Vonzell Solomon

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Vonzell Solomon (born 18 March 1984), also known as Baby V, is an American singer who was the third-place finisher in the fourth season of the television series American Idol.

[edit] Biography

Born Vonzell Monique Goethie in Baxley, Georgia, Solomon's family relocated to Fort Myers, Florida when she was an infant. Solomon attended high school at the Cypress Lake Center for the Arts. She holds a black belt in sembact martial arts; her father is a martial arts instructor. Her parents are Alice and Larry Goethie; Vonzell uses her mother's maiden name professionally. She has one older sister, Zanobra, and two brothers, Kendall and Gabriel.

Solomon auditioned for P-Diddy's Making The Band in the second season of the show but was not selected for the group. Diddy himself says that he does not remember Solomon and later stated on Live with Regis and Kelly that Solomon was not well suited for a hip-hop group. In April 2004, Solomon released a demo CD, My Struggle which was recently certified gold.

Prior to auditioning for American Idol, Solomon worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier and sung with local bands in southwest Florida.

Solomon auditioned for the fourth season of the show in Orlando, Florida and placed third behind runner-up Bo Bice and winner Carrie Underwood. This was the second time Solomon had auditioned for the show, as she had originally auditioned during the second season but was cut by the producers.

On May 18, 2005 Solomon was voted off during choice selections week after her three performances: "I'll Never Love This Way Again" by Dionne Warwick, "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin, and "On the Radio" by Donna Summer. Her elimination left contestants Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice in the Idol finale.

Solomon is featured on the Dear Santa holiday compilation album with a rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" alongside Alicia Keys, Nick Lachey, and other well-known recording artists. She has also shot footage for a cameo role in the upcoming independent film Still Green.

She has recently recorded her first album, entitled "Baby V".

She also recorded a song for the new Christmas album, "Breaking For The Holidays" called "It's Gonna Be A Cold Cold Christmas."

She is the CEO at her independent record label, Melodic Records.

Solomon is now a paid spokesperson for the United States Postal Service, as she was a mail carrier before her Idol appearances.

[edit] American Idol Performances

Top 24 - "Heatwave (Your Love Is Like A)" by Martha and the Vandellas
Top 20 - "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys
Top 16 - "Respect" by Aretha Franklin
Top 12 (Songs of the 60's) - "Anyone Who Had A Heart" by Dionne Warwick
Top 11 (Billboard #1's) - "Best Of My Love" by the Emotions
Top 10 (Songs of the 90's) - "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston
Top 9 (Broadway Musicals) - "People"
Top 8 (Songs from Contestants' Birthyear) - "Let's Hear It For The Boy" by Deniece Williams
Top 7 (70's Dance Music) - "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
Top 6 (Songs of the 21st Century) - "I Turn To You" by Christina Aguilera
Top 5 (Leiber and Stoller Songs) - "Treat Me Nice" by Elvis Presley
Top 5 (Billboard top 40) - "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
Top 4 (Nashville Songs) - "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes
Top 4 (Gamble and Huff Songs) - "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston
Top 3 (Clive Davis' choice) - "I'll Never Love This Way Again" by Dionne Warwick
Top 3 (Performer's choice) - "Chain Of Fools" by Aretha Franklin
Top 3 (Judges' choice) - "On The Radio" by Donna Summer