Melissa Jiménez
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| Melissa Jiménez | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melissa Jiménez |
| Born | 1984 |
| Origin | New York, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | R&B |
| Years active | 2002- |
| Label(s) | SRC/Universal Motown |
Melissa Jiménez (born April 15,1984) is an American R&B singer and songwriter currently signed to SRC Records/Universal Motown Records Group. Jiménez is slated to release her debut album titled Signed Sealed Delivered in 2008.
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[edit] Early life
Born in New York, Jiménez was raised by her mother Maria and her Mexican father Horacio, who came to the United States in 1982 with a contract to play at the prestigious "Sirocco Club" in New York City. Her musical experience started early on, going to studio sessions and rehearsals with her father since she was a baby. At age 14 she joined her father's Big band and orchestra as a vocalist. Shortly thereafter, Melissa began writing songs and learned to play piano. Dancing was a natural skill, and to enhance it she took ballet, jazz, modern dance, African dance, mambo, and hip-hop. Her official biography states that "before she was even old enough to be eligible, she received a standing ovation for performing on an amateur night at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem."[1]
[edit] Early career
Early in her career Jiménez recorded with a variety of people including:
- the Sugar Hill label
- Ruff Ryders, appearing on albums by Drag-On and working with Styles P and Swizz Beatz
- former Roc-A-Fella founder Damon Dash, working with N.O.R.E. and rapper Beanie Sigel
- appeared on Sigel’s single and video, “Feel It in the Air,” from his 2005 Platinum-certified album The B. Coming.
- wrote and performed “Dance With Me,” on the Forest Whitaker-directed major motion picture soundtrack for First Daughter, with Damon Elliott, son of Dionne Warwick.
- appeared on “Take the Lead (Wanna Ride),” with Bone Thugs N Harmony and Wisin & Yandel featuring Fatman Scoop, from the Antonio Banderas film, Take the Lead.
[edit] SRC records
[edit] Signing
A demo she sent out ended up with Jamaal Meeks, aka Reality, now an A&R at SRC, but then an intern. Meeks played the demo for Steve Rifkind, chairman of SRC Records, who was impressed. Rifkind later attended a wedding where Melissa performed and, remembering the demo, looked for her immediately afterwards only to find she had gone. Jiménez was called to the office for a meeting with Rifkind, Universal Music Group chairman Doug Morris, and Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone the next day and was signed on the spot.[2]
[edit] Colaborations
She has been featured in the Wyclef Jean singles "Touch your Button" and "Selena", and in the Kumbia All Starz song "Rica y Apretadita".
[edit] Upcoming album
Jiménez's upcoming album Signed Sealed Delivered is due to be released in August 2008. Her debut single, "Untouchable", which she co-wrote with Claude Kelly, is currently available on her Myspace page.
Producers that Melissa worked with on the album include:
- Bryan Michael Cox
- Trackmasters
- KNS
- Tyrice Jones
[edit] Discography
2008: Signed Sealed Delivered
[edit] Singles
2007: Untouchable
