Vanessa Olivarez
Template:Short description Template:Pp-semi-blp Template:Infobox musical artist
Vanessa Denae Olivarez (born April 7, 1981<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is the vocalist, songwriter, and autoharpist for the country bands Granville Automatic and Mama's Blue Dress, has written songs for the country duo Sugarland, and was in the Top 12 of the second season of the television series American Idol in 2003.<ref name="mysanantonio.com">"Night After Night, June 18, 2010", by Ben Olivo, San Antonio Express-News, June 17, 2010. Profile, mysanantonio.com; accessed April 7, 2015.</ref><ref name=AIN/>
Later that year, she released a single, "The One", which peaked at number nine on the Canadian charts. In 2004, she played Tracy Turnblad, the lead role in the Canadian version of Hairspray, for which she was nominated for a Dora Award.
American Idol
Olivarez's friends talked her into auditioning in 2002 for the second season of American Idol. She performed Irene Cara's "Out Here On My Own" in the semi-finals.<ref name="Lobeck">"American Idol, The FORT Interview with Vanessa Olivarez", Lobeck, March 18, 2003, FORT.[1]</ref><ref name=people/> During a following round where contestants write their own numbers, Olivarez impressed the judges with her song "The Only Thing Special About You Is Me". She moved into the top 32 contestants of the season.<ref name=aiolivarez>“American Idol News”, February 4, 2008, American Idol</ref> When she reached the top judges she switched to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".<ref name=Lobeck/><ref name="people">"California Dreamin': You May Sing Like Celine Dion, but You Won't Make It Onto American Idol Without Survivor Stamina", May 1, 2003, People.[2]</ref> They compared her to singer and actress Bette Midler.<ref name=Lobeck/> She was in the final twelve and she performed The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".<ref name=AIN>“Happy Birthday, Vanessa Olivarez!”, April 7, 2010, American Idol News</ref><ref>"'American Idol' final twelve named", March 5, 2003, James Welch, Digital Spy.[3]</ref> Soon after she was eliminated from American Idol, she lent her celebrity status to support animals' rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.<ref>"Anoop Desai to Become Spokesperson for PETA?", Desi Hits, Ranj Bath, April 27, 2009.</ref> She posed naked for their "I would rather go naked than wear fur" campaign.<ref>"'Idol' Chatter: Ruben, Clay, Others Discuss Post-Show Plans", Corey Moss, May 23, 2003, MTV</ref> The ad was first unveiled in Herald Square in middle of Manhattan and also ran in Atlanta.<ref name="Meenen">"Interview with Vanessa Olivarez from American Idol.", Scott Meenen, May13th 2003, Liberty Post News.(transcript [4])</ref> She also did a benefit for Atlanta Humane Society and The Station nightclub fire.<ref name=Meenen/>
Canada and first singles
In 2003, Olivarez was contacted by Canadian songwriter and actor James Collins who brought her to Toronto, Canada, to write and record some new music.<ref name=aiolivarez/> Her first single, "The One", co-written by Olivarez, James Collins and Dave Pickell, had "I'm In Love with My Best Friend's Ex" as a B-side, and reached number nine on Canada's single charts & Top Thirty on the Canadian BDS airplay chart.<ref name=aiolivarez/> Another of her songs, "As Vain As You" (also co-written with Collins & Pickell), was on the compilation album Girls Night Out 3.<ref name=aiolivarez/>
She played Tracy Turnblad in the Canadian version of the musical Hairspray.<ref>Well coiffed: Musical Hairspray Delivers Sky-high Fun", Glenn Sumi, May 13–20, 2004, Vol. 23, No. 37, Now Toronto.[5]</ref> After Hairspray she returned to the United States and joined an Atlanta musical group Butterfly Stitch which released an EP and live album.<ref name=AIN/><ref name=aiolivarez/>
In May 2005 she appeared in an American Idol theme week on Family Feud.<ref>"In Brief", Stephen M. Silverman, January 31, 2005, People.[6]</ref>
Granville Automatic
In 2009 she co-founded Granville Automatic, a country duo, with guitarist and songwriter Elizabeth Elkins who is a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.<ref name="mysanantonio.com"/> They are named after a 19th-Century typewriter, and collaborate to write and perform songs about history.Template:Cn They recorded an eight-song set for an episode of PBS' Sun Studio Sessions (taped at Memphis' Sun Studio) and the digital-only EP Live from Sun Studio is available online. Their self-titled album, Granville Automatic, came out in 2012. Their second album, An Army Without Music, was released in 2015 and is a collection of songs inspired by Civil War battles.<ref name="Granville Automatic">Template:Cite web</ref>
Boys Club for Girls
In 2019 she joined with Amie Miriello to form the Americana duo, Boys Club for Girls.Template:Citation needed On January 27, 2020, they released a video for the song "The Weatherman" off their album expected to release later in the year.Template:Citation needed
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Dora Mavor Moore Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role - Musical (As lead Tracy Turnblad in the Canadian production of Hairspray) | Template:Nom<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Discography
Albums
- Granville Automatic - "Granville Automatic" - Release date: May 1, 2012
- Granville Automatic - "Live from Sun Studio" - Release date: January 31, 2012
Singles
| Music Information |
|---|
| The One |
| Music Information |
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The One (The Remixes)
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