1959-1974

Sheena Shirley Orr is born on 27th April 1959 in Bellshill, Scotland.  She is the youngest of 6 children (2 boys and 4 girls) to Alex (a steel mill worker) and Annie.

Annie Orr works as a labourer to support her family after the death of Alex in 1969.
 

The Orr family home in Bellshill

1975-1979

Sheena with her first husand Sandi Easton
Sheena studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama to become a teacher of speech and drama.

In the evenings, she performs with local band 'Something Else'.

Sheena marries Sandi Easton - the marriage lasts 8 months.

1980
Sheena is chosen to take part in the BBC documentary series 'The Big Time'.  She is filmed on her quest to become a pop star.  She passes her audition with EMI Records and records her debut single 'Modern Girl'.  The single is released before the show airs and reaches UK#56.

'9 To 5' is released as a single as the documentury airs and rapidly climbs the UK charts, eventually peaking at UK#3 and becomes one of the biggest selling singles of the year. 'Modern Girl' quickly returns to the chart joining '9 To 5' in the top 10 reaching UK#8.  Sheena becomes the first artist since the 1950's to achieve two simultaneous top 10 singles.

'One Man Woman' becomes her third consecutive UK top 20 single - peaking at UK#14.
"The Big Time" : Before and After
Performing "9 To 5" on "Top Of The Pops"

Sheena on 'The Big Time'

One of the first photo shoots

The debut UK single 'Modern Girl'

Sheena's first UK top 10 single - '9 To 5'

1981
EMI release Sheena's debut album in the UK. 'Take My Time' reaches UK#17.  The title track is released as a single and peaks at UK#44.  'When He Shines' is the fifth and final single to be taken from the album and reaches UK#12.

'9 To 5' is released in as Sheena's first American single.  To avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's song of the same name it is re-named 'Morning Train (9 To 5)'.  It reaches US#1 and sells over 1 million copies.  Her debut album is also re-named for the US market.  'Sheena Easton' reaches US#24.  'Modern Girl' is released as the follow up single and reaches US#18.

Sheena in the opening credits to 'For Your Eyes Only'
 		 Sheena is asked to perform the theme tune to the James Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only'.  

The single reaches  UK#8 and US#4.

To this date she is the only performer to appear in the opening film credits.

Sheena wins the award for Best Female Artist at the UK Rock And Pop Awards.

'Just Another Broken Heart' is released as the first UK single from her second album 'You Could Have Been With Me', both reach number 33 on their respective charts.  The title track is released as a single and reaches UK#54.  

"You Could Have Been With Me" is released as the first single from the album in America where it reaches US#15.  The album reaches US#47.

Sheena at the Rock and Pop Awards in 1981 - winner of Best Female Artist

The debut album 'Take My Time'

"When He Shines" Single

'You Could Have Been With Me' album
1982
 
 
 

 
Sheena on the cover of UK magazine "TV Times" to promote her television special.

 

 

'When He Shines' (included on the 'You Could Have Been With Me' album in America) is released as single and reaches US#30.

Sheena wins the 1981 Grammy award for Best New Artist.

'Machinery' is the first single to be released from 'Madness, Money And Music' reaching UK#38 and US#57.  The album reaches and UK#44 and US#85.

Sheena appeared in a 30 minute UK television special on ITV to promote the album.

'Are You Man Enough' is released as single in the UK but fails to make the top 75.

 'I Wouldn't Beg For Water' is released as a single in the US reaching #64.
Sheena's third album 'Madness, Money and Music'
 
1983
Sheena with Kenny Rogers
'We've Got Tonight' - a duet with Kenny Rogers reaches UK#28 and US#6.  It reaches #1 on the US Country Chart. Kenny appeared as a special guest on Sheena's US TV special 'Act One'. Other guests included Al Jarreau and Johnny Carson.

'Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)' is released as the first single from 'Best Kept Secret' reaching UK# - and US#9.  The album reaches UK#99 and US#33.

'Almost Over You' reaches UK# - and US#25.
'Best Kept Secret'
 
Sheena performing in "Act One"

1984
'Devil In A Fast Car' is released as a single in America reaching US#79.

Sheena marries Rob Light.  The marriage lasts 18 months.

She records an album in Spanish - 'Todo Me Recuerda A Ti' mainly comprising Spanish versions of her greatest hits plus a few original songs. It includes duets with Luis Miguel and Dyango.
Sheena with Luis Miguel

'Back In The City' is released as the first single released in the U.K. from 'A Private Heaven' (UK# -). 'Strut' is released first in America where it reaches US#7 and UK#-. The album reaches UK#- and US#15 where it sells over 1 million copies.

The next single 'Sugar Walls' creates controversy over it's lyrics and is criticised by American pressure group 'Family Resource Center'.  The track was written by Prince.  Despite the controversy it reaches US#9 and UK#-.
Sheena with second husband Rob Light (also pictured to the right)
 
The million selling album - 'A Private Heaven''
 
The Spanish album - 'Todo Me Recuerda A Ti'



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