Catherine Judith "Kate" Markowitz (born 28 April 1956) is an American singer-songwriter known as a backup singer who has recorded and performed with a number of singers, most notably James Taylor but also Willy DeVille, Shawn Colvin, Mylène Farmer, Don Henley, Billy Joel, k.d.
lang, Lyle Lovett, Graham Nash, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon, Joe Pizullo/Sergio Mendes and John Kaizan Neptune.
The single began as a Bacardi Rum jingle that she recorded for the European market.
She co-wrote the lyrics and recorded it (with Arnold McCuller, David Lasley and Valerie Carter on backing vocals) under the pseudonym Kate Yanai.
[citation needed] In 2003 she produced her first album, Map of the World, on which she wrote or co-wrote a number of the songs.