Melody Thornton
Encyclopedia
Melody Thornton is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...

 singer-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

, Soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...

 vocalist, dancer, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....

, showgirl
Showgirl
A showgirl is a dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show. Showgirl is also often used as a term for a promotional model in trade fairs and car shows, etc...

 and television personality
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 who rose to stardom as a member of the successful pop group the Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...

. The youngest member of the group, Thornton assumed the second most prominent vocal role, after lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, model, and actress. Scherzinger is perhaps best known for being the lead vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls....

, and was distinguished for her melismatic vocal runs
Melisma
Melisma, in music, is the singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as melismatic, as opposed to syllabic, where each syllable of text is matched to a single note.-History:Music of ancient cultures used...

. As of 2010, Thornton has departed the group to focus on her solo career. Thornton has a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...

 voice and is better known for her vocal runs then for singing solos.

Early life

Thornton graduated from Camelback High School
Camelback High School
Camelback High School is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 4612 North 28th Street, northeast of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Camelback’s enrollment is 2,000 students, over 75 percent of whom are Hispanic...

 in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

 in 2003. She is of Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....

 descent from her mother's side and of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 on her father's. Her talent was first discovered at a Papago Elementary School
Creighton Elementary School District
Creighton Elementary School District is a K-8 school district based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.Founded in 1884, the boundaries of Creighton Elementary School District lie within East-Central Phoenix. Its main office is located at 2702 East Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ ...

 talent show when she sang Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

's remake of Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...

's "Without You".

2004–10: Pussycat Dolls era

In 2003, soprano vocalist Thornton was recruited in the Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...

 order to add vocal strength to the group. She saw the Pussycat Dolls on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

 Diaries
featuring Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...

 and heard they were auditioning for a new group member. Thornton went to the audition and was recruited in December 2003. For her audition, Thornton only sang and was still accepted into the group. As with the other Dolls, she is a salaried employee of Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...

. Her nickname for the group is "Baby Doll" because she is the youngest of the group. As of 2009, she announced during a concert that she usually introduces herself as "Baby Doll", but she wants the world to know her as "Melody".

The Pussycat Dolls achieved worldwide success in 2005 with their album PCD
PCD (album)
PCD is the debut album by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, released on September 13, 2005 in the United States, by A&M Records. After recruiting Melody Thornton and Nicole Scherzinger and releasing two singles, they released this album...

, which debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and produced the hits "Don't Cha
Don't Cha
"Don't Cha" is the debut single by American R&B/pop girl group the Pussycat Dolls. The song was originally recorded by American recording artist Tori Alamaze, and was released as her debut single in March 2005, on Universal Records. After Universal Records dropped her from the label, Cee-Lo Green...

", "Buttons
Buttons (song)
"Buttons" is an R&B/hip hop song written by Sean Garrett, Jamal Jones, Jason Perry, and Nicole Scherzinger for the Pussycat Dolls' debut album PCD . Released as the album's fourth single, the song became one of their biggest hits...

", and "Stickwitu
Stickwitu
"Stickwitu" is a R&B ballad by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls from their debut album, PCD. Produced by Jimmy Iovine, Robin Antin, Ron Fair and Tal Herzberg, it was released as the album's second single in late 2005. The song is an uptempo ballad being different to their previous single...

", the last of which earned the group a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

 nomination. Following the departure of Carmit Bachar
Carmit Bachar
Carmit Bachar is an American singer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. She was a member of the successful pop/R&B group, The Pussycat Dolls and one of the main vocalists of the group, along with Nicole Scherzinger and Melody Thornton. Bachar left the group in February 2008. She is currently...

 in March 2008, the group continued as a quintet and in 2008 released their second studio album, Doll Domination
Doll Domination
Doll Domination is the second studio album from United States American girlgroup Pussycat Dolls, released from September 19, 2008 by A&M Records. The album debuted at number four on the US album chart, selling 79,000 copies in its first week...

which included the hits "When I Grow Up
When I Grow Up (Pussycat Dolls song)
"When I Grow Up" is a song by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, from their second studio album, Doll Domination . It was released on May 27, 2008 as the lead single from the album, and the first following the departure of the group's longest-standing member Carmit Bachar...

", "I Hate This Part
I Hate This Part
"I Hate This Part" is a song by American pop/R&B girl group the Pussycat Dolls from their second album, Doll Domination. Written by Wayne Hector, Lucas Secon, Jonas Jeberg and Cutfather it was released as the album's second single on October 7, 2008...

", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" and "Hush Hush
Hush Hush
"Hush Hush; Hush Hush" is a song by American female pop group Pussycat Dolls from their second studio album Doll Domination . Written by Andreas Romdhane, Josef Larossi, Ina Wroldsen, Nicole Scherzinger, Dino Fekaris, Frederik Perren and produced by Quiz & LaRossi and Dave Audé for the remixed...

".
She was the only member to have contributed vocals apart from Scherzinger on Doll Domination (Standard Edition). She provides additional backing vocals and ad-libs to many of the songs, although on "Elevator", "Love the Way You Love Me", "Takin' Over the World" and "Painted Windows" she can be found sharing the lead vocals with Scherzinger. Additionally on "When I Grow Up", "Whatcha Think About That" and "Top of the World" she sings secondary vocals.
She also recorded her very first Pussycat Doll solo song called "Space" which was included in the deluxe edition of Doll Domination.

2010–present: Solo career

During the Pussycat Doll's hiatus, Thornton worked on several projects including a cameo on Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...

's music video "Slow Dance" and being a judge at E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...

's TV show Bank of Hollywood
Bank of Hollywood
Bank of Hollywood is an American reality television series. Hosted by Bryan Callen, the show airs on E!. It is based on the U.K. series Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway, in which contestants must appeal to a celebrity panel in order to receive money, and produced by Ryan Seacrest.The panel consists...

with the production by Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...

. In June 2010 Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...

 reported that she has departed from the group and was working on her solo album. Speaking about her position in the group she commented, "I got into the group to sing. That was made very clear to me. But it became more and more apparent what was going on. Roles were being minimized and minimized, and then by the time it got on the show, it was very much like 'Y'all play your part and this is what it is.' It was tough because you don't want to shit on your own opportunity."

In an interview for The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...

Thornton explained that her songs will be different from the group’s sound but she's not going to abandon that pop demographic that she acquired through the Pussycat Dolls. "[...] But it's not popular-for-the-moment, the kind of music that I'm making. It's live instrumentation and it derives from '60s influences. It's just kind of what I was raised on, James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

, B.B. King-ish as far as instrumentation goes. But vocally, I admire Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

 and was raised on Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

, Jackson 5 and all of that, so it's not going to be like Pussycat Dolls at all."
In June 2010 Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...

first announced that Thornton was working on her solo album with collaborators including Cee Lo Green, Polow da Don
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...

, and Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...

. On Vibe Magazine she stated that she is also working with Dre and Vidal. Thornton's recording of the Cee Lo produced song "Love Gun" leaked to the internet around this time. The song was eventually recorded by Green and Lauren Bennett
Lauren Bennett
Lauren Bennett is a British singer, dancer, painter, photographer, and model. She is best known for her involvement with girl groups the Paradiso Girls and Pussycat Dolls and her work with Cee Lo Green and LMFAO.-Early life:...

 for his album The Lady Killer
The Lady Killer (album)
The Lady Killer is the third studio album by American recording artist Cee Lo Green, released November 5, 2010, on Elektra Records. Production for the album was handled by Salaam Remi, Element, The Smeezingtons, Fraser T...

.

On June 17, 2011, Thornton's first official single "Sweet Vendetta" was released.

On June 19, she became the third person to be eliminated on the second series of Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar is a British television programme singing competition based around the training of pop stars of current to be able to sing opera. The show began airing on ITV on 15 January 2010 at 9pm. The show is repeated on TV3 Ireland on Saturday evening. The programme is produced by...

on UK television channel ITV.

Thornton confirmed during a recent interview at the Fourth Annual 'Creme of the Crop' post-BET Awards Dinner Celebration After Party that she plans to have her debut solo album released sometime in 2012.

Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
UK
2011 "Sweet Vendetta
Sweet Vendetta
Sweet Vendetta is an American Thoroughbred filly racehorse. She won four of her first seven outings. The daughter of Stephen Got Even will best be remembered for posting a 1-1/2 length score in the mile and an eighth Grade II $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16,...

"
Hit the Ground Running

Featured singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
NZ
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...


2006 "Go Too Far
Go Too Far
"Go Too Far" is the third single of hip hop rapper Jibbs off his debut album Jibbs Featuring Jibbs. The song features former Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton...

" (Jibbs
Jibbs
Jovan Campbell , better known by his stage name Jibbs, is an American rapper. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He had one top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, which was his debut single "Chain Hang Low"...

 featuring Melody Thornton)
17 Jibbs Featuring Jibbs

Album appearances

Year Contribution Album Album artist Notes
2008 "Space" Doll Domination
Doll Domination
Doll Domination is the second studio album from United States American girlgroup Pussycat Dolls, released from September 19, 2008 by A&M Records. The album debuted at number four on the US album chart, selling 79,000 copies in its first week...

Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...

Included on the International Deluxe edition disc.
2009 "Ease Off the Liquor" Shock Value 2 Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....

Additional vocals

Music videos

Year Song Director(s)
2007 "Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton) Meiert Avis
Meiert Avis
Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban amongst many others....

2009 "Slow Dance
Slow Dance (song)
"Slow Dance" is a song by American recording artist Keri Hilson. Written with American singer Justin Timberlake, the song was penned while she was a guest on the British leg of Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow tour. The writing team also included Johnkenum D. Spivery, as well as Timbaland proteges...

" (cameo appearance)
Chris Robinson
Chris Robinson (director)
Chris Robinson is an American film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay-Z, the grammy nominated...

2011 "Don't Wanna Go Home
Don't Wanna Go Home
"Don't Wanna Go Home" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jason Derülo. It was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Future History on May 20, 2011. "Don't Wanna Go Home" was written by Derülo, Chaz Mishan, David Delazyn, William Attaway, Irving Burgie, Allen George...

" (cameo appearance)
Rich Lee
Rich lee
Rich Lee is an American music video and commercial director signed to DNA in Hollywood, California and Flynn Productions in the United Kingdom. He has directed music videos for Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Norah Jones, Michael Bublé and The All-American Rejects. Rich Lee started his professional...


Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an American reality television series that airs on E!. The series premiered in October 2007. It focuses on the personal and professional lives of the members of the Kardashian and Jenner family. There will be a 7th Season to premiere in 2012.As of September 2011,...

Herself Episode 1
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll is the first season of Pussycat Dolls Present: that premiered on March 6, 2007 on The CW, and took place over the course of eight weeks...

Herself
2009 Bank of Hollywood
Bank of Hollywood
Bank of Hollywood is an American reality television series. Hosted by Bryan Callen, the show airs on E!. It is based on the U.K. series Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway, in which contestants must appeal to a celebrity panel in order to receive money, and produced by Ryan Seacrest.The panel consists...

Judge
2010 TV Guide's Countdown to the Grammys Host Co-host with Justin Guarini
World Music Awards Herself Presenter
2011 Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar
Popstar to Operastar is a British television programme singing competition based around the training of pop stars of current to be able to sing opera. The show began airing on ITV on 15 January 2010 at 9pm. The show is repeated on TV3 Ireland on Saturday evening. The programme is produced by...

Herself Performer/Contestant

External links

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