Desirée Annette Weekes, known by her stage name Des'ree, was born on November 30, 1968, in Croydon, South London, England. Her mother is from British Guiana (now Guyana), and her father is from Barbados. Des'ree was introduced to reggae, calypso, and jazz music by her parents and spent part of her childhood in Barbados before returning to the UK.

Des'ree began her music career in 1991 when she was signed to Sony 550 after sending a demo tape to the label. Her debut single, "Feel So High," was released in August 1991 and re-released in January 1992, reaching number 13 in the UK charts. Her debut album, "Mind Adventures," followed in February 1992. She gained international success with her hit single "You Gotta Be," which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the most-played music video on VH1 in 1994. Her second album, "I Ain't Movin'," released in 1994, sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Des'ree's music is characterized by her distinctive contralto voice and uplifting lyrics. She achieved further recognition with the ballad "Kissing You," featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film "Romeo + Juliet." Her accolades include being named Best British Female at the 1999 Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, a World Music Award, and four BMI Awards.

Des'ree's career has spanned several decades, with her music continuing to resonate with audiences around the world.