Glorious Gospel

Lurine Cato

Lurine Cato (b. 1974) is a British gospel singer-songwriter with a 5-octave vocal range who won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act in 2013.

She’s been a gospel performer since childhood and made numerous celebrated appearances, especially in her native UK. In 2016, her album “Chosen To Serve” was released by Fresh Manna Records.

With the B Positive Choir, she was one of the semi-finalists on Britain’s Got Talent 2018.

Short facts

Name: Lurine Lilian Cato
Born: London, England, UK
Occupations:
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Session vocalist
  • Vocal tutor
  • Public speaker
Music genres
  • Gospel
  • Soul
  • R&B
  • Jazz
Instrument
  • Vocals

Examples of awards

Year Award Category
2017 Premier Gospel Awards UK Best Female Artist
2016 Gospel Xplosion Music Media

Awards UK

Best RnB Female Artist of the Year
2016 Premier Gospel Awards UK Best Female Artist
2016 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Artist
2016 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Female Artist of the Year
2014 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Female Vocalist of the Year
2014 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Live Concert
2014 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Music Event
2013 Gospel Music Awards in Italy Best International Song of the Year
2013 Praisetek Awards Best RnB Gospel Artist
2013 BEFFTA Awards Best Gospel Act
2013 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Act
2012 Wise Woman Awards UK Music

Background

Lurine Cato is the 9th of 11 siblings.

Cato started singing at an early age, encouraged by her mother and sisters, and she performed on stage at the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) UK National Convention when she was just three years old.

She joined the Sunshine Band, where she both learned how to sing in harmony and developed her solo singing proficiency. With the help of her eldest sister, she got a chance to record a jingle on radio.

At the age of eight, Cato took second place in the Enfield Borough Talent Competition. Cheered on by one of her sisters, she returned to the competition the following year and this time she took first place with her rendition of the George Benson song “The Greatest Love of All”.

Early adulthood

In her 20s, Cato toured with the Lighthouse Family and Lynden David Hall. Later, she formed the group Redeemed together with several other female singers. The group went through several changes and eventually turned into a duet comprised of Cato and Marie Carter.

Just a few examples of notable performances by Lurine Cato

  • Cato toured with Kylie Minogue as a backing singer at the “On A Night Like This” tour in 2001. She also backed Minogue at the Kylie Fever 2002 in Concert – Live in Manchester.
  • Cato recorded vocals for Adele’s debut album ´19.
  • Cato was one of the performers at the Evening of Olympians celebration at the 2012 London Olympics.
  • At the first installation of the annual European True Worship Summit, Cato and the B Positive Choir was one of the featured acts. This is a three-day long gospel conference in North London, UK.
  • She was the head vocal coach for ITV’s 2018 Sing It to Win It competition.
  • When the NHS celebrated its 70 year anniversary in 2018, Cato performed at York Minister Cathedral.

The B Positive Choir

Together with Colin Anderson, Lurine Cato leads the B Positive Choir – a 60 singer strong British choir consiting of singers who suffer from sickle cell disease or who have loved ones who do.

The choir was created by the NHS Blood and Transplant to help raise awareness about sickle cell disease and the need for blood donors to treat sickle cell patients.

The B Positive Choir has made numerous performances throughout the years, such as the warm-up show for the 2017 MOBO Awards and peforming before members of the Royal family at the 2019 Commonwealth Service in Westminister Abbey.

B Positive auditioned for the 12th season of Britain’s Got Talent in a bid to garner more attention for their cause. They were accepted and reached the second semi-final.

In 2017, they released the charity single “Rise Up”.

Other charitable work

Cato has a long history of involvement in various efforts to support children, both in the UK and abroad. She is very active with The Children’s Society, and organisation which strives to reduce world child poverty.

As a part of her charitable work, Cato has performed at numerous fundraising events, such as the December 2016 Carol Concert at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel that brought funding to the Demelza Hospice Care for Children. That same year, she sang at the St. James Palace for the Diana Award. (Diana’s brother Earl Spencer was to impressed by her performance at the awards ceremony that she was invivted to perform at a private function at Althorp House.)

Discography 2000 – 2019

Album

Lurine Cato’s 13-track album “Chosen To Serve” was released in October 2016 by Fresh Manna Records.

Singles

Release Song Label
2019 Keep Turning (Single) Fresh Manna Records
2018 Be Loved (Single) Fresh Manna Records
2017 Rise Up (Lead Vocals) B Positive Choir
2016 Wave It Away Fresh Manna Records
2016 Power (Rare Candy Club Mix) Fresh Manna Records
2016 Power (Rare Candy Deep Mix) Fresh Manna Records
2016 Power (Giant Killer Mix) Fresh Manna Records
2016 Power (Extended) Fresh Manna Records
2016 Power (Single) Fresh Manna Records
2016 Keep Fighting (The Mighty Men Choir)
2012 Following The Star (Closer)[Remix][Feat. Tony Momrelle & Jay Ess]
2012 Following The Star (Closer) [Feat. Tony Momrelle & Jay Ess]
2016 You Revive Me (Green Remix) Fresh Manna Records
2012 You Revive Me (Remix) Fresh Manna Records
2012 You Revive Me Fresh Manna Records
2002 Shout It [Feat. Brixton Gospel Choir] Check Mate Records
2002 We’ll Get Thru It [Feat. Royalty] Self Released
2000 Soul Inside Baby Angel Recordings