Biography
Who is Caro Emerald?
Early life and education
Caroline Esmeralda van der Leeuw was born on April 26, 1981, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to a Dutch father and an Aruban mother. She began taking singing lessons at the age of 12 in Amsterdam with James Gilloffo and joined a girl vocal group named Les Elles under his guidance. Following her high school education, she trained as a jazz vocalist at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, graduating in the year 2005.
During her time at the conservatory, she developed the vocal style that would later define her music career. Her training combined traditional jazz instruction with contemporary vocal performance techniques, setting the foundation for her future work in the music industry.
Rise to fame and debut album
In early 2007, Dutch producer Jan van Wieringen invited Caro to sing on a track he was producing with producer and songwriter David Schreurs. The song, titled Back It Up, was written by Schreurs and Canadian songwriter Vince Degiorgio around a hip-hop beat created by Robin Veldman and Jan van Wieringen. After record labels initially declined the project, Schreurs established their own label, Grandmono, and released Back It Up as a single in July 2009. The track became a major airplay hit and topped charts in the Netherlands.
Her debut studio album, Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor, was released on January 29, 2010. The album achieved big commercial success, staying at number one in the Dutch album charts for 30 non-consecutive weeks and breaking an all-time record previously held by Michael Jackson. The follow-up single A Night Like This also topped the charts in several countries. The album eventually achieved sextuple platinum status in the Netherlands and sold over one million copies across Europe.
Later career and musical projects
Following her initial breakthrough, Caro released her second studio album, The Shocking Miss Emerald, in April 2013, which entered at number one on both the Dutch and United Kingdom album charts. In June 2014, she performed the opening set on the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival. She continued to release music throughout the decade, including the exotica-inspired EP Emerald Island in March 2017 and the single Wake Up Romeo in June 2020.
In August 2022, it was revealed that she was the voice behind a new musical act called The Jordan, releasing the album Nowhere Near the Sky in February 2023. According to official announcements, the Caro Emerald project and live act became dormant around 2022. By early 2026, she announced her return under the name Caro and released the single I Can't Win.
Awards and personal life
Throughout her career, Caro has received numerous musical accolades and industry awards. In January 2011, she won the Popprijs for Best Dutch Pop Act of 2010. She also received an Edison Music Award for Best Female Artist in October 2010, along with international honors such as a Goldene Kamera and an Echo Award in early 2012.
In her personal life, she gave birth to her first daughter in March 2014 and welcomed her second daughter in August 2017. Her cinematic musical style has also led to her songs being featured in various television series, films, and advertising campaigns across the world.
Birthday and age
Caro Emerald was born on April 26, 1981, which makes Caro 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Caro shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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