Amy Lee

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Amy Lee

---

Img_capt = Amy Lee on stage
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Amy Lynn Lee
Born = birth date and age|1981|12|13
Riverside, California, U.S.
Origin = Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Instrument = Vocals, piano, guitar
Years_active = 1995 – present
Genre = Alternative metal
Occupation = Singer, songwriter, pianist
Associated_acts = Evanescence
Label = Wind-up
URL = [http://www.evanescence.com/ Evanescence.com]
Notable_instruments = Baldwin Piano

Amy Lynn Hartzler (née Lee; born December 13, 1981), best known as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter and classically-trained pianist. She is co-founder and lead vocalist of the alternative metal band Evanescence. Her influences range from classical musicians such as Mozart to modern artists like Björk, Tori Amos, Danny Elfman,cite web |url=http://www.gurl.com/showoff/spotlight/qa/0,,656336,00.html |title=Interview with Evanescence singer Amy Lee |work=gURL.com |accessdate=2006-11-07] and Plumb.cite news |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2006/plumb-0406.html |title=Pre-Evanescence |work=Christianity Today |publisher=Christianity Today International |first=Andree |last=Farias |date=2006-04-10 |accessdate=2006-11-07]

Biography

Early life

Amy Lee was born to parents John Lee, a disc jockey and TV personality, and Sara Cargill. She has one brother, Robby, and two sisters, Carrie and Lori. Lee had a third sister , who died in 1987 at the age of three from an unidentified illness.cite news |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=705 |title=Survivor! |work=Blender magazine |first=Michael |last=Odell |date=April 2004 |accessdate=2006-10-18] The song "Hello" from "Fallen" has been reported to have been written for her late sister, as well as the song "Like You" from "The Open Door" with the lyrics, "I long to be like you, sis; Lie cold in the ground like you did," also hinting at the death of her sister and her grief for it.cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1540914/story.jhtml |title=Evanescence: Amy Lee Explains the New Songs |work=VH1.com |date=2006-10-08] Lee took classical piano lessons for nine years. Her family moved to many places, including Florida and Illinois,cite web |url=http://www.outoftheshadows.com/MainNavAmysStory.cfm |title=Amy's bio |work=OutoftheShadows.com |accessdate=2006-11-07] but eventually settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Evanescence started. She graduated from Pulaski Academy in 2000 and also briefly attended Middle Tennessee State University. Lee has stated that she is of mostly Scottish and English heritage.cite web |url=http://www.evthreads.com/showpost.php?s=158bbe4331fdfc4db1a33ca61645edea&p=452652&postcount=291 |title=Ask Amy! |work=EvThreads.com |first=Amy |last=Lee |date=2007-10-07 |accessdate=2007-10-30]

In an interview on AOL Music, Lee revealed that the first songs she remembered writing were called "Eternity of the Remorse" and "A Single Tear". The first was written when she was eleven years old and wanted to become a classical composer, and the second was for an assignment when she was in the eighth grade.cite web |url=http://music.aol.com/popeater/2007/10/19/ps-and-qs-amy-lee-finds-solace-in-marriage-and-music/ |title=P's & Q's: Amy Lee Finds Solace in Marriage and Music |work=AOL.com |first=Jessica |last=Robertson |date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-10-19]

Evanescence

Founding

She co-founded the band with Ben Moody. The two met at a youth camp after he heard Lee playing Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" on the piano.cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/e/evanescence/news_feature_040227/ |title=Evanescence - The Split |work=MTV News |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |date=2004-02-27 |accessdate=2006-11-07] Within a month, the pair were playing acoustic sets at Arkansas book stores and coffee houses,cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/08/1073437399128.html |title=Moody blues |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |first=Tiffany |last=Bakker |date=2004-01-09 |accessdate=2006-11-07] and they eventually recorded two EPs, "Evanescence EP" (1998) and "Sound Asleep EP" (1999), selling them at various local venues. In 2000, Evanescence recorded the longer EP "Origin". This demo contains three songs from the debut album "Fallen" and was written by Lee and Moody: "Whisper", "Imaginary" and "My Immortal". Whereas "Whisper" and "Imaginary" underwent further modifications before being included on "Fallen", "My Immortal" is virtually identical. A later band version of "My Immortal" was made available for download for those who had bought an official version of "Fallen" through their official web site, but required that a CD checker program also be downloaded for verification before it would play.cite web |url=http://www.evanescence.com/exclusiveTrack/index.html |title=My Immortal Band Version |work=Evanescence.com |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040615223003/www.evanescence.com/exclusiveTrack/index.html |archivedate=2004-06-15 |accessdate=2007-03-10] The band version was included on later copies of "Fallen", notably the Brazilian, Bolivian, and Argentine editions.

Departure of Ben Moody

On October 22, 2003, guitarist Ben Moody left the band citing "creative differences". In an interview several months later, Amy said: "...we'd gotten to a point that if something didn't change, we wouldn't have been able to make a second record". She also said "We're finally a real band, not just Ben and I and a few others thrown together". Ex-Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo replaced Moody in the band, both on guitar and as Lee's writing partner.

Lawsuit

On December 1, 2005, former Evanescence manager Dennis Rider filed a US$10 million lawsuit against Lee for breach of contract. The suit claims Rider was prematurely and unjustly terminated from his position as manager of Evanescence, just one album into a three-record deal.

In return, Lee filed a counter-suit against Rider for "'breach of fiduciary duty,' sexual assault and battery, professional negligence and currency conversion, among other claims." The suit also claims Rider "neglected Lee's career and business and has focused his efforts on having extramarital affairs, hiding them from his wife, becoming intoxicated during business meetings, physically abusing women and boasting about it, making repeated unwelcome sexual advances toward Lee, receiving fees in excess of what was provided for in his management agreement and using Lee's corporate credit card to purchase gifts for his mistress."

Rider's attorney, Bert Deixler, claimed in a statement that since Rider became the group's manager in 2002, he had fully performed all of the duties and obligations owed by the firm under the management agreement, and that he had always conducted himself by the highest professional standards.cite news |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1517717/12082005/evanescence.jhtml |title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Sues Former Manager, Alleges Financial And Sexual Misconduct |work=MTV News via VH1.com |first=Chris |last=Harris |date=2005-12-08 |accessdate=2006-11-07] cite news |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2076 |title=Amy Lee: Back in Black |work=Blender |first=Josh |last=Eells |month=October |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-01-09]

Engagement and marriage

Lee revealed during the taping of MuchMusic's January 9, 2007 episode of "Live @ Much" that she had become engaged the previous evening. She later confirmed on EvThreads.com that she had been proposed to by Josh Hartzler, a 29-year-old therapist and long-time friend.cite web |url=http://www.evthreads.com/showpost.php?p=112785&postcount=100 |title=Amy's Engaged!: *clink clink* *ahem...* |work=EvThreads.com |first=Amy |last=Lee |date=2007-01-09 |accessdate=2007-01-09] She noted in an interview that the songs "Good Enough" and "Bring Me To Life" were inspired by him. The couple were married on May 6, 2007, and honeymooned near The Bahamas.cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20038444,00.html |title=Evanescence Singer Amy Lee Gets Married |work=People |first=Courtney |last=Rubin |date=2007-05-10 |accessdate=2007-05-10] She has posted on EvThreads that she is "now officially Mrs. Amy Hartzler."cite web |url=http://www.evthreads.com/showpost.php?p=268958&postcount=1 |title=i've got a new ring & now you've got the scoop |work=EvThreads.com |first=Amy |last=Hartzler |date=2007-05-18 |accessdate=2007-05-18]

Appearance

Lee has a recognizable fashion style, marked by her occasional use of Gothic make-up and taste for Victorian-styled clothing.cite web |url=http://www.kerrang.com/nav?page=kerrang.reviews.artist.news&fixture_artist=416182&fixture_news=414138&resource=414138 |title=Evanescence's Amy shreads her threads! |publisher=Kerrang! |date=2003-06-09 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050314204408/http://www.kerrang.com/nav?page=kerrang.reviews.artist.news&fixture_artist=416182&fixture_news=414138&resource=414138 |archivedate=2005-03-14 |accessdate=2008-01-15] She also designs many of her own clothes, including those worn in the music video for "Going Under", the dress she wore at the 2004 Grammy awards, and the dress worn for the cover of "The Open Door". After she designed it she chose Japanese designer H. Naoto to make it for her.cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys/2004/backstage.jhtml?id=amylee&c=7 |title=Amy Lee - Instant Fashion Profile |work=MTV News |year=2004 |accessdate=2006-11-07] In concerts, she often wears a corset and fishnets, as well as long skirts and knee-high boots. She at one point had a piercing on her left eyebrow, which is visible on the cover of "Fallen".

She has stated on a number of occasions that she would never flash her breasts or engage in other publicity stunts that would draw attention to herself. In fact, in the music video for "Everybody's Fool," she aimed to mock such artists by suggesting that celebrities who use sex to appeal to an audience are, in fact, merely peddling "lies" (the unifying theme of the music video). Many fans praise Lee for her refusal to emulate other celebrities by using sex appeal in her music.cite news |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1488307/06102004/evanescence.jhtml |title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Hopes To Get Into Film, Rages Against Cheesy Female Idols |work=MTV News via VH1.com |first=Corey |last=Moss |date=2004-06-10 |accessdate=2006-11-07]

In 2006, "Blender" listed Lee as one of the hottest women in rock alongside such singers as Joan Jett, Courtney Love and Liz Phair.cite web |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2295 |title=Hottest Women of...Rock! |first=Mike |last=Errico |work=Blender |month=December |year=2006 |accessdate=2007-02-11]

Other projects

In 2000, Lee sang guest vocals on two of former Evanescence keyboardist David Hodges' songs: "Breathe" ("The Summit Church: Summit Worship") and the unreleased "Fall Into You".cite web |url=http://www.davidhodges.info/lyrics.shtml |title=Discography / Lyrics / Audio Clips |work=DavidHodges.info |accessdate=2006-11-07] She performed backup vocals for "Missing You", a song on Big Dismal's 2003 debut album "Believe", and sang backup vocals on two songs with 'supergroup' The Damning Well, though her vocals were taken off the final release due to record label issues.cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1476854/20030813/nine_inch_nails.jhtml |title=Borland, Bowie, Maynard James Keenan Ready To Unveil Hush-Hush Project |work=MTV News |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |date=2003-08-13 |accessdate=2007-03-08] Lee later performed a duet with her then-boyfriend Shaun Morgan on the track "Broken" for Seether's 2004 album "Disclaimer II". The song was also featured as part of the soundtrack for the 2004 film "The Punisher".

In 2004, Lee claimed to be working on music for "", but that the music was rejected by the studio for being "too dark and epic." However, the producers of "Narnia" stated that Lee was never asked to compose any music for the film, whose score was written by Harry Gregson-Williams, and that "No Evanescence music was planned for the soundtrack."cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1493917/20041118/evanescence.jhtml?headlines=true |title=Evanescence's New Sound Is Reminiscent Of ... Evanescence |work=MTV News |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |date=2004-11-18 |accessdate=2007-07-06] cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=7000569 |title=Wardrobe closed to Evanescence singer |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2007-11-27 |accessdate=2007-07-06] While there was some speculation that one of the supposed songs had been cut and used in several tracks of "The Open Door", Lee stated this was not true except for part of it being used to segue into the last track of the album, "Good Enough".cite web |url=http://www.evboard.com/showpost.php?p=912102&postcount=1 |title=Discussion of The Open Door album |work=EvBoard.com |first=Amy |last=Lee |date=2006-07-13 |accessdate=2007-08-09]

Lee became the American Chairperson for "Out of the Shadows" in 2006. This organization is an international foundation with the goal of providing education about epilepsy. Lee's younger brother, Robby, was previously diagnosed with this condition.cite web |url=http://www.outoftheshadows.com/MainNavAmysStory_3-1.cfm |title=Why Epilepsy? |work=OutoftheShadows.com |accessdate=2006-11-07] The singer also made a brief guest appearance in the music video for Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" in late 2006.cite news |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1546013/11162006/cash_johnny.jhtml |title=Timberlake's Brainstorm: Johnny Cash Video With Kanye, Jigga, Depp, Others |work= MTV News via VH1.com |first=Gil |last=Kaufman |date=2006-11-17 |accessdate=2006-11-30] As each celebrity featured in the shoot was allowed to choose what they would be doing for the video, Lee chose to appear laying flowers on a grave. Her scene was recorded at Trinity Church in Manhattan, during which she wore a black velvet coat that previously belonged to Tim Burton.

In February 2007, MTV released "" to television and radio, in which Lee is featured during the song "Freak on a Leash". The song was also released as the first single from the album. In November 2007, VH1 produced a mockumentary in the style of "Behind the Music", titled "Rock Band Cometh: The Rock Band Band Story", to promote the video game "Rock Band". Lee was one of the celebrity cameos featured on the show.cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=84367 |title=Megadeth's Mustaine, Evanescence's Lee Featured In 'Rock Band Commeth' Mockumentary |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=2007-11-07 |accessdate=2007-11-08]

For Walt Disney Records' September 2008 release of "Nightmare Revisited", Lee sang a remake of "Sally's Song". The album is comprised of new material and covers of songs from the original "Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack.cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3i29faacc3d1f770ee6a48c4fd72748b45 |title=Elfman, Korn, Plain White T's Revisit 'Nightmare' |work=Billboard.biz |first=Ann |last=Donahue |date=2008-08-05 |accessdate=2008-08-09] cite news |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/content/jonathan-davis-marilyn-manson-and-amy-lee-featured-nightmare-christmas-cd |title=Jonathan Davis, Marilyn Manson, and Amy Lee Featured on "Nightmare Before Christmas" CD |work=RevolverMag.com |date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2008-09-04] Lee will also perform live renditions of "Sally's Song" during the the "Nightmare Before Christmas" re-release premiere in Hollywood, California, and for an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=106660 |title=Evanescence Singer To Perform At 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Opening |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=2008-10-10 |accessdate=2008-10-11]

Discography

Evanescence albums

*"Evanescence EP" (December, 1998)
*"Sound Asleep EP" (August, 1999)
*"Origin" (November 4, 2000)
*"Mystary EP" (January, 2003)
*"Fallen" (March 4, 2003)
*"Anywhere but Home" (November 23, 2004)
*"The Open Door" (October 3, 2006)

Collaborations

*David Hodges featuring Amy Lee - "Breathe" - "The Summit Church: Summit Worship" (2000)
*David Hodges featuring Amy Lee - "Fall Into You" (2000, Unreleased)
*Big Dismal featuring Amy Lee - "Missing You" - "Believe" (2003)
*Seether featuring Amy Lee - "Broken" - "Disclaimer II" (2004) and "" (2004)
*Korn featuring Amy Lee - "Freak on a Leash" - "" (2007)

Other

*"Sally's Song" - "Nightmare Revisited" (2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.evanescence.com/ Evanescence.com] - Official U.S. website
* [http://www.outoftheshadows.com/ Out of the Shadows] - The Amy Lee Fund for Epilepsy

Persondata
NAME=Lee, Amy Lynn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hartzler, Amy (married name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Evanescence vocalist and pianist
DATE OF BIRTH=December 13, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH=Riverside, California, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=