Ailee | |
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Born |
Amy Lee May 30, 1989 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Other names |
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Occupation | Singer |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels |
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Website | Japanese Official Site |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 이예진 |
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Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | I Ye-jin |
McCune–Reischauer | I Ye-jin |
Amy Lee (born May 30, 1989), better known by her stage name Ailee, is a American singer based in South Korea. She is signed to YMC Entertainment in South Korea and Warner Music in Japan.
Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment in America. She moved to South Korea in 2010, where she passed an audition and became an artist for YMC Entertainment. After being recognized for her singing on Singer and Trainee, she started acting on the KBS drama series Dream High 2.
Ailee received the Best New Artist Award at the MelOn Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards, Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards and the Seoul Music Awards. She has also received a Best Newcomer and Four Best Female Vocal Performance awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards for "U&I", "Singing Got Better", "Mind Your Own Business" and "If You(A New Empire Album)". For her work in Fated to Love You's OST, "Goodbye My Love", Ailee won Best Original Soundtrack at the 7th Korea Drama Awards.
Ailee was invited as a VIP guest to perform at a pre-Grammy party for the 55th Grammy Awards and attended both the ceremony and red carpet in Los Angeles. She has received the Mnet America Rising Star Award.
Ailee was born in Denver, Colorado, on 30 May 1989, but grew up in New Jersey. She attended Palisades Park High School before moving to nearby Leonia. She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, and went on to study communications at Pace University before dropping out to pursue a career in music. Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment, an independent agency based out of New York City and New Jersey. Under this label she collaborated with several artists, such as Johnnyphlo and Philadelphia-based rapper Decipher. Prior to moving to South Korea, Ailee created the YouTube channels "mzamyx3" and "aileemusic" to bring attention to her singing on the web.