Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton was born Sheena Shirley Orr on April 27, 1959, in Bellshill, Scotland, the youngest of six children. Raised in a working-class household, she found her calling early after being captivated by Barbra Streisand’s singing in The Way We Were. She studied drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama while singing in local clubs, and her big break came in 1980 when she starred in a BBC documentary, The Big Time: Pop Singer, which led to a recording contract with EMI. Her musical style spans sprightly synth-pop and widescreen balladry to dance-pop, R&B and funk. Early hits like “Modern Girl” and “Nine to Five” (retitled “Morning Train” in the U.S.) established her as a sparkling voice of ‘80s pop. With the Bond theme “For Your Eyes Only,” she cemented international recognition. Mid-decade, she embraced a sexier, dance-oriented image on A Private Heaven, with standout singles “Strut” and the edgy “Sugar Walls,” penned by Prince, pushing pop boundaries. Easton earned two Grammy Awards – Best New Artist (1982) and Best Mexican-American Performance for a duet with Luis Miguel (1985). She collaborated with icons like Prince (“U Got the Look,” “The Arms of Orion”) and Kenny Rogers (“We’ve Got Tonight”), and reinvented her sound with urban contemporary flair in 1988’s The Lover in Me, working with Babyface, L.A. Reid and Prince’s circle. This album returned her to the charts with its title track becoming a major R&B and pop hit. Beyond music, she pursued acting roles—from Miami Vice and Indecent Proposal to stage musicals in the ‘90s—and held long-running residencies in Las Vegas. Though she stepped back from relentless touring, she remains a beloved performer whose adaptability and impactful hits leave an enduring legacy. Her ability to move across genres and embrace reinvention makes her a perpetual find for collectors and fans browsing vinyl, CD or cassette at Calcutta Records.