Bush was born on July 30, 1958, in Bexleyheath, Kent, to an English doctor, general practitioner Robert Bush (1920-2008), and Hannah née Daly (1918-1992), an Irish staff nurse and the daughter of a farmer from County Waterford.
She grew up in a 350-year-old former farmhouse in East Wickham, Welling, with her elder brothers, John and Paddy.
Bush came from an artistic family: her mother was an amateur traditional Irish dancer, her father was an amateur pianist, Paddy worked as a musical instrument maker, and John was a poet and photographer. Both brothers were active in the local folk music scene. She was raised as a Roman Catholic.
Bush learned karate at Goldsmiths College, where her brother John was a karate instructor. Because of her squeaky kiai, she became known as “Ee-ee” there.
Bush was inspired to learn the piano at the age of 11 by her family’s musical influence. She also studied the violin and played the organ in a barn behind her parents’ house. She quickly began writing songs and eventually added her own lyrics.
Why is Kate Bush so important?
She was the first British solo female artist to top the UK album charts and the first female artist to debut at number one on the album chart.
Bush began writing songs when he was 11 years old. After Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour assisted in the production of a demo tape, she was signed to EMI Records.
