Rockell

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Rockell (born Rachel Alexandra Mercaldo on March 4, 1977 in Long Island, New York) is a Freestyle music, Pop and Hi-NRG/Dance artist.

1 Music Career
2 Chart Success
3 Discography
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Music Career

In the late '90s, she had major dance hits with the songs "In A Dream," "When I'm Gone," and "Can't We Try" (a duet with Collage and remake of the Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard 1987 hit song). All of these tracks appeared on her 1998 debut album entitled What Are You Lookin' At?. She released a second album, Instant Pleasure, in 2000. "Instant Pleasure" included the single "What U Did 2 Me" which made #101 pop in 2001. Her best charting success is in Canada, where she is still active performing shows at clubs. Her debut single "I Fell in love" distributed by the then BMG Canada hit #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart while the follow-up mega hit "In a Dream" was at #6 and is still a dance club anthem and a favourite amongst freestyle music enthusiasts nationwide.

[edit] Chart Success

In 1996, "I Fell In Love" peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1997. It hit the #1 spot on the Canadian Singles Chart singles chart during that year making it the most successful Freestyle/Dance music single of the decade in Canada. The single also peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

The song, "In A Dream," the follow-up to "I Fell In Love" peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1997. It was #6 on the Hot 100 Canadian Singles Chart and solidified Rockell's position on the artist roster of the then BMG Music Canada. It also peaked at #13 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

"Can't We Try" with Collage peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998. The single peaked at #11 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

"When I'm Gone" bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. Whereas, it made a huge smash on both the Dance Radio Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It also peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

Rockell's lead off single to her sophomore album Instant Pleasure, "What U Did 2 Me" bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at #101...however, it was her best selling (and arguably biggest hit) single and it garnered her a music video. It fared much better on Dance Radio Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.

She also released "The Dance" (a cover of the Garth Brooks hit) and "Tears," but neither of these singles charted on the Hot 100. Both singles performed well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Dance Radio Airplay charts. The song, "The Dance" peaked at #27 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and "Tears" peaked at #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

In 2005, she came back with "L.O.V.E.", a limited independent release that had freestyle remixes by Russ Castella and Randy Weber Taylor, the original writer/producer of "In a Dream". It became a modest Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart hit. It also received some Dance radio airplay.