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Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele
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In a very short span of time, R&B singer/songwriter Chrisette Michele shot from small-time performer up to one of Def Jam's most promising talents, purely based on her unique instrument -- a gorgeous and effortlessly versatile singing voice colored with Billie Holiday-esque inflections of vocal pop and jazz. The jazz-influenced vocalist, born Chrisette Michele Payne in 1982, developed her pipes through singing gospel, first performing for a congregation at age four. God and music were clearly instrumental in her upbringing: her father, who also played the organ, was a deacon, and her mother was the church's choir director. Growing up in Patchogue, NY, a small town on Long Island, the young singer's parents always kept her busy with tap dancing, piano lessons, choir rehearsals, and the like. But at age 17, Michele had an epiphany. After a teacher gave her a CD containing the bossa nova standard "The Girl from Ipanema," she was immediately won over to jazz by Brazilian jazz singer Astrud Gilberto's voice. She spent endless hours isolated in a room with a piano learning jazz standards as they were sung by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and other greats. She wound up studying vocal and jazz performance at Five Townes College on Long Island.

When she began doing gigs at local venues, it was mainly for small audiences at open mics or for auditions. However, shortly thereafter neo-soul singer India.Arie, who spotted her at Manhattan's Village Underground club, enlisted Michele to be her opening act, as did Kem and Angie Stone. And at that same club, she was also discovered by representatives of Def Jam, who were enamored with her vocal abilities and had her signed to the label by 2006. At the end of the year, Def Jam brought her out in full force, allowing her to write and sing the hooks for Jay-Z's "Lost Ones" and Nas' Nat King Cole-inspired "Can't Forget About You." Her album debut, I Am, followed in summer 2007. Adding to the album's influences of gospel, adult alternative pop, and hip-hop, she wrote all the songs herself and worked closely with artists/producers Babyface, Salaam Remi, John Legend, and will.i.am. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music GuideMore

Official Profile

Chrisette Michele
It has been two years since sultry voiced singer Chrisette Michele released her stunning gold-certif...
Songs: 21, Videos: 1, Playlists: 2, Blog Posts: 7, Polls: 0, Battles: 0

Most Popular Music Videos (5)

Love Is You
(Duration: 3:18)
Jul 15th, 5:52am
If I Have My Way
(Duration: 4:06)
Jul 15th, 4:51am
Epiphany
(Duration: 3:29)
Mar 14th, 7:55am
Best Of Me
(Duration: 4:02)
Jul 15th, 6:01am
What You Do
(Duration: 3:21)
Jul 24th, 11:11am
view all

Fan Comments

2:39am

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Nov 5th, 3:35am
Thanks for joining our group...It would be an honor to see you at our event in 2010. Contact any of the moderators if you would like to do anything...your presence is more than welcomed...Congrats on your certified Gold status Chrisette...that's what i'm talking about!
Oct 27th, 12:56am
Nice voice....keep makin dem hits
Oct 26th, 3:02am
YOU MUSIC IS THE BEST
Oct 16th, 7:03pm
i want to say on be half of the 8th grade at carr lane middle school thank u for comin to our school to inspire us and we wud lik u to come again
Oct 15th, 2:30pm
i love her music
Oct 13th, 11:54pm
Hey everyone! click on the link below to listen to Alicia Key's newest single "Doesn't Mean Anything"! And make sure you get her new album out December 1st!.
Oct 13th, 3:34pm
I AGREE W/ WUT CLIFFORD WHITEHORN SAID
Oct 11th, 11:49pm
Here sum luv mama.
Oct 9th, 11:50pm
Beautiful voice, beautiful music, beautiful woman. Thank you for blessing us with your talent.