Amii Stewart
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Amy Paulette Stewart (born January 29, 1956, in Washington D.C.) is an American Contemporary R&B/Disco/Dance-pop singer, dancer and actress.
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[edit] Career
Amii Stewart's father signed her up for singing and dancing lessons from the age of four, and this eventually led to a very successful career as one of the most regarded Disco artists. Before being signed onto Ariola Records, Stewart appeared in the stage production Bubbling Brown Sugar on Broadway,
Her first single, a disco cover version of the Eddie Floyd hit "Knock On Wood", reached number one in the U.S. in April 1979, and earned her a platinum record and a Grammy Award nomination. It was her only American pop chart hit and her largest club single before and she was unfairly dismissed there as a one hit wonder. She did go on to score several Top 10 and Top 20 U.S. dance chart hits.
[edit] European Superstardom
However, in Europe she established herself as a serious popular performer during the disco era of the late 1970s, scoring her highest chart placing in the UK Singles Chart with another disco cover version, of The Doors' Light My Fire (released as Light My Fire / 137 Disco Heaven), which reached number five in 1979. Further singles such as Jealousy, which was a mix of the fading out disco and the new wave hitting the dance floors, continued her chart run in continental Europe and proved very popular in European discos, but as disco began to lose popularity she branched into other contemporary musical styles. During this period she worked with such producers as Giorgio Moroder and Ennio Morricone. Her 1984 single, Friends reached number one in several European countries, and peaked at number 12 in the UK in early 1985. The follow-up single That Loving Feeling received good reviews but failed to make the UK Top 40. Both singles were lifted from her highly acclaimed album Try Love, which highlighted a new downtempo and soulful sound. A year later, a remixed version of Knock On Wood would take her back into the UK Top 10, also topping the UK dance charts.
Stewart has resided in Italy since the mid 1980s, and in her adopted homeland has become a respected performer of a wide range of musical styles. In 1993 and 1994 she was one of several singers invited to perform at the Vatican before the Pope in Christmas pageants.
[edit] Recent Times
In 2000, Stewart toured Italy, playing the part of Mary Magdalene, in the revival of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. The play also starred Carl Anderson, who revived his role of "Judas Iscariot" from the 1971 movie.
In 2003, Stewart starred in the musical Lady Day, in the role of Billie Holiday; the musical was written and produced by her.
[edit] Trivia
Amii is the aunt of actress/singer Sinitta who, in turn, is the daughter of actress/singer Miquel Brown, famous for the disco tune So Many Men, So Little Time.
Amii Stewart took the almost unique step of recording the same medley of songs, with two different singing partners, in the space of six years. The medley consisted of the standards "My Guy" and "My Girl" (see below).
In the 1998 movie 54 actress/singer Mary Griffin portrayed the role of Amii performing her hit single, Knock On Wood, at the famed discotheque. While performing Mary wore a similar extravagant style outfit that Amii wore for her video of the hit single back in 79.
However, the credits at the end of the movie has Mary's character listed as Disco Star instead of Amii Stewart, although it was obvious that she was portraying Amii.
[edit] Discgraphy
[edit] Albums
- 1979: Knock On Wood
- 1980: Amii Stewart
- 1981: I'm Gonna Get Your Love
- 1986: Amii
- 1992: Magic
- 1996: Desire
- 1997: Men I Love
- 1998: It's Fantasy
- 1999: My Heart and I
- 2000: Unspottable
- 2002: Saharan Dream
- 2004: Time For Fantasy
[edit] U.S. U.K. & European Singles
- Knock On Wood - (1979) - UK Number 6 - US Pop: #1, U.S. R&B: #6, U.S. Club Play: #5, Germany: #13.
- "Light My Fire - 137 Disco Heaven (Medley)" - (1979) - UK Number 5 - US Pop: Number 69, US R&B: #36, Germany Number 26.
- "Jealousy" - (1979) - UK Number 58 - Italy Number 4 - Netherlands Number 5.
- "The Letter / Paradise Bird" - (1980) - UK Number 39.
- "My Guy - My Girl (Medley)" - (1980) - Amii Stewart and Johnny Bristol - UK Number 39 - US Number 63.
- "Grazie Perchè (We've Got Tonight)" - (1984) - Amii Stewart and Gianni Morandi - Italy Number 3.
- "Friends" - (1984) - UK Number 12 - US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks: #46 - Italy Number 1.
- "That Loving Feeling" - (1985) - UK Number 95.
- "Together" - (1985) - Amii Stewart and Mike Francis - Italy Number 9.
- Knock On Wood / Light My Fire (Remix) - (1985) - UK Number 7.
- "You Really Touch My Heart" - (1985) - UK Number 89.
- "My Guy - My Girl (Medley) - (1986) - Amii Stewart and Deon Estus - UK Number 63.
- "Love Ain't No Toy" - (1986) UK Number 99.
- "It's Fantasy" - (1988) - Italy Number 14.
- "Don't Be So Shy" - (1992)
