Olivia (singer)

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Olivia
Olivia performing in 2007.
Olivia performing in 2007.
Background information
Birth name Olivia Theresa Longott
Born February 15, 1981 (1981-02-15) (age 27)
Origin Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genre(s) R&B, hip hop, soul, reggae
Occupation(s) Singer
Instrument(s) Vocals
Voice type(s) Mezzo-soprano
Years active 1999 - present
Label(s) J (2000-2002)
G-Unit (2004-2007)
Website www.oliviaonline.net

Olivia Theresa Longott (born February 15, 1981), professionally known as Olivia, is an American R&B singer. She is of Jamaican, Indian, and Cuban descent.

Contents

[edit] Life and career

[edit] Personal life

Olivia Longott was born in Brooklyn, New York and stayed with her grandmother until the age of 8. Then her family relocated to Jamaica, Queens, New York. Olivia developed an interest in singing from an early age, and was active in her church choir. During her adolescence, she took guitar from R&B singer Joe Lewis Thomas, she also took piano and vocal lessons, suggested by her cousin Paul. Olivia took her mother's advice and went to College, before signing a record deal. Two years later she's signed to Clive Davis' new label J Records.

[edit] J Records

In 2000, she became the first artist signed to Clive Davis' J Records. Her self-titled debut album Olivia was released in 2001 and featured the singles "Bizounce" which made # 15 on the charts, and "R U Capable". The album was promoted and debuted at number fifty-five. It sold 16,527 copies in the first week, but it fell off in just four weeks, selling about 180,000 copies total. Because of the perceived poor record sales, Olivia was released from J Records following year later.

[edit] G-Unit Records

In 2004, Olivia re-emerged as the first woman signed to G-Unit Records. She contributed vocals to the trio's debut album Beg for Mercy and to 50 Cent's The Massacre, including the album's number-one single "Candy Shop".

Her first solo single released via G-Unit Records was "Twist It", featuring fellow G-Unit member Lloyd Banks, followed up by "So Sexy" in summer 2005. Both songs failed to debut on the charts due to little Promotion. Olivia briefly attended Hofstra University in New York and planned her second album, Behind Closed Doors, which was slated for a 2007 release on Interscope and G-Unit Records. Around the same time, Olivia contributed vocals to Shaggy's single "Wild 2Nite" which debuted at number 85 on the US charts and 65 on the UK charts.

Olivia released her single "Best Friend (remix)" featuring 50 Cent in 2006.

On January 7, 2007, a song titled "My Daddy" was leaked to the internet. It was produced by J. R. Rotem.

In Spring 2007, Olivia was dropped from G-Unit which was confirmed by 50 Cent himself during an April 4, 2007 interview with Miss Jones on Hot 97, stating problems of communication rather than talent.

[edit] 2008

Wolf (Olivia's manager) posted the following message on MySpace:

R&B Songstress Olivia is performing in Tokyo Japan on the 8th of May. She returns to NYC to help support the kids of Harlem, NYC on the 17th of May at Wadliegh H.S. in Manhattan. Olivia then skirts off to Dublin, Ireland on the 5th of June for an unforgettable late night performance. Pay close attention to all the many pages and internet sites dedicated to her for updated information on Olivia's next release! Many thanks to the many loving and caring fans that have created these wonderful sites for her! Olivia is keeping tight liped about which label she is signed to.[cite this quote]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • 2001: Olivia
  • 2005: Behind Closed Doors (shelved)
  • 2007: Second Chance (canceled)

[edit] Mixtapes

  • 2006: DJ Whoo Kid & Olivia: So Seductive

[edit] Singles

Year Song Chart positions[1] Albums
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B UK
2001 "Bizounce" 15 4 20 Olivia
"Are U Capable" – 124 -
"You Got the Damn Thing" – – –
2005 "Candy Shop" (50 Cent feat. Olivia) 1 1 4 The Massacre
"Twist It" (feat. Lloyd Banks) - 114 – Behind Closed Doors
"Wild 2Nite" (Shaggy feat. Olivia) – – 61 Clothes Drop
"So Sexy" – – – Behind Closed Doors
2006 "Best Friend (remix)" (Olivia & 50 Cent) 35 20 35

[edit] References

  1. ^ Artist Chart History. Billboard. Accessed September 24, 2007.
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[edit] External links

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