Biography:

Lizzie Bravo (1951 – 4 October 2021) and Gayleen Pease (1950 – 24 June 2021) were Beatles fans who were invited to contribute backing vocals to the song “Across the Universe“.^[1]

Bravo was born in Brazil and moved to London in the late 1960s to work as an au pair. Pease was a school student from London. Whenever they had the time, the two girls joined the group of fans who would wait outside EMI Studios (subsequently Abbey Road Studios) hoping to meet and chat with the Beatles.^[2]

On 4 February 1968, the Beatles were recording the song “Across the Universe” in EMI Studios.^[3] Deciding the song needed a high-pitched voice to sing the refrain “Nothing’s gonna change my world”, Paul McCartney approached the fans waiting outside and asked if anyone could hold a high note.^[4] Bravo and Pease answered yes. Shortly after, the band’s road manager, Mal Evans, came out and ushered the two girls into the recording studio to record the backing vocals.

Although the girls’ voices are not heard on the version of “Across the Universe” on the album Let It Be, their background vocals are heard on the albums No-One’s Gonna Change Our World, Rarities and Past Masters.^[1]

Bravo died at the age of 70 in Brazil of heart complications in October 2021. Pease died in June 2021, also aged 70.^[1]

Credits: