Renee Olstead (born Rebecca Renee Olstead, June 18, 1989) is an American actress and singer. Active since childhood as an actress, she has appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing as Lauren Miller, and several bit parts in various TV shows and movies. In addition, she has recorded five studio albums, primarily of jazz music.
Early life
Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas, to Christopher Eric Olstead and Rebecca Lynn Jeffries. As a child actress, she made films and commercials from age eight onwards. From 2002 to 2006, she appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing as middle sister Lauren Miller. She also had a small part in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30. She is now currently starring in The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Madison.
Music career
In 2004, Olstead released an eponymous album of jazz songs and pop standards for Warner Bros. Records to good reviews; since her previous releases had limited distribution, this album was considered her true debut. She subsequently performed in Berlin during the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005. Additionally, she recorded with trumpeter Chris Botti on his 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets and appears on the 2006 DVD Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests. Her singing style and talent has already been compared with such great jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Reportedly her musical talent was discovered by composer David Foster, who produced her 2004 album. She later also performed with Foster on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
A follow-up album entitled Skylark, also produced by Foster, was originally announced for release in 2005, but it has subsequently been pushed back several times, with release dates in the summer of 2006 and early 2007 being mentioned on online retailers such as Amazon.com. It was slated for a June 2008 release, but has not yet appeared1. New street date has been confirmed for January 27, 2009 according to an internal label release schedule noted by Directcurrentmusic.com.
But, according to Renee Olstead's website (Reneeolstead.com), it may come out this summer of 2008.
Discography
Filmography
- Deadly Family Secrets (TV movie) (1995) as Emily Pick
- Cadillac Ranch (1996) as Young Mary Katherine
- Santa, NASA & the Man in the Moon (1996) as Renee Olstead
- Ceftin Wiz Kids (TV movie) (1996) as Katie
- The Usher (1997) as Little Girl
- Out There (TV movie) (1997) as Megan Tollman
- End of Days (1999) as Amy
- The Insider (1999) as Deborah Wigand
- Space Cowboys (2000) as Little Girl
- Geppetto (2000)
- Scorched (2003) as Girl Scout
- 13 Going on 30 (2004) as Becky
- Super Sweet 16: The Movie (2007) as Sky Storm
Television
References
- ^ www.davidfoster.info » Video interview: David Foster on Tom Green’s House Tonight
External links
