Francesca "Frankie" Catalano (born April 2, 1988) is an American actress. Born in Hollywood, California, she began her acting career at a young age because her father, Frank Catalano, is an acting coach at USC. Francesca has appeared in productions of Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, and Evita and also appeared, and sang, in a few operas, including Les Misérables, Carmen and Hänsel und Gretel. She made her big screen debut in the movie Crazy Jones in 2000, co-starring as Syd.. She has also appeared in a few episodes of TV series such as Still Standing in 2002 and Related in 2005.

In 2006, she received her breakout role, as Alexa Diamico on Nickelodeon’s teen TV series Just for Kicks, a show about the lives of a few teen friends who are on the same soccer team. She was not very good at soccer when she got the role so she went through an intensive soccer “boot camp” before filming of the first episode began.

In 2010 she graduated from USC'S BFA Acting program.

Francesca is also an accomplished singer and musician. Her new recordings can be heard on her Myspace [1].

Filmography[link]

External links[link]

• Francesca Catalano at the Internet Movie Database
• Francesca Catalano at Popstar Plus

Jessie J
Jessie J at the O2 Arena in London in 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Jessica Ellen Cornish
Also known as	Jessie J
Born	(1988-03-27) 27 March 1988 (age 24) Chadwell Heath, London, England, United Kingdom
Genres	pop, hip hop, R&B, dance-pop, soul
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Lava, Universal Republic, Island, Gut
Website	jessiejofficial.com

Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she studied at the BRIT School before signing with Gut Records and striking a songwriting deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing where she wrote for artists such as Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus.

Signed with Universal, Jessie J came to prominence following the release of her debut single "Do It Like a Dude" which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Charts. After scoring her first number one in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and New Zealand with the song "Price Tag", she released her debut album Who You Are (2011) which charted at number two in the UK. Other releases from the album include "Nobody's Perfect", "Who's Laughing Now" and "Who You Are" which charted within the top 20 in the UK but the release of fifth single "Domino" spawned international chart success, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and becoming her second UK number one. Aside from her musical career, Jessie J is currently a coach and mentor on television show The Voice UK.

Citing various influences, Jessie J is recognized for an unconventional musical and performance style^[1][2] that mixes her soul voice with contemporary R&B, pop, and hip-hop influences. Jessie J has garnered various awards and nominations for her contributions to the music industry, including the 2011 Critics' Choice BRIT Award and the BBC's Sound of 2011. As of April 2012, Jessie has sold over 11 million singles and 2.5 million records worldwide.^[3][4]

Early life[link]

Jessie J was born Jessica Ellen Cornish in Chadwell Heath, London,^[5] daughter of Stephen Cornish and Rose Cornish (née Archer). She was educated at Mayfield High School in the London Borough of Redbridge. She attended Colin's Performing Arts School and as an 11-year old-was cast in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of Whistle Down the Wind.^[6][7][8] Jessie has two sisters, who are five and seven years older than her, who were both head girls at school. Unlike her academic sisters, Cornish has stated she was "never really that good at anything". She said, "At school they were like 'oh, you're a Cornish girl' and they kind of expected me to be the same as my sisters. Give me something to draw or an outfit to pick for someone, or hair, make-up, acting, write a song, I'm fine with it, but anything to do with sums – it was never my thing." She also said she never based her intelligence on her exam results.^[9] She also said she was always good at singing and it was her "thing". At the age of 16 she began studying at the BRIT School and at 17 she joined a girl group named Soul Deep.^[10] She graduated in the class of 2006 along with singers Adele and Leona Lewis.^[11] At 18 she suffered a stroke.^[12]

Music career[link]

2006–2010: Career beginnings[link]

Jessie J was signed to Gut Records, recording an album for the label, but the company went bankrupt before any material was released.^[8][10] She then found success as a songwriter, gaining a Sony ATV publishing contract.^[13] She was also the support act for Cyndi Lauper during Lauper's UK dates of her 2008 Bring Ya To The Brink tour (Lauper invited J to join her on stage for the performances of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"). Jessie has also written lyrics for artists such as Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus, including "Party in the U.S.A.".^[14][15] Jessie J was also part of a girl band, called Soul Deep, for two years, however she left due to thoughts that "it wasn't going anywhere". Despite people thinking that her first notoriety was through YouTube, Jessie was signed for four years before her first video was posted. Jessie first came to the attention of Lava Records when her publisher at Sony/ATV, Rich Christina, sent Lava president Jason Flom a link to her MySpace page, which the record executive loved.^[16] After seeing an impressive U.S. showcase, Lava was, along with several other labels, keen to sign the artist but progress was hampered by her management's insistence on, what Flom called, a "crazy deal", and their refusal to let Jessie speak to any labels directly.^[16] Despite this, Senior Director of A&R at Lava, Harinder Rana, made surreptitious efforts to meet Jessie on her own in winter of 2008. Later in the year a change in management to Sarah Stennett and Nadia Khan of Crown Music allowed record deal negotiations to take place. Jessie eventually signed with Lava as part of a joint venture with Universal Republic.^[16]

[edit] 2010–2012: Who You Are

Jessie J performing at a concert in New York City in 2011.

Jessie J began recording her debut studio album in 2006 and it was completed on 19 January 2011.^[17][18] She revealed that "Big White Room" would be on the album and was written from an experience she had when she was 11 years old, although she wrote the song at age 17, in hospital, where a ward mate, a little boy, died.^[19] Jessie J says the album's title track, "Who You Are", is one of her proudest creations, she said the song is a "positive role model for young people" and "I always say that I'm half-artist, half-therapist".^[19] In late 2010 Jessie J released her first single, "Do It Like a Dude" which was co-written with George Astasio, Tj Normandin, Jason Pebworth, Jon Shave, Kyle Abrahams and Peter Ighile. Originally, she wrote the song with Rihanna in mind because "Rude Boy" was released at the time, partly inspiring the song. She then sent the song to her label, Island Records, before sending it to Rihanna's management. Island insisted the song become Jessie J's first single.^[20] She wishes to perform the song with Rihanna at one point.^[21] The single gained positive reception from critics.^[22] The single charted at number two on the UK Singles Charts. Her follow-up single "Price Tag" was released in late January 2011. This was written by Jessie J, Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly, and Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. and charted at number one in the top of the charts. "Price Tag" was released in the United States on 1 February 2011 and peaked at 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[23] "Price Tag" also charted at number-one in New Zealand and Ireland and is the most successful online video J has released. As of October 2011, the video has generated over 148 million views on Youtube and Vevo, making it the 22nd most viewed music video of all time.^[24][25] Her first American television appearance was as the musical guest on the 12 March 2011 episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live.^[26]

On 25 February 2011 her debut album, Who You Are, was released.^[27] The album first entered the charts on 6 March 2011 where it charted on the UK Album Charts at number two. The album charted into the top ten in a number of countries and number 11 in the United States.^[28] After the release she went on to release a third single from the album, "Nobody's Perfect".^[29] MTV reported that the single is, so far, only confirmed for release in the United Kingdom.^[30] The album's fourth single was "Who's Laughing Now". "Domino" was her second US single.^[31] The Dr. Luke-produced track was sent to mainstream radio on 6 September 2011.^[32] With the success of Who You Are in North America, Jessie was chosen to tour as the opening act for American pop artist Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour in 2011 but after she was unable to fully recover from her injuries during rehearsals she was forced to pull out under the doctor's orders.^[33] Jessie J served as the house artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, performing several of her original songs along with covers around commercial breaks.^[34]

James Morrison's third studio album, The Awakening features a collaboration with Jessie J called "Up", the song was released as a single on 4 December 2011. Jessie J re-released "Who You Are" on 9 November 2011, featuring the regular tracks plus "Domino" and two new songs. "Domino" became her first top 10 hit in the U.S., following the success of "Price Tag". The song also peaked at number 1 in January 2012 in the UK, before it was even officially released there.

[edit] 2012–present: Second studio album and The Voice

On 4 October 2011, Jessie announced that she will be one of four coaches for new BBC program, The Voice UK.^[35] The show was announced after the success of the US version, The Voice. It premiered in March 2012 on BBC One. It will be presented by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates, with will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas), Tom Jones and Danny O'Donoghue (of The Script) joining Jessie on the coaching panel.^[36] The first stage of the competition, The Blind auditions, began in London on 18 January 2012 at the BBC Television Centre and finished filming on 22 January 2012. The winner will receive £100,000 and a record deal with Universal Republic. It was also reported that the 4 coaches recorded a cover of the Black Eyed Peas song, "I Gotta Feeling", and will release an accompanying music video to help promote the show.^[37]

On 31 January 2012, Jessie announced that she had begun recording for her second studio album.^[38] She also stated that she hopes to collaborate with many artists this year, possibly including some of her fellow coaches on The Voice.^[39] It was revealed that she has worked in the studio with Cee-Lo Green after he tweeted her on twitter. Jessie has also revealed on twitter that she has worked with Diane Warren as well as reuniting in the studio with her 'Price Tag' co-writer Claude Kelly.

Jessie will embark on her first arena tour in March 2013. Via microblogging website, Twitter, Jessie J confirmed the tour will be called Nice to Meet You Tour.^[40]

Personal life[link]

Jessie J performing at the 2011 The Big Chill, sitting on the "gilded throne" she used for performances while her foot was broken.

In early 2011 she suffered a panic attack on stage after she was forced to perform in the dark. "I did a gig recently and had a panic attack on stage," she told NOW. "The night was called 'Black Out' and I had to perform in the dark. I asked them to turn on the lights and they didn't. I was onstage in pitch black and, because I couldn't see anything, I started to panic. It was awful."^[41]

Jessie J is bisexual and stated in an interview on the "In Demand" radio show on 3 March 2011, "I've never denied it. Whoopie doo guys, yes, I've dated girls and I've dated boys – get over it."^[42][43] However, in April 2012 The Sun outed her as homosexual which she denied via Twitter, calling it a "yet another boring untrue story".^[44] According to The Guardian, Jessie J's sexuality is valuable to young teens, especially for young girls unsure of themselves because of their sexuality and identity, to feel "that this does happen and this is normal."^[45]

On 12 June 2011 at the Capital Radio Summertime Ball, Jessie ruptured several tendons in her foot during rehearsals, and performed her set the following day while sitting on a gilded throne.^[46] For her appearance at Glastonbury Festival 2011 on 25 June 2011, she performed on the throne again, claiming her physician had told her not to perform with her broken foot which would take six weeks to heal.^[47] Jessie J was scheduled to play at several festivals throughout the summer, however it was reported on 1 July 2011 that she would not be able to attend T in the Park, T4 On The Beach, Wembley:Orange, iTunes Festival, Lovebox and Oxegen due to the injuries to her foot. Jessie J personally tweeted before surgery; "Keep making nervous jokes with the doctor and he keeps looking at me blankly. Which is making me laugh even more. It's getting serious. I just took my nose stud out." Tweeting after the surgery, she wrote: "Can't keep tweeting. Still very dizzy and being sick. But I'm OK, I got through it." Her record label released an official statement on 30 June 2011 that under strict orders from her doctor, she will not be able to perform for a number of weeks so she can heal and recuperate properly.^[48] She returned to the concert circuit in late August, including sets at the V Festival^[49] and The Big Chill. For the 2011 VMA's she was still in a cast and using the throne to keep off it.

Jessie J confirmed on 2 August 2011 that she would be shaving her hair off for charity in 2012. Speaking via her official Twitter account she said: "It’s hair, It will grow back. Even if it takes 2 years, if it saves lives it’s worth it. Even if its 1 life that’s something."^[50]

‎Artistry and voice[link]

Jessie J performing at the Bournemouth International Centre in 2011.

Although she was first identified as a soul singer, she primarily records songs of contemporary R&B and pop music with hip-hop influences.

Music critic Matthew Perpetua of Pitchfork Media compared Jessie J to her peers Adele and Amy Winehouse, but suggested she was missing something: "Whereas Adele and Winehouse also have powerhouse voices, they fit into clear aesthetic niches and invest their songs with depth and humanity. Jessie J doesn't have even a fraction of their restraint." Perpetua added: "Her idea of showcasing her gift is to shoot for a blaring melisma on "Mamma Knows Best" that makes Christina Aguilera seem as subtle as Joni Mitchell by comparison."^[51]

Ailbhe Malone of the music magazine NME also recognized Cornish's "undeniably potent voice". However, she pointed out the possible "identity crisis" that might have been caused by Jessie's songwriter past: "This is an album of singles for other artists. There’s Rihanna Jessie (‘Do It...’), Perry Jessie (‘Abracadabra’), Pixie Jessie (‘Mamma Knows Best’), Ellie Jessie ('Big White Room')."^[52]

Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian shared her positive opinion about the singer, saying that "if any singer has the potential to be the British Katy Perry or Pink, with the accompanying millions of sales, it's her". Sullivan also complimented Cornish's attitude: "[Her songs] are delivered with a confidence that money can't buy."^[53]

Entertainment Weekly's music critic Adam Markovitz said of Jessie: "The 23-year-old Brit has all the tools, from a monster voice to an ear for hooks — she co-wrote Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the U.S.A.' — and a manic persona that's equal parts Katy Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, and Alice Cooper."^[54]

Discography[link]

• Who You Are (2011)

Concert tours[link]

Headlining

• Stand Up Tour (2011)
• Heartbeat Tour (2011-12)
• Nice To Meet You Tour (2013)

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jessie J

External links[link]

• Official website
• Jessie J discography at Discogs
• Jessie J's channel on YouTube
• Jessie J's BBC Sound of 2011 page at BBC Online

Gino Paoli
Gino Paoli
Background information
Birth name	Gino Paoli
Born	(1934-09-23)23 September 1934 Monfalcone, Italy
Genres	Pop
Occupations	singer-songwriter, artist
Instruments	vocals
Years active	1959–present
Labels	RCA Italiana, Durium (Italy), Dischi Ricordi, Fonit Cetra
Associated acts	Ornella Vanoni
Website	ginopaoli.it

Gino Paoli (born 23 September 1934 in Monfalcone) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He wrote four masterpieces of Italian popular music: "Il cielo in una stanza", "Che cosa c'è", "Senza fine" and "Sapore di sale".

Biography[link]

Paoli was born in Monfalcone, a little town near Trieste, but moved very early to Genoa.

After several different jobs, he was called by Ricordi with his friends Luigi Tenco and Bruno Lauzi. His first success was the single "La gatta," which has been used in world language Italian task disks in America for middle schools and high schools.

Another early song was "Il cielo in una stanza" composed in 1959. According to Paoli, the lyrics had come to him while lying on the bed of a brothel. Looking at the purple ceiling, he thought, "Love can grow at any moment at any place".^[1] Mina's single release of the song topped the list of annual sales in Italy^[2] and reached Billboard Hot 100. Video performances of the song were included in the movies "Io bacio... tu baci" and "Appuntamento a Ischia". Later it was featured in the "Goodfellas" movie. Carla Bruni Sarkozy covered the song (mixing French with her native Italian) in her debut album ("Quelqu'un m'a dit").

Gino Paoli’s debut album – Gino Paoli was released in Italy on October 8, 1961 on Dischi Ricordi.^[3]

"Il cielo in una stanza" success was followed by "Sapore di sale" (1963), arranged by Ennio Morricone and believed to be his most famous song. In the same year he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the heart (the bullet is still inside his chest).

In 1974 he returned with the LP I semafori rossi non sono Dio, followed by Il mio mestiere (1977). Both showed a more mature inspiration than his 1960s works. In the 1980s Paoli produced a series of successful albums, and in 1985 he toured Italy together with Ornella Vanoni.

In 1987 he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Communist Party. He abandoned politics in 1992 to pursue his music ambitions.

Autograph of Gino Paoli on the muretto of Alassio

He had a long relationship with actress Stefania Sandrelli. Their daughter, Amanda Sandrelli, is also an actress.

Discography[link]

• Gino Paoli (1961)
• Le cose dell'amore (1962)
• Basta chiudere gli occhi (1964)
• Gino Paoli allo Studio A (1965)
• Le canzoni per "Emmeti" (1966)
• Gino Paoli and The Casuals (1967)
• Le due facce dell'amore (1971)
• Rileggendo vecchie lettere d'amore (1971)
• Amare per vivere (1972)
• I semafori rossi non sono Dio (1974)
• Ciao, salutime un po' Zena (1975)
• Le canzoni di Gino Paoli' (1976, collection)
• Il mio mestiere (1977)
• La ragazza senza nome (1978)
• Il gioco della vita (1979)
• Ha tutte le carte in regola (1980)
• Averti addosso (1984)
• La luna e il Sig. Hyde (1984)
• Insieme (1985)
• Cosa farò da grande (1986)
• Sempre (1988)
• L'ufficio delle cose perdute (1988)
• Gino Paoli '89 dal vivo (1990, live)
• Matto come un gatto (1991)
• Senza contorno solo... per un'ora (1992)
• King Kong (1994)
• Amori dispari (1995)
• Appropriazione indebita (1996)
• Pomodori (1998)
• Per una storia (2000)
• Se (2002)
• Una lunga storia (2004)
• Ti ricordi? No non mi ricordo (2004)
• Gino Paoli & Arsen Dedic u Lisinskom (2005)

References[link]

Sources[link]

• Gino Paoli's official website

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gino Paoli

• A presentation of a work about Paoli's life

Phantom Boyz Music LLC is an American-based music production company founded by executive producer Melvin "Official" Watson. Since its inception in 2006, The Phantom Boyz have produced records for both American and international artists, including Jim Jones, Christina Aguilera, B5, Alexandra Burke, BoA and Rainie Yang.

History[link]

2006 - 2007[link]

Originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, Watson founded the company under consultation with entertainment lawyer Karriem Hassan. Within one year received his first major placement, co-producing R&B group B5’s single "Hydrolics", featuring Diddy and Bow Wow. He also produced the track "No Fuss" by Jim Jones featuring Stack Bundles, Rell and Mell Matrix. The song was featured on Jones' 2007 album Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Deluxe Edition), as well as his mixtape Harlem's American Gangster.

2008 - 2010[link]

After initially collaborating with several American recording artists, he went on to expand his sound amongst the international community, working with several international pop artists, including Alexandra Burke ("Bad Boys"), BoA ("I Did It For Love") and Rainie Yang ("It's Our World"). Burke's single "Bad Boys" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart ^[1] and spent 25 consecutive weeks in the top seventy-five. The track is now certified platinum in the United Kingdom.^[2] BoA’s "I Did It For Love" peaked at number 19 on Billboard (magazine)’s Hot Dance Club Play.^[3]

2010 - Present[link]

In 2010, The Phantom Boyz worked with singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera, producing her song "The Beautiful People" which is featured on the Burlesque soundtrack and sold over a million units world wide .The Phantom Boyz have also signed several recording acts to their roster, including pop artists J Rice^[4] .

Discography[link]

• 2007: "Hydrolics" (B5 feat. Diddy and Bow Wow)
• 2007: "No Fuss" (Jim Jones feat. Stack Bundles, Rell and Mell Matrix)
• 2008: "I Did It For Love" (BoA feat. Sean Garrett)
• 2009: "Bad Boys" (Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida)
• 2010: "It's Our World" (Rainie Yang)
• 2010: "The Beautiful People" (Christina Aguilera)
• 2010: "Fireproof" (Jeremy Greene)
• 2010: "How Fly Is He" (Jeremy Greene feat. Diddy)
• 2010: "Ain't No Way" (Jeremy Greene)
• TBD: "Timber" (Tiffany Evans)
• TBD: "Pulling Me Back" (Bridget Kelly)
• TBD: "I Don't Need You" (Ayako Nakanomori)

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Phantom Boyz on Facebook