Bianca Ryan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bianca Ryan | ||
|---|---|---|
 Bianca Ryan, early 2007
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Bianca Taylor Ryan | |
| Born | September 1, 1994 (age 12) | |
| Origin |  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Genre(s) | Gospel, R&B, Pop | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer | |
| Years active | 2003–present | |
| Label(s) | SYCOmusic (Columbia Records) |
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| Website | http://www.biancaryan.com | |
Bianca Taylor Ryan (born September 1, 1994) is an American singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent. At age 11, the prodigy repeatedly performed to standing ovations from the studio audiences, and her finale appearance—singing "I Am Changing" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls—prompted show judge (and onetime prodigy) Brandy to shake her head and proclaim that Ryan "makes me want to go practice … that's how good you are."[1]
Ryan's eponymous first CD was released on November 14, 2006; Bianca Ryan broke into the Billboard 200 at #57.[2] One month later, the EP Christmas Everyday! was released as a promotional giveaway to Wal-Mart customers.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Background
Bianca Ryan is the second of four children of Shawn and Janette Ryan, and is part Irish from her father's side of the family and part Japanese from her mother's side.[3] Ryan has an older brother, Shawn, and two younger siblings, Isabella and Jagger.[4]
At age eight, Ryan developed a preference in the rhythm and blues and gospel music genres, and recalls practicing in her family's basement only to hear her father ask, "who is that black woman who just got into my daughter's body?"[3] Neighbor Denise Bauchens told the Northeast News Gleaner that she was sweeping her patio one day in 2004, heard Ryan's voice, and "just dropped everything and started to listen."[5]
Ryan counts Yolanda Adams, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Holliday and Patti LaBelle among her favorite singers. Adams was her voice coach for the America's Got Talent finals.
[edit] Performances
Bianca Ryan began performing as a tap-dancer; it was a surprise to her parents when the nine-year-old told them she wanted to audition for Star Search in 2003.[6] Her participation ended when she earned 12 stars from the judges to 13 stars for Spensha Baker[7] (after young Tiffany Evans was crowned Ultimate Junior Singer, Shawn Ryan decided to send his daughter to Evans' coach, Sal Dupree, for vocal lessons).[8] Ryan also has appeared on Showtime at the Apollo and The Tom Joyner Show.[9] Her television work includes commercials for Chuck E. Cheese and the Philadelphia Zoo.[4] She also played "Singing Girl" in the Michael Cuesta-directed feature film 12 and Holding.[10]
She has sung at Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Financial Field; since age eight, she has been the regular anthemist for the semi-professional Philadelphia Growl inline hockey team.[11] Ryan also has sung the national anthem for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Eagles professional sports teams.[9]
Ryan joined several artists, including American Idol (season 5) winner Taylor Hicks, in a Christmas performance for President and Laura Bush at the National Building Museum in December 2006 to benefit the Children's National Medical Center. Ryan performed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", then sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" as part of a medley.[12] In January 2007, she joined Jon Bon Jovi, Frankie Avalon, Mickey Rooney and other performers with Philadelphia ties at the Inaugural Ball for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.[13]
[edit] America's Got Talent
- "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- 11-year-old Bianca Ryan auditions for America's Got Talent (Season 1), belting out a Broadway showtune to a rousing ovation.
- Problems playing the files? See media help.
While searching the Internet for auditions early in 2006,[6] Ryan discovered that Idol judge Simon Cowell was serving as executive producer for an upcoming competition titled America's Got Talent. For her first appearance, she chose the Dreamgirls showtune "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (originally performed by Jennifer Holliday), surprising the audience and the judges with her powerful voice. Brandy gave Ryan a standing ovation and called her "my favorite contestant in this competition." Piers Morgan, critical of Ryan's appearance, told her to change her hair, dress and shoes, "and you will win this tournament. … You came on this stage, and you blew us away!" David Hasselhoff called Ryan "a star" and called for the audience to "get on your feet for this girl!"[14]
Ryan's audition became one of the most popular videos on YouTube.[3]
Ryan sang "Piece of My Heart" (barefoot, à la Janis Joplin) at the semifinals, but none of the judges was impressed with Ryan's musical choice; Brandy said, "You were born to do this, [but] I liked the song selection better the first time," while Hasselhoff felt that style was "not going to get you through [the competition]." Morgan was tougher still, telling Ryan that she "nearly blew it tonight … play to your limit, don't try too hard, or it will show." Though another act was picked by the judges to move on to the finale round and a chance at the US$1 million prize, Ryan was announced as that week's viewers' choice.
For her finale song—coached by gospel singer Yolanda Adams, who said there was little she could teach Ryan that she did not already possess—Ryan returned to Dreamgirls and the Holliday number "I Am Changing". Following the performance, Morgan praised her appearance and song choice, saying "I think you're going to win the competition." Hasselhoff said she reminded him of Liza Minnelli and how she "affects people, and makes them get up and makes them feel things," and told Ryan, "you truly are the best in this competition."
Talent's finale results aired on August 17, 2006, during which Ryan was announced as the winner of the first season of the show. The announcement left her in shock (when asked by host Regis Philbin how she felt, Ryan said, "I don't even know!"), brought Hasselhoff to his feet and moved Brandy to tears; Morgan later told WCAU (NBC10, Philadelphia) that "the most talented person won."[15]
[edit] Debut CD
On August 24, 2006, Ryan announced on her website that she had flown to New York to meet with representatives from a "major record label" and some of the recording industry's top songwriters.[16] The Northeast Times reported that same day that Ryan met with Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster and was being managed by Peter Rudge.[17]
The following month, Ryan was in Los Angeles, California, to record her first CD, featuring cover versions of "The Rose" and "I Believe I Can Fly" and original songs like "I Wish That" and "Pray for a Better Day". Bianca Ryan was released on November 14, 2006; eight days later, the album broke in at #57 on the Billboard album charts, showcasing "her gargantuan chops and sweet charm," wrote Matt Collar of All Music Guide. Though he called the arrangements "somewhat over-the-top pop creations" and "grandiose given Ryan's age, her musical aspirations are more than matched by her truly impressive vocal talent."[18] Los Angeles Daily News reviewer Sandra Barrera went a step further, calling Bianca Ryan "an album filled mostly with really bad covers." Still, she wrote, "Ryan tackles these kinds of has-beens like the old pro that her big, powerful voice makes you think she is."[19]
Bianca Ryan is the first of a five-record deal signed on September 18 with SYCOmusic, run by Simon Cowell as part of Columbia Records (SONY BMG).[16] Ryan is the first U. S. artist to sign with SYCOmusic.[20]
[edit] Personal
By late 2006, Ryan was a sixth-grader at School Lane Charter School in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. "I'm in school most of the time," she said, "and keep up on my work when I have to go on the road."[6]
Just before the release of her CD, Ryan lost her grandmother, Marie Ryan, who had struggled with Alzheimer's Disease for five years.[21] The following week, Mayor John F. Street proclaimed November 13 "Bianca Ryan Day" in Philadelphia. The proclamation included a key to the city.[22]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 and Holding | Singing Girl | Released May 19, 2006 |
[edit] Television
- America's Got Talent – five appearances (June 28, July 26, July 27, August 16 and August 17, 2006)
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show – two appearances (September 13 and November 16, 2006)
- The CW Morning Show – November 16, 2006
- Today – November 16, 2006
- The Oprah Winfrey Show – November 16, 2006
- Martha – November 20, 2006
- Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade – December 25, 2006
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Album information |
|---|
Bianca Ryan
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Christmas Everyday! (five-song promotional [giveaway] EP)
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[edit] Singles
- "Why Couldn't It Be Christmas Every Day?" – #1 (Radio & Records' Netherlands Top 20 Chart)
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Mahan, Colin. Talent shines in finale. tv.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2007.
- ^ VH1.com : News : Game Clobbers Akon, Takes Albums Chart. vh1.com. Retrieved on November 22, 2007.
- ^ a b c 11-year-old singing sensation Bianca Ryan shows us why she's got talent. bobrivers.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2007.
- ^ a b O'Sullivan, Jeannie. Bianca hits the high notes for the Eagles. northeasttimes.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2007.
- ^ Rice, William. She's a star. newsgleaner.com. Retrieved on August 24, 2007.
- ^ a b c Takiff, Jonathan. Ryan's hope – Mayfair preteen and talent show winner launches career with new albums. philly.com. Retrieved on November 14, 2007.
- ^ Star Search Junior Singer - Spensha Baker & Bianca Ryan. cbs.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2007.
- ^ Editorial | A Star Is Trained. philly.com. Retrieved on September 12, 2007.
- ^ a b SonyMusicStore: Bianca Ryan BIANCA RYAN [CD]. sonymusicstore.com. Retrieved on October 19, 2007.
- ^ Lovece, Frank. Television - Reality Check. newsday.com. Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
- ^ Bianca Ryan - The Beautiful Voice of the Philadelphia Growl. growlhockey.com. Retrieved on February 28, 2007.
- ^ Sanner, Ann. Bushes Join 'Dr. Phil' at Christmas Show. abcnews.go.com. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.
- ^ Morse, Diana. They had a ball. mcall.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2007.
- ^ Philly 11-Year-Old Wows Judges. nbc10.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2007.
- ^ Bianca and Piers Morgan React to Win. nbc10.com. Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
- ^ a b Bianca Ryan The Official Site (News). biancaryan.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2007.
- ^ Fritsky, Lauren. Million-Dollar Baby!. northeasttimes.com. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.
- ^ Collar, Matt. Billboard.com – Discography – Bianca Ryan – Bianca Ryan. billboard.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2007.
- ^ Barrera, Sandra. BIANCA RYAN: "Bianca Ryan". dailynews.com. Retrieved on November 17, 2007.
- ^ Bianca Ryan, 12-Year-Old Winner of America's Got Talent, First U. S. Signing to Columbia Records/SYCO. biz.yahoo.com. Retrieved on September 25, 2007.
- ^ Bianca Ryan Message Board (official Web site). biancaryan.com. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Rice, William. Bianca Ryan is honored by the city. newsgleaner.com. Retrieved on November 17, 2007.
[edit] Press
- Associated Press. "Pa. Girl Wins America's Got Talent", abcnews.go.com, August 17, 2006. Retrieved on December 16, 2006.
- Sanner, Ann (Associated Press). "Bushes Join 'Dr. Phil' at Christmas Show", abcnews.go.com, December 10, 2006. Retrieved on December 16, 2006.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by None |
America's Got Talent winner Season 1 (Summer 2006) |
Succeeded by Incumbent, TBA Summer 2007 |
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Categories: 1994 births | America's Got Talent contestants | American child actors | American child singers | American female singers | Columbia Records artists | Eurasians | Eurasian singers | Irish-American singers | Irish-Americans | Japanese Americans | Living people | Pennsylvania musicians | People from Philadelphia | Reality show winners | Reality television participants
