to date only member of the Sugababes to achieve a number one single outside the group.

Berrabah was born in Aldershot, Hampshire to Moroccan parents. She has four sisters, younger sister Samiya, older sisters Laila, Zakiya and Nora and a brother, Khaled. Her family owned a kebab shop in Aldershot. Berrabah's father died of cancer in 2002. Berrabah attended Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford on the merit of a scholarship. It was then that she met her managers and formed the band Boo2, with her sister, Samiya and began looking for record contract opportunities. She won Top of the Pops magazine’s Star Search in 2003 that gave her the chance to be the lead singer of a new band and had performed at Party in the Park as well.

Following Mutya Buena's departure from Sugababes, Berrabah was roped in as a replacement by the group's management. Their manager had seen Boo2 perform at an American showcase a few years prior in 2003 and Berrabah had impressed him. As soon as Buena left, he gave Berrabah a call about the opportunity and got her to record three songs to audition for remaining members Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range. They liked the demos and Berrabah was then announced as the newest member of the band. The first single to feature Berrabah's vocals, "Red Dress", entered the UK Singles Chart at number four.Taller in More Ways was re-released in early 2006 with re-recorded vocals by Berrabah. Because of the hastiness of the replacement, she could only re-record vocals for three of the tracks on the album. She also contributed the song, "Now You're Gone" to the new track listing. They performed the 2007 Comic Relief single with fellow girlband, Girls Aloud, "Walk This Way", which went to number one. On 28 April 2007, Berrabah was arrested over allegations that she had assaulted a girl on the dancefloor in a club. No charges were brought.