Melanie Amaro
| Melanie Amaro | |
|---|---|
Amaro in Hollywood, California in June 2013
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melanie Ann Amaro |
| Born |
June 26, 1992 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
| Origin | Tortola, British Virgin Islands |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, adult contemporary, soul, dance |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Syco, Epic |
| Associated acts | The X Factor (U.S.) 2011 finalists, R. Kelly |
| Website | www |
Melanie Ann Amaro (born June 26, 1992) is a Virgin Islander-American recording artist who won the first season of The X Factor USA in 2011, securing a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and Epic Records. Amaro was also the youngest contestant to win the competition during the show's run (2011-2013).
Amaro was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and raised on Tortola, British Virgin Islands since the age of three. Amaro was sent to the British Virgin Islands to live with her grandmother Catherine, after her parents Hipolito Amaro and Debra Sylvester Amaro felt they did not have the means to provide for her. Amaro would only see her parents during summer vacations and Christmas breaks. She also has two brothers, Mark and Mike, and a younger sister named Maya. Her mother Debra recalls that when her daughter was about six months old, she would get up at around two o'clock in the morning and would start singing in her crib. Furthermore, from an early age, Amaro would sing around her house using a hairbrush as a microphone. Melanie realized she fell in love with singing and acting at around age eleven, and credits her mother for pushing her to follow her singing dreams. Amaro never entered any singing competitions as a child, but performed at weddings, churches, and other events. Melanie attended the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and later went on to Elmore Stout high school, formerly known as BVI high school. Melanie moved to Florida when she was 15, and graduated from Plantation High School in 2010. In March 2012, her high school chorus teacher, Gary Rivenbark, whom Amaro credits with the help of shaping her voice, died of lymphoma at age 48.
In June 2011, Amaro was persuaded by her mother to audition for the first season of The X Factor USA. She auditioned in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid, singing "Listen" by Beyoncé Knowles. She previously tried auditioning at her local Fox affiliate for a "fast pass", but was not well received by producers there and subsequently auditioned with the general public at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. After becoming one of the Top 32 finalists, she performed Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" in the judges' house, in front of her mentor Cowell. Amaro was initially not chosen to be part of the Top 16 and was eliminated from the girls' category. However, after 2 weeks Cowell surprised her at her Florida home, inviting her back to the competition after deciding he had made "a huge mistake" in not including her.
...
Wikipedia