Whitney Wolanin
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| Whitney Wolanin | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 29, 1990 |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Voice, piano, drums |
| Label(s) | TopNotch |
| Website | http://www.whitneywolanin.com |
Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in), born June 29, 1990 (New York), is a singer and songwriter, who also plays piano and drums. Her father, Vincent, is a wealthy developer (Wolanin Companies Ltd.) who also started TopNotch Entertainment in the late 1980s.[1] Whitney records for her father's label, TopNotch Records.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Recording career
[edit] Funkology
Growing up in Florida, Wolanin first told her father of her desire to record an album when she was 11.[3] When she was 13, her father relented, and over her summer break she recorded an album with her father's personal friend, Bob Babbitt (second-string bassist—after James Jamerson—for Motown's studio group, The Funk Brothers), in Nashville.[2] The album, Funkology XIII, released two years later in 2005, was made up of twelve R&B covers (mostly of Motown origin) and one original.
A version of Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston's "It Takes Two", sung with Jimi Jamison of Survivor, reached #9 on radio trade publication Friday Morning Quarterback's AC40 Chart,[4] and was a #1 most added song,[5] Wolanin's song “Good” (which she co-wrote with Babbitt and her father) peaked at #7.[6]
In late 2005, Wolanin released "Christmas (The Warmest Time of the Year)"—another original she co-wrote with Babbitt and her father. The song made FMQB's Top 100 airplay chart at #87 in 2005.[7]
[edit] Christmasology
In 2006, Wolanin released her second album, Christmasology, a collection of Christmas songs recorded the previous year. Christmasology featured 15 songs, including "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree”, "Frosty the Snowman”, "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", as well as "Christmas (The Warmest Time of the Year)". "Frosty” was the #1 Most Added Christmas Song at radio the week of November 5, 2006 and November 19, 2006.[8] In December 2006, "Frosty" peaked at #11 on R&R's Media Base Top 40 Radio Airplay Charts,[9] and was played on over 800 radio stations.[10]
[edit] Loud and Clear
"Loud and Clear", a song Wolanin co-wrote with her big sister Victoria, was released as a single (including 3 remixes and an a cappella track) on June 4, 2007 to dance and club radio. Four more singles are planned.[11]
[edit] Extracurricular activities
Wolanin is celebrity spokesperson for Youth Crime Watch of America, helping young people avoid problems on the internet. Her online safety tips are featured in various languages on the YCWA website.[12] Wolanin has also participated for 5 years in the annual Rockin' Christmas Fund charity fundraiser event, the proceeds of which go to the Rockin’ Christmas Scholarship Fund. Her involvement includes visiting various Children's Hospitals with other celebrities, and providing personally signed CDs to children at the Shriners Hospitals nationwide at Christmas time. At 6 feet tall, she's also an asset to her school's basketball team.[13]
[edit] Discography
- Funkology XIII (2005, TopNotch)
- "Christmas (The Warmest Time of the Year)" single (2005, TopNotch)
- Christmasology (2006, TopNotch)
- "Loud and Clear" single (2007, TopNotch)
[edit] References
- ^ A long-distance goal, The Business Review, January 30, 1998
- ^ a b Whitney Wolanin's Rising Star, Jim Sullivan, Hall of Fame Magazine
- ^ Star on the horizon, Jennifer Sutcliffe, Naples Daily News, November 3, 2006.
- ^ AC Top 40 Radio Chart, Friday Morning Quarterback, April 19, 2006
- ^ AC Radio Weekly Report, Friday Morning Quarterback, April 2006
- ^ AC Top 40 Radio Chart, Friday Morning Quarterback, November 2, 2005
- ^ Annual Summary Report, Friday Morning Quarterback, December 2005
- ^ R&R, December 4, 2006
- ^ AC Radio Chart, R&R, December 11, 2006
- ^ AC Radio Media Base Holiday Summary, Radio & Records Weekly, December 30, 2006
- ^ Local singer, 16, rises above with new single, Mark S. Krzos, The News-Press, May 18, 2007.
- ^ Whitney's Way to Online Safety, Youth Crime Watch of America
- ^ Sounds of Motown, Tiffany Yates, Naples Daily News, March 24, 2006.
