Kittian-British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading was BOTD in 1950. Born in St Kitts, she emigrated to England with her family as a child. After studying piano and teaching herself the guitar, she joined a touring production of the musical Hair, where she met her songwriting partner Pam Nestor. After releasing an album together, Armatrading went solo, finding success with her self-titled 1976 album and the top 10 hit Love and Affection. Her soulful contralto voice, bittersweet lyrics and catchy blend of rock, jazz, blues and reggae influences won her a devoted following, becoming the first British female singer-songwriter to achieve international success. She is best known for her single Drop the Pilot from her 1983 rock album The Key, reaching No 11 in the UK Singles Chart. She self-produced her own work from the 1980s, and was Grammy-nominated for her 1979 song How Cruel and her 2007 album Into the Blues. Her work has inspired generations of Black female artists, most notably Tracy Chapman. Armatrading’s resolutely un-glammed appearance and ambiguously gendered lyrics led to frequent speculation about her sexuality. Fiercely protective of her private life, she entered into a civil partnership with her long-term partner Maggie Butler in 2011.