C. C. Catch (born Caroline Catherine Müller, 31 July 1964 in Oss, Netherlands) is a Dutch-born German pop singer, best known for being discovered by Dieter Bohlen.
Early life
C.C. Catch was born in Holland and was supported by her parents from an early age, when they recognised her talent and encouraged her wish to be a "famous singer”. Her father was especially supportive and has played and still plays a very important role in her successful career as her manager and tour-manager.
From an early age, the up-and-coming singer took part in talent contests and was originally a member of a German girl group called Optimal, which consisted of four girls, Claudia Stürzenbecher, Sylvia Frötschel, Caroline Müller and Sabine Lürenbaum (who was Miss Osnabrück in 1983 and later performed under the name Secret Star) and released two singles, Er war magnetisch (1983) and The Good-Bye (1984). The second single also contained the song Kimi Gasuki sung by a Dutch singer, Silke, and the group Optimal as background singers.
Musical career
She was first discovered in the mid-1980s by the German songwriter and member of the top German group Modern Talking, Dieter Bohlen. He was particularly interested in her singing talents and invited her on the same day to his studio for an audition. Shortly afterwards she signed a contract with him, which was to launch her solo career. She decided on the artist name of C.C. Catch, the two "C"'s standing for the first initials of her two first names, and "Catch" which she thought was a good idea and looked great with the initials.
In the summer of 1985 on C.C. Catch's birthday, the song "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight" was released as her debut single. The single became a big hit in Europe.
Dieter Bohlen and C.C. Catch worked together until 1989 during which time 12 Top 20 singles and 5 hit albums were produced. C.C. Catch wanted to have more personal input in the songs, but Bohlen would not allow this, so she decided in 1989 not to renew her contract with him and BMG, her record label, and left Germany to live in England.
On a New Year's Eve television show in Spain, C.C. Catch met Simon Napier Bell (ex-manager of Wham!'s George Michael). Bell was very interested in working with her and shortly thereafter became her manager. A new contract was signed with the label Polygram (Metronome). A new album, Hear What I Say, was prepared with new producers, including Andy Taylor (ex-Duran Duran), Dave Clayton (who has worked with George Michael and U2), and Jo Dworniak. From this album, a single was released in 1989 entitled "Big Time", which went to number 25 in the charts.
During this time, BMG also released the single "Baby I Need Your Love" along with the compilation Classics. Bohlen went on to release her recording "Good Guys Only Win In Movies" at the same time C.C. Catch released her next single "Midnight Hour".
Hear What I Say was released at the end of 1989 and was the last album released by C.C. Catch. Many of her fans liked the album because she co-wrote seven of the songs and C.C. Catch was happy because she could finally do what she always wanted to do – songwriting. It sold more than her previous two albums, Big Fun and Diamonds, demonstrating her abilities as an artist working on her own terms.
Hiatus
Afterwards, C.C. Catch parted with Metronome on good terms to take time out from the music industry. During this time she focused on her spiritual growth, practising yoga and a form of meditation; she also started writing her own songs.
Re-emergence
In 1998, she reentered the music scene. She agreed to do some promotional work for BMG for a new compilation Best Of '98. Two singles were also released – "C.C. Catch Megamix ‘98" and "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight ‘98" for which she received a Gold record.
In 2003, she went back to live in Germany and recorded her single "Shake Your Head 2003" with Savage Productions, who are also artists as well as producers, who have produced acts such as Oli P, Noble Savages and Enie (who is famous as the ex-moderator of Bravo TV and now the face of German T-Online advertisements). The single is a re-working of the Was (Not Was) track, originally featuring vocals from Ozzy Osbourne and Kim Basinger.
C.C. Catch has toured Europe and has appeared as support act for Modern Talking in the U.S. In 2011, she announced that she will end her singing career after her 2012 tour.