Desiree Heslop was born to a young, brash, vocal entertainer and a local beauty queen in a tempestuous loving relationship. She grew up with a real sense of drama, a sense of style and a true appreciation for the sound of music. Louise and James were a gregarious couple who attracted a similar crew of friends, an atmosphere of party excitement fed the young Desiree's appetite for performing. She very soon became the centre of attention with her gift for mimicking the famous artists that were on either radio or TV. School years had her performing songs from Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan (her two most favourite female artists) repeatedly to the delight of her peers. The music teacher at junior school heard the young Desiree and co opted her for a solo in the school Play. Her friends were bereft during lunch times of their local performer but were later enchanted by a rendition of 'Wings of Song' which left a few of them blubbering uncontrollably. 'On wings of song I'll bear thee enchanted realms to see', these Words have proven very prophetic in the future of the young songstress. Desiree Without meaning to had started the foundation of what was to be her future career.

Steeped in the sounds from her parents and friends stereos pumping Out Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Prince, James Brown, Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Donny Hathaway, Roy Ayers, Roberta Flack, A] Green, Four Tops, Grover Washington Jnr. Bob Marley and The wailers, Burning Spear and many more soul, jazz and reggae legends, the young Desiree absorbed a wide variety of music. The eclectic nature of British radio further widened that knowledge with Joni Mitchell, Elton John, David Bowie, Eurhythmics, Fleetwood Mac, Tears for Fears and many others. The sound that later emerged as that of the artist Princess can be attributed to all of these influences.

The relationship between Louise and James ended in divorce and Desiree grew up with Louise whilst James went to Germany to pursue a music career. Desiree's interest in music continued and she sang mostly while doing chores around the house. She wanted music lessons but that proved too much for a single mother. She read everything that related to the business of music and came to the conclusion that it was "a mugs game". Her education became the main focus. Then came the component that changed the course of her life, her elder brother Donovan was brought from Jamaica to Germany to finish his schooling under the auspices of James. Donovan's first visit England, to see his mother, sister, and younger brother left the young man totally enchanted with the family he had never seen. Most specifically was his amazement at the quality of his baby sister's voice. He was unable to understand why she was not a major star, and so it became his vocation to make it a reality. There was only one problem: Desiree, she was even more convinced that it was not the field for her. Their arguments became legendary in the household and Desiree won all of them!

Desiree graduated from high school with A level English and History and proceeded to A level law. Law would be her new vocation, but the tenacious Donovan got her a recording session with a punk band to sing backing vocals and she was hooked again.
A few more opportunities came and she travelled with the African group Osibisa for a couple of years. Donovan observed that the band could not take advantage of her potential as a lead artist. He suggested other outlets and soon she was travelling with Precious Wilson on the European circuit and doing session work in England.
It was during one of these sessions with an associate producer of Pete Waterman that she came to the attention of Mike Stock who later booked her for a session for D.C LEE. When Donovan and Desiree arrived at the studio in the Sanctuary and saw the set up, he was convinced that this was the place for his sister. Desiree was booked with another session singer who was sent home because she was unable to handle the session. Desiree completed the session by herself thus convincing all concerned of her validity.

Donovan asked who was the main man and was told that it was Pete, but he had gone out and no one knew when he'd be back. Donovan saw an opportunity and waited for two hours to present his case to Pete. They had an encouraging meeting and Donovan pursued the promise of demo songs. He was given 5 backing tracks on a cassette for consideration and what became Say I'm Your Number One was a favourite.

The song "Say I'm your No On& was brought to life with contributions from both Desiree and Donovan and recorded as a demo. Donovan was convinced that it was a hit but Pete would be the final arbiter. Pete returned from holiday and loved it. Donovan wanted his artist on a major label and took the song to a few major labels without much success. He then went to see Colin Barlow at CBS who arranged a meeting with Muff Winwood head of CBS. The conclusion of that meeting was that Muff gave him £450 to write some songs. He went away, put a band together and rehearsed them at Nova studio after getting permission from Pete to use the demo of Say I'm Your Number One. He rented the A room at Nova, which had just been built and was christened by Tina Turner. The showcase was set. Wine and hors d'oeuvres were provided; guests were invited including Pete, Matt and Mike.

Muff Winwood arrived and was astonished; this was not what he expected. Pete sent Nick East and Willie Morrison as his representatives. The atmosphere was set and Desiree took to the stage in a black patent jump suit with a 6 piece band including identical twin vocalists Ann and Annis. Visually the statement was HOT and the performance was incendiary.
After the performance Muff and Donovan shook hands, they had a deal and Muff indicated that Donovan should call him the next day to "be up the details". Nick East and Willie Morrison who were unknown to Desiree and Donovan were very complimentary. The phone call to Muff the next day had him saying that his head of international "didn't think it would work" Donovan was in shock apparently there were no details to be "tied up".
Still in shock Donovan answered a call from Pete Waterman to meet at the Sanctuary and in that meeting they discussed the independent release of "Say I'm Your Number One" (1985) and a follow up single. Nick East was then introduced as head of the new independent label, which was called Supreme Records.
Donovan understood that the company's main interest was the promotion of the record, his task was to promote the artist and so he chose a name that he felt marketing wise would be indelible. Princess!!!. Pete's response to the name Princess was that it was a "dog's name", but he admitted that it bore repeating and was not easily forgotten.
Desiree was not keen to bear a name that denoted royalty as a black girl in England, but Donovan convinced her that all she had to do was "be herself. Promotion was set to begin and with a hard won; miniscule budget of £250 Princess was outfitted to conquer Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.
She started up north in Liverpool where the room of the hotel she stayed in looked out onto a wall with a massive No 1 painted in red, and, was on the corner of Princess Street these indeed were good omens. The song was released on 26-6-1985 and reached top ten within six weeks. Say I'm Your Number One had sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The eponymous album went gold and yielded four top twenty singles one of which was part of a movie soundtrack.

Other notable achievements in this period were four appearances on "Top of the Pops", six appearances on the various morning TV shows, augmented by radio and TV appearances worldwide. Live appearances in front of hundreds of thousands, at Artist Against Apartheid, Live Aid, Aids benefit and Help A London Child (UK).

1987 Princess signs to Polydor worldwide and sets off to LA to record her new album. Ballard and Magness writers and producers for Michael Jackson, Richard Burgess writer and producer for 5 Star, Fox and Drinkwater writers and producers for Chico DeBarge and Trevor Lawrence Stevie Wonders writer and sax player were all drafted to lend that US feel to the album. It was the first time that different producers were used to complete an album which was done in six weeks. The CD was set for release and the MD of Polydor left to manage Paul McCartney. Needless to say the marketing necessary to promote the CD was not forthcoming from the new MD.

It was during this period Princess was asked to do work on behalf of UNICEF. She did three projects for UNICEF for which she was given an award of distinction... Children on the Frontline (Zimbabwe), Youth Olympics and the Nyong Dong Festival (Korea) and hosting the video of the event in Zimbabwe. It is during this time that Princess younger brother was shot in Washington DC and within two years her mother passed from lung cancer in NY, having never smoked a day in her life.

Princess' grief was internal and this affected her in myriad ways. She had the support of Donovan and between them they worked on recovering trom extremely traumatic events. After Mom's funeral they lived in NY where Princess met many of her musical favourites. Isaac Hayes interviewed her on his radio show at Kiss FM Stevie Wonder came to her recording session, she recorded with Roy Ayers, Angela Winbush said she's baaad, Chaka Khan was an absolute treat. She performed at the same concert as Lil Kim, Donel Jones, Shaggy, Buju and Beres at The Guinness Soul/ Reggae Festivals (New York); She also went to Africa to take part in Panafest (Ghana). That bill had Stevie Wonder, Culture, Sound Of Blackness and Princess.

2003 Princess has returned to the UK after some twelve years and is pleased to find that she is remembered very fondly. Her Princess CD was auctioned April 2003 on ebay for £155 and there is an official Desiree Heslop club. There is new music is in the works and she's currently discussing new business partnerships. She has played to a packed audience at the Royal Festival Hall (March 2003), in addition to three weeks at Ronnie Scott's where she was a guest with friend Roy Ayers.

Princess and Donovan have merged their jointly owned company On Da Ground Entertainment with Shlepp Entertainment and have recorded what will be her first release. The album is being conceived as we write.