Melissa Sgambelluri

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Melissa Sgambelluri

Background information
Also known as	Fountain Girl
Born	1984
Genre(s)	R & B, Blues, Soul, Funk
Instrument(s)	singer
Years active	2005 to present
Website	http://www.myspace.com/melissasgam

Melissa Sgambelluri (born 1984, New York) is an American actress, dancer, and singer, most famous for her appearances on American Idol Seasons 5 and 6 as the "fountain girl". She was raised in the Capital District and now lives in New York City.

1 Early career
2 American Idol
3 Subsequent career
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Early career

Sgambelluri acted in local theater in Albany's Washington Park,^[1] and was a runner-up for the Albany Tulip Queen beauty contest. She attended Bishop Maginn High School and the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York.^[2] She was the opening act for American Idol Season 5 runner-up Bo Bice, and sang locally at other gigs in the Capital District of New York, while also working as a receptionist at a hair stylist's boutique.^[3]

[edit] American Idol

In 2006, Sgambelluri tried out for Season 5 of the American television reality show, American Idol, and did not succeed, but tried again in 2007 for Season 6.^[4]

Sgambelluri appeared in the first few minutes of the "Best of the Rest" episode of American Idol Season 6, where she sang Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man and Ira Gershwin's Someone to Watch Over Me.^[5] ^[6] She also appeared in the opening credits and a promo that season jumping up and down in a fountain in Memphis with her "Golden Ticket" to Hollywood, but was contractually required to keep her final status a secret.^[7] ^[8] ^[9]

Sgambelluri was eliminated from the competition a second time.^[10] She did, however, make it into the Idol Final 100, received kudos from Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson,^[11] ^[12] was feted in Albany, and was able to perform in Hollywood.^[13]

[edit] Subsequent career

Sgambelluri has recorded a video at Quad Studios in New York City, which is now shown at You Tube and other viral video web sites.^[14] Since mid-2007, she has performed as an R & B singer around the Capital District, as well as the New York City area.^[15] She currently lives in New York City.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

^ James Yeara, Review of Fiddler on the Roof: "Raise High", Metroland, Vol. 27, No. 33, found at Metroland on line. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Saint Rose Magazine, Summer 2007, p. 18, found at [1]. PDF. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Kyle Griffin, "Saint Rose alum makes it to Hollywood: She made it to Hollywood, but who is alum Melissa Sgambelluri?", College of Saint Rose CSR Chronicle, February 4, 2007, found at: CSR Chronicle article. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Idol-Mania fan web site. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Kyle Griffin, "Saint Rose alum makes it to Hollywood: She made it to Hollywood, but who is alum Melissa Sgambelluri?", College of Saint Rose CSR Chronicle, February 4, 2007, found at: CSR Chronicle article. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Idol Fan site. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Mark McGuire, "For TV extroverts, silence is a harsh reality," Albany Times Union, January 26, 2007, found at Times Union story. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ American Idol fan page. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Idol Fan site. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Mark McGuire, "No Reason to Watch," Albany Times Union, February 15, 2007, found at Mark McGuire's blog for the Albany Times Union.
^ Mark McGuire, "Albany Singer Makes 'Idol' 100 Round: Spa Employee Melissa Sgambelluri Gets Nod From Abdul and Jackson," Albany Times Union, January 26, 2007, found at Red Orbit web site. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Judge Simon Cowell vetoed Sgambelluri's continued progress in that season of American Idol.
^ Radio Station FLY 92 party. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ You Tube. Accessed January 17, 2008.
^ Soundclick.com web site. Accessed January 23, 2008.