Angelou

Angelou was an English folk rock band formed in 1996 by singer-songwriter Holly Lerski with guitarist Jo Baker, the duo taking the band's name from the author Maya Angelou.

Angelou debuted on Boo Hewerdine's independent record label Haven Records in 1997 with the "Hallelujah" EP. Joined by Phil Di Palma and Chris Evans, they followed this up with two critically acclaimed albums, Automiracles (1998) and While You Were Sleeping (2000).^[1]

They toured Spain extensively in 2001 promoting their Spanish 'best of' release, Midnight Witcheries, with new members Cath Evans and Ann Richardson. The band returned a second time for the Benicassim festival 2001 tour, promoting their "Summertime" EP.

After their return to England they signed to Sanctuary Records and recorded their third album, Life Is Beautiful, releasing it under record company instruction in Lerski's name. The album finally broke Lerski and Angelou into the mainstream through heavy radio support for their two singles. Angelou left Sanctuary Records in 2005 through lack of support for the record, and the company dissolved soon after, to eventually be bought out by the Universal Music Group.

Lerski dissolved Angelou in 2006 and continues to write, record and release under her own name on her own Laundry Label.^[2]

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