CeCe Sammy

1990s and 2000s: Early Career

CeCe is a graduate from the London College of Music,[1] and is a classically trained pianist. Her classical training led her to coach charting acts from the United Kingdom (UK), including Charlotte Church, S Club 7 and S Club Juniors, Will Young[1] and Leona Lewis.

Prior to her coaching career, CeCe began her career as backing singer[2] touring with the likes of Diana Ross and Julio Iglesias. She was also a member of the United Colours of Sound with vocal coach partner John Modi and celebrity vocal coaches David and Carrie Grant. She has sung at the Commonwealth Games and Buckingham Palace as well as recording several theme tunes for ITV, Channel 4 and Sky Sports including the official Rugby World Cup song "Swing Low" with UB40, before going on to become a vocal coach to a roster of celebrity clients,[3] such as Sting and One Direction.[4]

She appeared on the television series Pop Idol as a vocal coach[1] and was a judge on the BBC's celebrity duet show Just the Two of Us in 2006 and 2007 along with Stewart Copeland and Tito Jackson.[1][5]

CeCe appeared in the BBC TV documentary Be My Baby - The Girl Group Story which aired in August 2006. The show covered the history of girl groups, focusing specifically on The Supremes, The Three Degrees, Sister Sledge, Bananarama, The Bangles and the Spice Girls.[6]

In 2007 she was a judge on BBC Radio 3's Choir of the Year competition.[3] CeCe was one of Bruno Tonioli's panellists on BBC One's DanceX.[7]

CeCe made a guest appearance on ITV's Dancing on Ice in early 2009, where she was seen helping one of the groups that were selected to skate and sing at the same time. She has also appeared as a guest on television and in documentaries, including The Wright Stuff, GMTV, BBC Breakfast, Let Me Entertain You, The Xtra Factor.

2010s: Celebrity Vocal Coach, American Idol and America's Got Talent

In 2010, CeCe founded an artist development and music management company with legendary artist manager Frank DiLeo. CCA Entertainment operates between London and Los Angeles.

In 2014 and 2015, CeCe appeared as head vocal coach and judge on the second and third seasons of Endemol's Your Face Sounds Familiar Georgia. She once again reprised the role as vocal judge for a select number of episodes during the fourth season which started in May 2015.

In 2015, CeCe Sammy worked as a vocal coach on the new ITV series Get Your Act Together. She has been a regular talent consultant for American Idol and America's Got Talent. She also was the official vocal coach for 2015 Dubai Music Week.[8][9]

In 2017, CeCe worked with manufacturer VTech to launch the Kidi Super Star, a karaoke microphone and stand which reduces the vocals on any song. The system features coaching from CeCe Sammy.

In 2018, CeCe worked as a vocal coach on two films; the Idris Elba-directed YARDIE and Gurinder Chadha’s Blinded by the Light.

Also in 2018, CeCe launched a new music therapy initiative called ‘The Power of Muzik’, which empowers and inspires young people going through hard times. The Power of Muzik uses music therapy techniques and powerful messaging within their music to educate young people, and have worked with the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Ben Ofoedu, Diana Vickers, Mo Jamil and more. As part of the initiative, CeCe Sammy formed a collective of singers who have performed at top UK music events throughout 2018. These performances have included the national UK STEPS tour, Brighton Pride, Fusion Festival and more.

In February 2019, CeCe released her debut book called "If You Can Speak You Can Sing" was released . Publisher was Eyewear publishing and is sold online but also on WH Smith, Waterstones, and Amazon. CeCe has also given free books to many state schools across the country for use in their library as CeCe wanted the children to have the same opportunity of self help.

Also in 2019, BBC launched the "Bring The Noise" campaign and CeCe was a BBC Ambassador and gave her top tips for teaching singing to primary school children and teachers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/ce-ce-sammy-teaches-singing/znwj92p

2020s: Celebrity Vocal Coach, American Idol and America's Got Talent

In February 2022, CeCe Sammy-Lightfoot launched and created a short and free Masterclass series online called "Hack Your Voice" to support interviews, during which she shares some of the key lessons she learned as a professional vocal coach and she teaches viewers how to train their voices.

In summer 2022,

CeCe married Charles Lightfoot, an Eton College and Oxford University alumni and former university cricket star. Charles Lightfoot is a partner at the international law firm Jenner & Block and chair of the firm's International Arbitration Practice.[10] Her husband, Charlie, is incredibly supportive of CeCe's career and has become an invaluable asset to CeCe's growth in balancing her work and family life.

CeCe Lightfoot has two beautiful children, her biological daughter Isabella and the stepson of her husband Charles, Tristan.

In 2018, CeCe Sammy launched a new music therapy initiative called ‘The Power of Muzik’, which empowers and inspires young people going through hard times. The Power of Muzik uses music therapy techniques and powerful messaging within their music to educate young people, and have worked with the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Ben Ofoedu, Diana Vickers, Mo Jamil and more.

As part of the initiative, CeCe Sammy formed a collective of singers who have performed at top UK music events throughout 2018. These performances have included the national UK STEPS tour, Brighton Pride, Fusion Festival and more.

The collective of singers, as well as CeCe Sammy and ambassadors for The Power Of Muzik, have travelled across the UK performing directly to students in their schools. Over 20,000 children have seen and heard the positive message being spread by the initiative, with more performances confirmed for the future.

CeCe's released a debut book called "If You Can Speak You Can Sing" was released in February 2019. Publisher was Eyewear publishing and is sold online but also on WH Smith, Waterstones, and Amazon. CeCe Sammy has also given free books to many state schools across the country for use in their library as CeCe wanted the children to have the same opportunity of self help.https://store.eyewearpublishing.com/products/if-you-can-speak-you-can-sing

LOCKDOWN: CeCe gave free singing and breathing workshops during the stressful weeks of lockdown to people https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/etcetera/music/hampstead-vocal-coach-cece-sammy-gives-free-breathing-and-voice-coaching-1-6640786

• official website
• CeCe Sammy at IMDb