'Elaine Paige and Friends' Album Reaches Gold Status

Elaine Paige's CD "Elaine Paige and Friends", which had its UK release on Nov. 1, has sold more than 100,000 units and earned Gold certification from the BPI.

"I am delighted with this album," Paige said on her official site. "I have been waiting for 20 years for this opportunity to work with the legendary Phil Ramone. He really is a true magician in the recording studio. And being able to sing with some of my idols, people I have admired for years, brought out the fan in me; it was an absolute pleasure!"

Ms. Paige has carved out a remarkable career as an actress, recording artist, producer and broadcaster over the past four decades. She first came to fame when she created her award winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita in 1978. Shortly afterwards she originated the role of Grizabella in the original production of Cats and the classic song Memory became the first of Elaine's many hit records. Her subsequent theatre productions included Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Billy, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard in London and Broadway, The King and I, Sweeney Todd with the NYC Operas and Chess (with her record breaking Number One hit I Know Him So Well).

She last performed on the West End stage in 2007 when she returned to critical acclaim in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone at the Novello Theatre, for which she received a Best Supporting Actress in a Musical nomination at the What's On Stage Awards, London.

Elaine has recorded 20 solo albums (four multi Platinum and eight consecutive Gold) and six cast albums, and has also recorded a track with Secret Garden, The Things You Are To Me, for their Number One quadruple-platinum selling album. In 2006 she released an album of songs from the stage entitled Essential Musicals.

In her illustrious career, Elaine Paige has been honored with many awards: Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Variety Club Award for Show Business Personality of the year (1978); Variety Club Awards in 1986 and 1995; Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (1994); HMV Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (1999); Order of the British Empire for services to Musical Theatre (1995), Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (2004) and Variety Club Special Presentation for 40 Years on Stage (2009).