Caroline Catherine Müller (born July 31, 1964), known professionally as C.C. Catch, is a Dutch and German singer. She is known for her collaboration with Dieter Bohlen (one half of Modern Talking) in the 1980s.

Early life

C.C. Catch was born Caroline Catherine Müller in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a German father and moved to West Germany with her family in the late 1970s. From an early age, she was supported by her parents, who recognised her talent and encouraged her dream of being a famous singer. Her father, Peter Müller, a musician himself, was especially supportive and played an important role in her career as her manager and tour-manager.

Still in her teens, she took part in talent contests and later joined the West German girl quartet Optimal, who released their first single, "Er War Magnetisch", in 1983.

Musical career

While performing in Hamburg as part of Optimal, Müller was discovered by Dieter Bohlen. He signed her to BMG, effectively launching her solo career. Bohlen also gave her the stage name C.C. Catch, with the two "C"s standing for the initials of her first and middle names, and "Catch", which she thought was a good idea and looked good alongside the initials.

In the summer of 1985, C.C. Catch released her debut single, "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight". The single entered the top 20 in several European countries, including West Germany and Switzerland.

Bohlen and Catch worked together until 1989, during which time they released twelve singles and four albums. Eight of those singles entered the top 20, while one of the albums entered the top 10. Catch wanted to have more creative input into her songs, but Bohlen refused. As a result, in 1989, she parted ways with him and BMG. However, she had to pursue legal action to secure the rights to her stage name.

On a New Year's Eve television show in Spain, Catch met Simon Napier-Bell (former manager of Wham!'s George Michael). Shortly afterwards, Napier-Bell became her manager and signed her to PolyGram subsidiary Metronome. Her first (and only) album on the label, Hear What I Say, was released at the end of 1989 and remains Catch's last album to date. It was produced by Andy Taylor (ex-Duran Duran), Dave Clayton (who has worked with George Michael and U2), and Jo Dworniak. This time, Catch had more creative control, co-writing seven of the album's tracks. The album sold more than her previous two releases, Big Fun and Diamonds, demonstrating her abilities as an artist working on her own terms.

From this album, "Big Time" was released as a single in 1989, and peaked at No. 26 in West Germany. During this time, BMG also released the single "Baby I Need Your Love", along with the compilation Classics. Second single from "Hear What I Say" album was "Midnight Hour" in early 1990.

Hiatus Afterwards, C.C. Catch parted with Metronome on good terms to take time out from the music industry. During this time, she focused on her spiritual growth, practicing yoga and a form of meditation; she also started writing her own songs.

At the beginning of the 1990s, C.C. Catch worked on a project by Peter Gabriel from which the song "Harmonix" emerged. It appeared on Jam Nation's 1993 album "Way Down Below Buffalo Hell". In 1998, she returned to Germany, released the single "Megamix '98" and appeared on the BBC music television program Top of the Pops with rapper Krayzee.

In 2003, her single "Shake Your Head" reached the top 12 sales charts in Spain in 2003 and developed into a summer hit in southern Europe. In 2004, C.C. Catch took part in the ProSieben show Comeback - Die Big Chance. From this show emerged the single "Survivor" and the album Comeback United, on which the participating artists such as: C.C. Catch, Limahl, Chris Norman, Benjamin Boyce, Coolio, Jazzy von Tic Tac Toe, Haddaway, Emilia and the Weather Girls contributed various songs. In the same year, she appeared on the US tour of pop duo Modern Talking.

In September 2010, the single "Unborn Love" was released, a collaboration with Spanish music producer Juan Martinez.

In 2015, C.C. Catch toured the United States, including Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago, followed by the first major concert in Toronto, Canada in 2016, followed by a concert tour of South America in 2017 (Argentina and Bolivia).

On July 31, 2024, she released a new single, "Heal Me" (produced by Luis Rodriguez), as a tribute to her father, Peter Müller, who died in April. +C.C. Catch... in:

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications GER AUT FIN NOR SPA SWE SWI Catch the Catch Released: 1986 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 6 24 17 6 21 25 8 Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel 28 — 40 — 22 44 —SPA: Gold Like a Hurricane Released: 1987 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 30 — 2 — 25 — — Big Fun Released: 1988 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 53 — 31 — 22 — —SPA: Platinum Hear What I Say Released: 1989 Label: Metronome Musik Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 75 — 35 — 46 — — The Album (Remastered) Released: 10 August 2017 Label: Italo Box Music Formats: CD — — — — — — — "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications GER FIN SPA Diamonds: Her Greatest Hits Released: 16 May 1988 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 43 23 25 SPA: Gold Super 20 Released: 2 January 1990 Label: Ariola Express Formats: CD, LP, Cassette — — — Backseat of Your Cadillac Released: 1991 Label: Ariola Express Formats: CD, LP, Cassette — — — Super Disco Hits Released: 2 May 1994 Label: Ariola Express Formats: CD, LP, Cassette — — — Best of '98 Released: 1998 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, LP, Cassette 76 — — Heartbreak Hotel Released: 3 July 2000 Label: Ariola Express Formats: CD, Cassette — — — Best of C. C. Catch Released: 18 September 2000 Label: Ariola Express Formats: CD, Cassette — — — In the Mix Released: 12 May 2003 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, Cassette — — — Catch the Hits Released: 16 September 2005 Label: Edel Formats: CD, Cassette — — — The 80's Album Released: 28 October 2005 Label: Edel Formats: CD — — — Maxi Hit Sensation-Nonstop DJ Released: 12 May 2006 Label: Edel Formats: CD — — — Ultimate C. C. Catch Released: 23 November 2007 Label: Edel Formats: CD — — — 25th Anniversary Box (5 CD) Released: 11 November 2011 Label: 4ever Music Formats: CD — — — Hits & More Released: 4 December 2017 Label: Frontline Productions & Records Formats: CD — — — Greatest Hits Released: 5 October 2018 Label: Ear Music, Ear Music Classics Formats: CD, FLAC — — — The Best Released: 5 August 2022 Label: Ear Music, Еdel Formats: CD, LP 63 — — "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album GERAUT BEL (FLA) FINSPASWIUK "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight" 1985 13 24 — — 7 19 —Catch the Catch "'Cause You Are Young" 1986 9 28 — — 6 8 — "Strangers by Night" 9 15 33 11 10 11 — "Heartbreak Hotel" 8 22 23 — 3 13 —Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel "Heaven and Hell" 13 — — — 2 19 — "Are You Man Enough" 1987 20 — — 21 5 28 —Like a Hurricane "Soul Survivor" 17 — — 12 1 — 96 "Good Guys Only Win in Movies" 1988 — — — — 6 — — "House of Mystic Lights" 22 — — — 7 — — Diamonds: Her Greatest Hits "Backseat of Your Cadillac" 10 — — 23 6 — —Big Fun "Summer Kisses" — — — — — — — "Nothing but a Heartache" 1989 39 — — 10 14 — — "Baby I Need Your Love" — — — — — — — "Big Time" 26 — — 22 — — —Hear What I Say "Midnight Hour" — — — — — — — "C. C. Catch Megamix '98" 1998 33 — — — — — —Best of '98 "Soul Survivor '98" — — — — 8 — — "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight '99" 1999 72 — — — 12 — — "Shake Your Head" 2003 — — — — 12 — — Non-album singles "Silence" (featuring Leela) 2004 — — — — — — — "Unborn Love" 2010 — — — — — — — "Another Night in Nashville"(with Chris Norman) 2014 — — — — — — — "Heal Me" 2024 — — — — — — — "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

References

External links

CC Catch Official UK site Official German site

CCCatch Official Spanish Fanclub C.C.Catch at MusicMoz