The Starlights
2012-present
The Starlights are Taylor's four back up singers; Clare Turton Derrico, Eliotte Nicole, Kamilah Marshall and Melanie Nyema. They first performed with Taylor at the 2012 MTV VMAs, singing "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". "The fearsome foursome" not only do background vocals, they also have a choreography for each performance, making them both band members and dancers.
CLARE TURTON DERRICO
Clare Louise Turton Derrico was born on on 15 September 1976 in Eckington, England. She moved to London when she was 18 years old to become a dancer and a performance artist. She was a hostess/dancer in the hit prime time TV show “Man O Man”. She's a professional dancer and choreographer who has worked with acts such as Take That, Pink, Ricky Martin, Cher and the Spice Girls. In 2000, she auditioned for Tina Turner’s live show, and became her dance captain, performing with her as her lead dancer.
KAMILAH MARSHALL
Kamilah Marshall was born on February 22. She was raised in Orange County, California. She graduated high school early to start a tour with the show “Heart Strings” that raised money and awareness for AIDS victims. She has worked with Bette Midler, producers Salaam Remi and Nile Rodgers, and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. She sang “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” on the soundtrack for “Sex and the City 2” and both "The Original Cast Recording" of the Broadway musical “Hairspray” and the soundtrack for the film based on the play. Not only is Kamilah a singer, but she also does choreography/is a dancer for Taylor.
ELIOTTE NICOLE
Eliotte Nicole is originally from San Antonio, TX and a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. Trained in many forms of dance, Eliotte has performed the works of many famous choreopgraphers. She is also featured in the upcoming remake of "Dirty Dancing". Apart from being a singer, she also toured as a background dancer and singer with Toni Braxton, Wayne Brady, and Kristinia DeBarge. Eliotte can even be spotted acting, making appearances on TBS’ "CONAN" and theater stages.
MELANIE NYEMA
Melanie Nyema is from La Mirada, California. She attended Southern California University and has worked as a backup singer for Taylor Hicks. She and Kamilah Marshall have also sang with Shoshana Bean. Melanie has also done some work with Barry Manilow, where she also excelled not only as a singer but as a dancer. This is the kind of talent that makes her a perfect fit for the backup singers as they now have their own choreography as part of Taylor's team.
