Cleopatra

Formed in Manchester, England, the teen trio Cleopatra brought together three Higgins sisters: eldest Zainam, second-oldest Cleopatra (who supplied lead vocals on every track), and third sibling Yonah. The sisters themselves wrote the bulk of their material. As daughters of session singer Christine Higgins, they absorbed influences ranging from gospel and trip-hop to classic soul. Victory in a regional talent contest led to a management agreement, after which the group spent six years playing venues across the United Kingdom until the British arm of Warner Bros. Records offered a contract in early 1997. The first two singles, “Cleopatra’s Theme” and “Life Ain’t Easy,” both reached the top five and preceded the spring 1998 release of their debut album Comin’ Atcha!, which entered the top twenty. That album yielded two further British hits: a top-five cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and the top-forty single “A Touch of Love.” In the United States, Madonna’s Maverick label signed the act. “Cleopatra’s Theme” appeared on both the pop top forty and the R&B charts, “Life Ain’t Easy” duplicated that chart pattern, and Comin’ Atcha! remained for several months in the lower reaches of the album listings. Together with their mother and youngest sister Terry, the group created a comedy/variety series for British television that drew strong ratings. Their second album, Steppin’ Out, arrived in August 2000.