[ ClassicalX ] London singer uncovers her family link to Barack Obama

A London singer has discovered she is related to Barack Obama after researching a new album of American music.

Daisy Chute, 20, a member of All Angels, a British pop and classical quartet which has sold thousands of records, found a link to the President via James Madison, the fourth United States president in the early 19th century.

She now intends to send a copy of the group's third album, Fly Away, to President Obama with a personal note when it is released next month.

The connection was made when Ms Chute was researching possible songs for the record which traces the history of American music from traditional spirituals through Leonard Bernstein to Norah Jones.

She said: "There had been a lot of press about how Mr Obama was related to seven past presidents. My mother, who is American, knew we were related to at least three. So between us we researched to see if there was a link."

Ms Chute says her grandmother, "about 12 generations ago", Martha Eltonhead, born in 1628 in Lancashire, went to America and married Edwin Conway. Their great-grand-daughter, Eleanor Rose "Nelly" Conway married James Madison in 1749. His son, James Madison Jr, was president from 1809 to 1817. Barack Obama and James Madison are third cousins, nine times removed.

Ms Chute is about to start her second year studying music at King's College in London. She joined All Angels' Charlotte Ritchie, 19, Melanie Nakhla, 20, and Laura Wright, 18, when the group was founded three years ago.

Source: London Evening Standard