| Nicole Scherzinger |
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente1 |
| Also known as |
Nicole Kea |
| Born |
June 29, 1978 (1978-06-29) (age 31)
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Genre(s) |
Pop, dance-pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) |
Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, model, music producer |
| Instrument(s) |
Vocals, piano |
| Years active |
1999–present |
| Label(s) |
Polydor, A&M, Interscope |
| Associated acts |
Pussycat Dolls, Timbaland, Sean Combs, Eden's Crush, Kara Dioguardi, A.R. Rahman, will.i.am, T.I, Yoshiki |
| Website |
www.hernameisnicole.com |
Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger2 (born June 29, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, model and occasional actress, best known as the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls.2
Biography
Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Filipino father and a Russian/Hawaiian mother.3 Recently in an interview in Vienna, she stated that she has German ancestry on her mother's side.4 Her mother Rosemary was eighteen at the time of Scherzinger's birth and lived in an inner city neighborhood. Nicole's parents separated when she was still a baby. Her mother-side family moved to Louisville, Kentucky when she was six years old,56 with her sister Ke'ala and her German-American stepfather Gary Scherzinger.6
She stated she had a "conservative Catholic" upbringing.7 She first attended Meyzeek Middle School as an adolescent. Growing up, Nicole states that she didn't have a lot of money and the singer thanks her mom for all the support she gave her to become what she is today. Scherzinger began performing in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School and performing with Actors Theatre of Louisville.6 It is here that she first met her long time friend, actress Liz Davito.
As a teenager, Scherzinger was the first runner-up at the 1996 Kentucky State Fair's Coca-Cola Talent Classic contest.8 Scherzinger majored in acting and musical theatre at Wright State University, where she played Velma in Chicago and Julie La Verne in Show Boat,9 but put her studies on hold in 1999 to sing backing vocals for the rock band Days of the New.10
Early career and Eden's Crush
Scherzinger appeared on the second album by Days of the New, released in 1999. She also recorded two songs with Barry Drake's F.O.B, which were released in 2001.
In 2001, Scherzinger competed in the premiere season of The WB's television show Popstars, on which she earned a spot in the all-girl pop group Eden's Crush. She became one of the main vocalists for the group. Their 2001 US single "Get Over Yourself (Goodbye)" peaked at number one in sales and hit the top ten on Billboard Hot 100.11 They toured in support of both *NSync and Jessica Simpson.12 "Love This Way" was the second single chosen from the Popstars album; however, their record company, London-Sire Records, folded and the group eventually disbanded. Songwriter Kara DioGuardi contributed one track to the album, and later went on to co-write with Scherzinger for PCD, Doll Domination and Her Name Is Nicole.
In November 2007, Scherzinger spoke of her time in Eden's Crush
| “ |
...It was hell... I was in a band with five other girls and every day was torture for me. We were on TV all the time and the atmosphere was awful.... Every day I was in that band I cried my eyes out. The band was meant to be fun and frivolous but the reality was that it was miserable.... I was too sensitive back then, but I got toughened up. I couldn't have gone into the Dolls without my experience in Crush.13 |
” |
After the disbanding of Eden's Crush, Scherzinger made a few promotional solo appearances under the stage name of Nicole Kea, including covering "Breakfast in Bed" for the soundtrack to 50 First Dates in 2003. This track was produced by Nick Hexum who was her boyfriend for three years.14
Scherzinger worked with Yoshiki of Japanese rock band X Japan on in his Violet UK project. She sang the English version of "I'll Be Your Love" live with the Tokyo Symphonic Orchestra. The track also appeared on the 2003 Various Artists album Exposition of Global Harmony.
Pussycat Dolls
Main article:
Pussycat DollsIn May 2003, Scherzinger joined the Pussycat Dolls burlesque troupe, who were being re-cast as recording artists. She had first seen them performing on The Late Show with David Letterman in November 2002, where Carmen Electra sang "Big Spender" from the Bob Fosse musical Sweet Charity. In 2006, Scherzinger said "It caught my eye because I’d played Velma Kelly in [Fosse's] Chicago in college."15
The Pussycat Dolls have worldwide status as a popular singing group, with "Don't Cha", "Buttons", "Stickwitu" and "When I Grow Up" as Top 10 hits in the U.S.. The album PCD went double-platinum in 2006. Scherzinger sang nearly all lead vocals on the album, with Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton also contributing. It was revealed in 2006 that the Dolls are salaried employees of Interscope Records, giving the label a high level of control over the group's finances and business decisions.
Scherzinger on stage with the Pussycat Dolls
Scherzinger is the only group member with songwriting credits on PCD; she co-wrote "I Don't Need a Man" with Kara DioGuardi and producer Rich Harrison, and co-wrote "Buttons" with producer Sean Garrett. Another collaboration with DioGuardi, "Flirt", became a B-side to "Stickwitu" and a bonus track on PCD. As with PCD, Scherzinger is the only group member to have songwriting credits on the second Dolls' album Doll Domination.
Along with the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger was asked by Ron Fair to record the English version of "Jai Ho", the hit song from the film Slumdog Millionaire. The new version titled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" was released to iTunes on February 23 2009, and elsewhere worldwide on February 24.16 A video accompanying the song has been shot at a Vienna train station and was released worldwide on March 13, 2009.
Solo career
Following the popularity of "Don't Cha" and the continuing rise of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger recorded a series of duets and "guest appearances", predominantly with male vocalists. In 2005, she appeared on recordings by Shaggy, Vittorio Grigolo and Will Smith. In 2006 she sang on Avant's single "Lie About Us" , and Diddy's hit "Come to Me" (which she also co-wrote). Other appearances are listed in her discography.
From 2006 until the present day Scherzinger has been working on her debut album tentatively titled Her Name Is Nicole. She recorded or wrote nearly 100 songs for the album which was supposed to be released in 2007.citation needed Production credits included will.i.am, Timbaland, Kara DioGuardi, Ne-Yo and Pharrell Williams. Collaborators for the album included Macy Gray, Akon, Busta Rhymes, Timbaland and Sting. Recordings were varied including the pop song "Baby Love", the ballad "Just Say Yes" and the Hawaiian heritage-inspired "Puakenikeni".
Some of the songs from the proposed album have now been released by other artists including the Pussycat Dolls who recorded "Happily Never After", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "When I Grow Up"17 for Doll Domination and Christina Milian who is set to record "Punch You In Your Sleep" for her new album Elope.18
Speaking about the delayed release of her solo album, in September 2008 Scherzinger said "Despite what other people might write, it was my decision, ultimately. I actually put some of my solo songs on the Pussycat Dolls' new album Doll Domination. Everything is all about timing. I believe it will come out next year, and it will be able to coexist wonderfully with the Dolls' album. It's completely separate from what you've heard with "Baby Love" and "Whatever U Like," and I'm still working on it — that's what happens when you're a perfectionist."19 The album itself has been pushed back several times throughout 2007 and 2008 and has now been shelved.
Released between July and December 2007, singles from the proposed album were "Whatever U Like", "Baby Love", "Puakenikeni" and "Supervillain" (the latter two released via iTunes only). All of these singles were unsuccessful in the US, "Baby Love" had been moderately successful in Europe reaching top 20 in some countries.
Recently, Scherzinger announced she is going to have her solo second album. Talking to Billboard magazine she said "the current incarnation of the album is just in talks and in the writing process. I haven't started recording yet." She plans to enter the studio again after tour committements with the Pussycat Dolls are over. Speaking of the project Scherzinger will be working again with Will.i.am, Timbaland and with new associates Lady GaGa, Shiloh, Chris Brown and A.R. Rahman.20
In April 2008, Scherzinger recorded a cover version of "Rio" by Duran Duran for an advertising campaign for Unilever's Caress brand of body wash. A commercial video was released,21 and the single was released via download only, after May 2008.22
In 2008, in support of Barack Obama, she was one of many musicians to contribute to a track by will.i.am called "Yes We Can". Also on September 5, 2008, Scherzinger joined an all-star cast to perform the charity song "Just Stand Up" on live TV.
Scherzinger performed "America the Beautiful" at WWE WrestleMania XXV in Houston, TX at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009.2324
Acting
Scherzinger has made minor appearances as an actress. She appeared in the TV comedy, Half & Half (as Jasmine), My Wife and Kids and the 2003 film Love Don't Cost a Thing. She appeared in a Nike shoe commercial with basketball player LeBron James. This coming July 2009, Scherzinger was casted to be one of the lead roles in the upcoming movie with the Filipino Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao together with Batista of the WWE. She will play as the leading lady of the Filipino Champ.
In 2006 she made a "Bench Body" brand underwear commercial in the Philippines and in October 2008, she promoted Clear Shampoo and Conditioner. Both commercials were reportedly aired throughout Southeast Asia.
Personal life
She took the surname Scherzinger when she was adopted by her stepfather.
Scherzinger met Nick Hexum of rock band 311 backstage at a Days of the New concert in 2000 or 2001. They dated and later became engaged,25 but broke it off sometime in 2004.26 She was the inspiration for their song "Amber" and appeared in the music video.
Scherzinger is currentlywhen? in a relationship with 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton.27
She was ranked at number 22 on Maxim's Hot 100 in 2006, and 21 in 2007. She ranked number 19 in 2008 but this time along with The Pussycat Dolls. In 2009, she ranked solo again and came to be number 46. 28 Scherzinger appeared on the March 2008 cover of Men's Fitness magazine.29
Discography
Albums
Singles
Featured singles
References
External links
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Nicole Scherzinger |
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| Featured singles |
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| Related articles |
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| Persondata |
| NAME |
Scherzinger, Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
Kea, Nicole |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
American singer, dancer |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
June 29, 1978 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| DATE OF DEATH |
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| PLACE OF DEATH |
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![Whatever U Like [Explicit]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513vp9RLE8L._SL160_.jpg)
![Jessica Simpson - Dream Chaser [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G8XQK83KL._SL160_.jpg)
![Clip Nicole Scherzinger - Whatever You like [live] Video](/viewVideo.html?title=Nicole Scherzinger - Whatever You like [live]&videoType=YouTube&summary=Nicole Scherzinger - Whatever You like [live]&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/hfczUp2Q66I&fs=1&hl=en&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://2.gvt0.com/vi/hfczUp2Q66I/default.jpg&celebrity=Nicole Scherzinger)
 audtion for the show popstars and making it through. She sang Whitney Houston- I will Always Love ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/QYmKMoRqw1U&fs=1&hl=en&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://1.gvt0.com/vi/QYmKMoRqw1U/default.jpg&celebrity=Nicole Scherzinger)
