- Melody Thornton
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Melody Thornton 
Background information Also known as Mel
Baby Doll
MelodyBorn September 28, 1984 Origin Phoenix, Arizona,
United StatesGenres R&B, hip hop Occupations Singer, songwriter, dancer, model, television personality, showgirl/vedette Labels A&M (2004–2010) Associated acts Pussycat Dolls Website onlythemelody.com Melody Thornton (born September 28, 1984) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, Soprano vocalist, dancer, model, showgirl and television personality who rose to stardom as a member of the successful pop group the Pussycat Dolls. The youngest member of the group, Thornton assumed the second most prominent vocal role, after lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger, and was distinguished for her melismatic vocal runs. As of 2010, Thornton has departed the group to focus on her solo career. Thornton has a soprano voice and is better known for her vocal runs then for singing solos.
Contents
Early life
Thornton graduated from Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 2003. She is of Mexican descent from her mother's side and of African American on her father's.[1] Her talent was first discovered at a Papago Elementary School talent show when she sang Mariah Carey's remake of Badfinger's "Without You".
Career
2004–10: Pussycat Dolls era
Thornton on the World Domination Tour
Main article: Pussycat DollsIn 2003, soprano vocalist Thornton was recruited in the Pussycat Dolls order to add vocal strength to the group. She saw the Pussycat Dolls on MTV Diaries featuring Christina Aguilera and heard they were auditioning for a new group member. Thornton went to the audition and was recruited in December 2003. For her audition, Thornton only sang and was still accepted into the group. As with the other Dolls, she is a salaried employee of Interscope Records. Her nickname for the group is "Baby Doll" because she is the youngest of the group. As of 2009, she announced during a concert that she usually introduces herself as "Baby Doll", but she wants the world to know her as "Melody".
The Pussycat Dolls achieved worldwide success in 2005 with their album PCD, which debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and produced the hits "Don't Cha", "Buttons", and "Stickwitu", the last of which earned the group a Grammy Award nomination. Following the departure of Carmit Bachar in March 2008, the group continued as a quintet and in 2008 released their second studio album, Doll Domination which included the hits "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" and "Hush Hush". She was the only member to have contributed vocals apart from Scherzinger on Doll Domination (Standard Edition). She provides additional backing vocals and ad-libs to many of the songs, although on "Elevator", "Love the Way You Love Me", "Takin' Over the World" and "Painted Windows" she can be found sharing the lead vocals with Scherzinger. Additionally on "When I Grow Up", "Whatcha Think About That" and "Top of the World" she sings secondary vocals. She also recorded her very first Pussycat Doll solo song called "Space" which was included in the deluxe edition of Doll Domination.
2010–present: Solo career
"Thank you for supporting me, even if I'm not featured. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like it's my responsibility to say to all the little boys and girls in the house tonight that myself and Ashley Roberts are examples that you can do anything that you want to do, don't give up on your dreams and don't let anyone stomp on them ever!"
—Thornton, Circus tour in Phoenix.[citation needed]During the Pussycat Doll's hiatus, Thornton worked on several projects including a cameo on Keri Hilson's music video "Slow Dance"[2] and being a judge at E!'s TV show Bank of Hollywood with the production by Ryan Seacrest.[3] In June 2010 Rap-Up reported that she has departed from the group and was working on her solo album.[4] Speaking about her position in the group she commented, "I got into the group to sing. That was made very clear to me. But it became more and more apparent what was going on. Roles were being minimized and minimized, and then by the time it got on the show, it was very much like 'Y'all play your part and this is what it is.' It was tough because you don't want to shit on your own opportunity."[5]
In an interview for The Source Thornton explained that her songs will be different from the group’s sound but she's not going to abandon that pop demographic that she acquired through the Pussycat Dolls. "[...] But it's not popular-for-the-moment, the kind of music that I'm making. It's live instrumentation and it derives from '60s influences. It's just kind of what I was raised on, James Brown, B.B. King-ish as far as instrumentation goes. But vocally, I admire Mariah Carey and was raised on Aretha Franklin, Jackson 5 and all of that, so it's not going to be like Pussycat Dolls at all."[6] In June 2010 Rap-Up first announced that Thornton was working on her solo album with collaborators including Cee Lo Green, Polow da Don, and Lil Wayne.[4] On Vibe Magazine she stated that she is also working with Dre and Vidal. Thornton's recording of the Cee Lo produced song "Love Gun" leaked to the internet around this time. The song was eventually recorded by Green and Lauren Bennett for his album The Lady Killer.
On June 17, 2011, Thornton's first official single "Sweet Vendetta" was released.[5]
On June 19, she became the third person to be eliminated on the second series of Popstar to Operastar on UK television channel ITV.
Thornton confirmed during a recent interview at the Fourth Annual 'Creme of the Crop' post-BET Awards Dinner Celebration After Party that she plans to have her debut solo album released sometime in 2012.
Discography
Album
- Hit the Ground Running (2012)
Singles
Year Single Chart positions Album UK 2011 "Sweet Vendetta" — Hit the Ground Running Featured singles
Year Single Chart positions Album NZ
[7]2006 "Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton) 17 Jibbs Featuring Jibbs Album appearances
Year Contribution Album Album artist Notes 2008 "Space" Doll Domination Pussycat Dolls Included on the International Deluxe edition disc.[8] 2009 "Ease Off the Liquor" Shock Value 2 Timbaland Additional vocals[9] Music videos
Year Song Director(s) 2007 "Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton) Meiert Avis[10] 2009 "Slow Dance" (cameo appearance) Chris Robinson 2011 "Don't Wanna Go Home" (cameo appearance) Rich Lee Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 Keeping Up with the Kardashians Herself Episode 1 Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll Herself 2009 Bank of Hollywood Judge 2010 TV Guide's Countdown to the Grammys Host Co-host with Justin Guarini World Music Awards Herself Presenter 2011 Popstar to Operastar Herself Performer/Contestant References
- ^ "Pussycat Dolls: More than a novelty act?". MSN (Associated Press). 2005-11-28. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/10243149/ns/today-entertainment/page/2/. Retrieved 04-26-10.
- ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (2009-09-29). "Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Others Shoot Video In Los Angeles". MTV (MTV Networks). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1619144/20090820/brown__chris__18_.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ Hibberd, James (2009-11-29). "New E! reality show has folks asking celebs for cash". The Hollywood Reporter (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2009/11/new-e-reality-show-has-folks-begging-celebs-for-cash.html. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ a b "Video: Melody Thornton Sings at Dodger Stadium". Rap-Up (Devin Lazerine). 2010-06-03. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/06/03/video-melody-thornton-sings-at-dodger-stadium/. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ a b Hova, Tray (2010-09-24). "V Vixen Exclusive: Melody Thornton Speaks On Dating Rumors, Going Solo & The Real Reason PCD Broke Up". Vibe (InterMedia Partners). http://vibe.com/content/melody-thornton-speaks-going-solo-hating-girl-groups-bow-wow-other-guy. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ Michaels, Kiko (2010-02-20). "The Source - Melody Thornton - Interview". The Source (L. Londell Mcmillan). http://www.thesource.com/articles/6380/Melody-Thornton/. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ "Melody Thornton New Zealand discography". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Hung Medien. http://charts.org.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Melody+Thornton. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ^ "Doll Domination (Deluxe Edition) by The Pussycat Dolls". iTunes. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/doll-domination-deluxe-edition/id291375026. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
- ^ "Timbaland - Presents Shock Value II (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2009-12-04. http://www.discogs.com/Timbaland-Presents-Shock-Value-II/release/2041826. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ^ "Music videos - Meiert Avis". Pusher media. http://www.meiertavis.com/. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
External links
Pussycat Dolls Lauren Bennett • Vanessa Curry • Kristal Smith • Tiffany Zavala • Kia Hampton • Paula Van Oppen
Nicole Scherzinger • Cyia Batten • Casey Campbell • Kaya Jones • Robin Antin • Carmit Bachar • Asia Nitollano • Jessica Sutta • Kimberly Wyatt • Ashley Roberts • Melody ThorntonStudio albums Live albums Live from LondonSingles "Don't Cha" • "Stickwitu" • "Beep" • "Buttons" • "I Don't Need a Man" • "Wait a Minute" • "When I Grow Up" • "Whatcha Think About That" • "I Hate This Part" • "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" • "Bottle Pop" • "Hush Hush; Hush Hush"Promotional singles "Sway" • "Right Now" • "Top of the World"Concert tours Related topics Popstar to Operastar Series 1 (2010) · 2 (2011)Presenters Judges Current: Rolando Villazón · Katherine Jenkins · Vanessa-Mae · Simon Callow
Former: Meat Loaf · Laurence Llewelyn-BowenContestants Series 1Darius Campbell · Bernie Nolan · Marcella Detroit · Kym Marsh · Danny Jones · Jimmy Osmond · Vanessa White · Alex JamesSeries 2Joe McElderry · Cheryl Baker · Claire Richards · Joe Washbourn · Andy Bell · Melody Thornton · Jocelyn Brown · Midge UreRelated articals Categories:- 1984 births
- Living people
- American female singers
- American dance musicians
- American pop singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- African American female singers
- American dancers
- African American singers
- American people of Mexican descent
- American musicians of Mexican descent
- Hispanic and Latino American people
- Mexican people of Black African descent
- People from Phoenix, Arizona
- Pussycat Dolls members
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