This June, the city of Manchester will pay long-overdue tribute to one of its most powerful and beloved voices, Diane Charlemagne.
Known for her unforgettable contributions to British music across jazz-funk, soul, dance, house, and drum ‘n’ bass, Diane’s legacy will be commemorated with a blue plaque in Moss Side, a permanent reminder of her influence and music.
Born and raised in Manchester, Diane Charlemagne rose to prominence as lead vocalist of the influential group 52nd Street, before cementing her legacy with tracks like The Key, The Secret (Urban Cookie Collective) and Inner City Life (Goldie), which became anthems of 1990s British music.
Celebrating Diane Charlemagne
For music journalist Karen Gabay, who is spearheading the campaign alongside the Nubian Jak Community Trust, the Manchester Digital Music Archive (MDMarchive), and GMCA, this moment is both emotional and essential.
“Diane Charlemagne was incredibly well known and deeply loved in Manchester,” Karen told us. “She worked across an impressive range of musical genres, something quite rare. And yet, outside of Manchester, her name isn’t spoken often enough.”
Singing on Goldie’s Inner City Life
Diane first found the spotlight as lead vocalist of 52nd Street, a pioneering jazz-funk and soul band that broke into the American market during the era of UK acts like Loose Ends. But it was her haunting vocals on Goldie’s Inner City Life that immortalised her for many.
“That track is consistently ranked among the top three drum and bass classics of all time,” said Karen. “It’s genre-defining. And yet, people don’t always connect that the same woman sang The Key, The Secret with Urban Cookie Collective, or performed with Moby at Glastonbury.”
“People loved those songs but often didn’t realise they were all sung by the same powerhouse vocalist.”
Time Out magazine recently included Inner City Life in its top singles of the 1990s, describing it thus: “Fusing jungle’s intricate breakbeats, sub bass and unbridled futurism with heart-aching soul soundscapes and the lamenting voice of Diane Charlemagne, this beautiful-yet-brutal piece of sonic art switched an entire generation on to the power of jungle and D&B.”
And more than two decades on from its release, the track’s soaring soundscapes, coupled with ethereal vocals from Diane Charlemagne, still captivate.
As Karen researched Diane’s life and career, she was stunned by the sheer number of collaborations and behind-the-scenes work the singer had done.
“What really surprised me was just how many musicians she collaborated with: from small indie projects to big international names. I recently discovered she and Tony Bowry from 52nd Street worked with Will Downing. I’ve interviewed Will many times and had no idea!”
And the surprises didn’t stop there.
“Andy from Swing Out Sister told me Diane used to record their demos, possibly even before the band officially formed. She was everywhere, quietly shaping the sound of so many artists.”
That kind of legacy, Karen said, deserves to be seen as much as heard.
Long overdue recognition
Diane’s plaque follows the one for Denise Johnson, unveiled in 2024, a turning point for Manchester’s recognition of Black musical pioneers. But Karen is quick to note that two plaques barely scratch the surface.
“The BRITs were just announced and the response was great, but the conversation immediately went back to Manchester’s ‘classic’ era,” Karen said. “That doesn’t happen with London, nobody reduces it to just Britpop. Manchester’s history needs a broader reassessment.”
“We’re only on our second plaque. That’s telling.”
Still, the response to the Diane campaign has been “overwhelming.”
“Her peers are overjoyed,” Karen shared. “There’s so much love for her. Her daughter has been especially moved. Musicians have reached out from across the UK to said how important Diane was to them. Many are shocked she hasn’t already been honoured.”
“Younger artists have told me how valuable this is, how it’s made them reflect on who they’ve worked with and who deserves to be remembered.”
Who will be on the next blue plaque in Manchester?
Karen is already thinking ahead, and has a long list of Manchester musical heroes who deserve similar recognition.
“Fritz from Simply Red deserves a plaque. Sweet Sensation too. But my big one is Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock and roll. I’ve had huge support from people like Boyz II Men and Gloria Jones for that one.”
“There are so many musicians across all genres who need recognition, even those who came to Manchester to perform in solidarity.”
And it’s not just about those we’ve lost.
“We need to celebrate the incredible musicians we still have here. When we unveiled Denise Johnson’s plaque, the community really turned out. It reminded us: music is made by people, and those people are connected.”
“When we honour someone who’s passed, we’re also creating space for the people they worked with to share their stories.”
Paying tribute to Diane Charlemagne
The campaign’s message is that there is a whole other story of Manchester’s music scene that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. This will go someway to celebrating the incredible depth and breadth of black artists who often do not get the plaudits they should.
“Over the years, I’ve paid tribute to Diane and spoken to artists and friends who worked with her. The same thing kept coming up: ‘We wish people said her name more.’ That’s what inspired this.”
“She was Mancunian. She had hits as big as any band from this city. It’s time we said her name loud and proud.”
How to Donate to Diane Charlemagne’s Plaque
While most of the funding has been secured, the campaign still needs donations for administrative and installation costs.
To support this important tribute, head to MDMarchive’s homepage and click Donate, referencing Blue Plaques or Diane Charlemagne.
Let’s honour the past, and help shape the future, by giving Manchester’s musical legends the recognition they truly deserve.
