Guide Note:

Kate Bush signed her first recording deal at the age of 16 with EMI Records. She has since become one of the United Kingdom's most successful singer-songwriters, known for her esoteric, literary lyrics.

Fast Facts:

1. Born July 30, 1958 in Bexleyheath, Kent, England
2. Years Active: 1975 - Present
3. Label: Sony Records
4. Won 3 Grammy Awards
5. First female artist to perform a self-written #1 single in the UK
6. Won the Ivor Novello Award for her contribution to British music

In her youth, Kate Bush had written and recorded herself playing over 200 songs. After hearing one of these demo tapes, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour recommended her to executives at EMI. She was signed to her first record deal while still a student, at age 16.

In 1978, she released her debut album, The Kick Inside, which included the hit single "Wuthering Heights", inspired by the classic novel. Though the album was released when she was 19, Bush had written some of the songs on the album at the age of 13.

Bush continued writing songs and releasing increasingly challenging, experimental work from the late 1970s until 1993's The Red Shoes (inspired by the classic British ballet film from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger), after which she took time off from music to raise a family.

Bush returned in 2005 with a new album, Aerial and the greatest-hits collection The Whole Story. She also recorded the song "Lyra" for the film The Golden Compass.