Vivian Green
Encyclopedia
Vivian Green is an American R&B
and soul
singer, songwriter
and pianist
.
neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and took an interest in singing, playing the piano
, and songwriting at a very young age. At the age of thirteen, she became a member of a female quintet
called Younique. Also, she is a graduate of Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice.
Green has credit for writing "Dear God" by Boyz II Men
, from their 1997 album Evolution
. Green received her big break at the age of nineteen when she became a backup singer
for Jill Scott
, who took her on an international tour. She signed to Columbia Records
in November 2001.
biopic De-Lovely
singing a cover version
of Porter's 1930 song "Love for Sale", which made the film's soundtrack album. She also played Brenda Holloway
in an episode of the first season of NBC
's drama series American Dreams
, entitled "The Carpetbaggers" (originally aired on April 6, 2003), performing a rendition of Holloway's 1964 hit "Every Little Bit Hurts
".
's The Body Acoustic
album on the tracks "I'll Be Your River" and "Sisters of Avalon
".
During the spring of 2005, three years after the release of her debut album, Green released her second studio album Vivian. It featured the hit lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)". The lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave" debuted at #102 on the Hot 100, #24 on the Hot R&B, and #1 on Hot Dance charts. The song also charted #1 on the Hot Adult Airplay. The track known as "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" followed up as the album's second single. The song followed up the previous single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave"'s success by charting #1 on the Dance charts. The third single, "Cursed", debuted at #102 on the Hot R&B charts.
's album Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
on the track "Fine and Free". While performing at a gig in support of her second album, Green announced that she is currently recording her third full length album on Koch Records
. In April 2009, she signed a 3-album deal with E1 Music with the first album under the deal set to be released in Summer 2009. Her third album titled Beautiful was released April 6, 2010. The songs explore the ins and outs of love from a variety of perspectives, from the youthful romanticism of "Somewhere" to the playful insight of "So Good" and "Better Man" to the hard-won intensity of "Masterpiece" and "Beautiful."
In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of Beautiful in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.
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...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
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...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Early life
Green was born May 22, 1979 in the East Oak LaneEast Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
East Oak Lane is a neighborhood in the upper Northern section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are large single homes or twins built at a later period than much of central North Philadelphia...
neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and took an interest in singing, playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and songwriting at a very young age. At the age of thirteen, she became a member of a female quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
called Younique. Also, she is a graduate of Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice.
Green has credit for writing "Dear God" by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, from their 1997 album Evolution
Evolution (Boyz II Men album)
Evolution is an album by R&B group Boyz II Men, released in September 1997. It is their final album released on Motown Records. A Spanish language version, Evolución, was also issued.- History :...
. Green received her big break at the age of nineteen when she became a backup singer
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, who took her on an international tour. She signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in November 2001.
Personal life
Between her first and second albums, she took a three-year hiatus. During this time she had son Jordan (2003) ), with ex fiance, drummer Erik Tribbett. She continues to live in Philadelphia where she is raising her son as a single parent.A Love Story (2001-2003)
Green released her debut album, A Love Story, in November 2002 in the U.S. and February 2003 in the United Kingdom, featuring the hit "Emotional Rollercoaster". In the meantime, Green made a cameo appearance in the Cole PorterCole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
biopic De-Lovely
De-Lovely
De-Lovely is a 2004 musical biopic directed by Irwin Winkler. The screenplay by Jay Cocks is based on the life and career of Cole Porter, from his first meeting with Linda Lee Thomas until his death...
singing a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Porter's 1930 song "Love for Sale", which made the film's soundtrack album. She also played Brenda Holloway
Brenda Holloway
Brenda Holloway is an American singer and songwriter, a recording artist for the Motown label during the 1960s...
in an episode of the first season of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's drama series American Dreams
American Dreams
American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
, entitled "The Carpetbaggers" (originally aired on April 6, 2003), performing a rendition of Holloway's 1964 hit "Every Little Bit Hurts
Every Little Bit Hurts
"Every Little Bit Hurts" was originally a 1964 hit single for Motown soul singer Brenda Holloway, written by Ed Cobb.Though she was against recording the song again , she reluctantly recorded the song and the label released it in the summer of the year...
".
Vivian (2004-2006)
In 2005, she appeared on Cyndi LauperCyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
's The Body Acoustic
The Body Acoustic
The Body Acoustic is the ninth studio album released by Cyndi Lauper. It consists of ten previously released tracks which have been re-recorded and re-arranged acoustically, as well as two entirely new songs. The album title is a play on Walt Whitman's poem I Sing the Body Electric, with the word...
album on the tracks "I'll Be Your River" and "Sisters of Avalon
Sisters of Avalon (song)
"Sisters of Avalon" is a single from the 1997 album of the same name, by Cyndi Lauper.-Song information:The song is about sisterhood and it shows the power of women Lauper wanted to show through the song and the album as a whole...
".
During the spring of 2005, three years after the release of her debut album, Green released her second studio album Vivian. It featured the hit lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)". The lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave" debuted at #102 on the Hot 100, #24 on the Hot R&B, and #1 on Hot Dance charts. The song also charted #1 on the Hot Adult Airplay. The track known as "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" followed up as the album's second single. The song followed up the previous single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave"'s success by charting #1 on the Dance charts. The third single, "Cursed", debuted at #102 on the Hot R&B charts.
2007-present
In 2007, Green appeared on GuruGuru (rapper)
Keith Edward Elam , better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts...
's album Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back To The Future is the fourth entry in the Jazzmatazz series from Guru of Gang Starr. There's an official video of the song "State Of Clarity" which features clips from the movie Fritz The Cat....
on the track "Fine and Free". While performing at a gig in support of her second album, Green announced that she is currently recording her third full length album on Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
. In April 2009, she signed a 3-album deal with E1 Music with the first album under the deal set to be released in Summer 2009. Her third album titled Beautiful was released April 6, 2010. The songs explore the ins and outs of love from a variety of perspectives, from the youthful romanticism of "Somewhere" to the playful insight of "So Good" and "Better Man" to the hard-won intensity of "Masterpiece" and "Beautiful."
In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of Beautiful in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.
Albums
| Year | Album | U.S. Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
U.S. R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
U.S. Indie Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
Sales and certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | A Love Story
Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel... |
51 | 18 | - | U.S. Sales: 531,000 RIAA: Gold |
| 2005 | Vivian Vivian (Vivian Green album) Vivian is the second studio album by American neo soul singer Vivian Green, released by Columbia on March 31, 2005 in the United States. The album involves production by Scott Storch and James Poyser with additional production from Anthony Bell, Junius Bervine, and Adam Black Stone, among others...
|
18 | 5 | - | U.S. Sales: 46,000 RIAA: N/A |
| 2010 | Beautiful Beautiful (Vivian Green album) Beautiful is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Vivian Green, released by E1 Music on April 6, 2010 in the United States. The album is heavily produced by Grammy- nominated long time friend and collaborator Anthony Bell with an addition production cut from Jason Farmer...
|
101 | 26 | 13 | U.S. Sales: 22,061+ RIAA: TBD |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
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| 2002 | "Emotional Rollercoaster" | |
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| 2003 | "Fanatic" | |
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| "What Is Love?" | |
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| 2005 | "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)" | |
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| "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" | |
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| 2006 | "Cursed" | |
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| 2010 | "Beautiful" | |
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| "Too Intense" | |
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Award History
Lady of the Soul Train Awards- 2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul Single "Emotional Rollercoaster" (nominated)
- 2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul Album of the Year "A Love Story" (nominated)
- 2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "Emotional Rollercoaster" (nominated)