Carol Decker
The powerhouse voice behind T'Pau, whose anthemic 'Heart and Soul' became a defining roar of late-80s pop on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born 1957 (age 69)·British singer·Birthday: September 10·Baby Boomers
Biography
Carol Decker's voice is a force of nature—a brash, soulful instrument that propelled the British band T'Pau to stratospheric success in 1987. Formed with songwriter Ron Rogers, the band's fusion of synth-pop and rock found its perfect vehicle in Decker's commanding presence. Their debut album, *Bridge of Spies*, and its seismic single "China in Your Hand" dominated UK charts, making T'Pau the first British group to top the charts with their first four singles. While the band's commercial peak was intense, Decker's identity remained fused with its legacy. She has kept the T'Pau name alive for decades, touring consistently and performing the hits with undiminished energy for loyal fans. Her career is a testament to the lasting power of a singular hit and the resilience required when one song threatens to eclipse all else.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Carol was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carol Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Carol's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led T'Pau to become the first British group to have their first four singles reach the UK top ten.
- The single 'China in Your Hand' reached number one in the UK and several European countries in 1987.
- Achieved significant US success with the top-five hit 'Heart and Soul' from the album 'Bridge of Spies'.
- Maintained a continuous touring career with T'Pau for over three decades following the band's initial peak.
Did You Know?
The band's name was inspired by a Vulcan character from the original 'Star Trek' series.
She was a backing vocalist for the band The Questions before forming T'Pau.
She performed the T'Pau hit 'Heart and Soul' on the iconic BBC music show 'Top of the Pops' while heavily pregnant.
She released a solo single titled 'One Heart' in 1995.
“I just opened my mouth and that huge voice came out.”
