Claudette Ortiz
| Claudette Ortiz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Claudette Ortiz |
| Born |
July 21, 1981 Willingboro, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Origin | New Jersey |
| Genres | Hip hop, R&B, soul |
| Occupations | Singer, Model, Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Associated acts | City High, Wyclef Jean, Mase, R&B Divas: Los Angeles |
| Website | www.myclaudette.com |
Claudette Ortiz (born July 21, 1981) is an American singer and model, most famous as the female in the R&B group City High. Ortiz is also a castmate in TV One's reality series R&B Divas: Los Angeles.
Biography
Early life and career beginnings
Claudette Ortiz was born in Willingboro, New Jersey on July 21, 1981. She is the older sister of Geffen Records executive, Terrance Ortiz.
2001-2003: City High
The group began with Pardlo signing on as a solo artist. However, soon Pardlo's high school friend Toby and the producers decided that it should be a two-man group featured on the album. Soon after the two-man group began to work on the album, The Product G&B became successful. In order to stand out, the producers decided to add a female member. They chose Ortiz, another group member from their high school.[1] During production, all three members did writing on the songs.[2] The trio focused on trying to make lyrics that told a story, Toby noting that he got some inspiration for writing songs that tell stories from country music.[1] A large amount of the songs are based on real-life experiences the trio has experienced, such as "What Would You Do?".[2] The group recorded "What Would You Do?" two years prior to the release of album, as it was featured in the Eddie Murphy film Life.[3] It was not formally released, however, until 2001. The group disbanded in 2003, failing to release another album despite their debut's success.[4]
In November 2002, Ortiz appeared on the episode "Jr's Dating Dilemma" on ABC's My Wife and Kids.
2004-Present: Solo career & Reality TV
In 2006, Ortiz released her first solo single "Can't Get Enough" featuring Mase. She was also featured on Wyclef Jean's track "Dance Like This" on the Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights soundtrack. Other artists she has worked with include Nas, Ja Rule and Mase.[5][6]
For her debut album, currently slated for 2013, Claudette is currently working with producers will.i.am, Pharrell, So Klassik, & Noize Trip.
"I've been working in between my kids. I was on Interscope but they didn't like the material; after I had Bella they released me. I'd just been waiting for her to get a little bigger & stronger. She'll be 2 in April. So I'm back working... Anton Marchand is managing me and I'm in talks with an independent label... I'm about to go hard and I'm excited! I feel good, I'm happy, I'm single... I've been in a relationship most of my adult life... I'm not dating. I'm just enjoying delving into myself. Learning more about me and focusing on my kids. I have great people in my life... amazing friends and I just want them to know they are appreciated because I couldn't have made it without them."[7]
As of July 10 2013, Ortiz is a castmate in TV One's reality show R&B Divas: Los Angeles, also featuring Chante Moore, Michel'le, Lil' Mo, Dawn Robinson, and Kelly Price.[8]
She has released her new song "Reciprocation" on her website www.myclaudette.com
Personal life
She previously dated City High-member Robbie Pardlo for a few years, up until the group released their debut album. Ortiz later revealed on R&B Divas LA, that this was an abusive relationship. She later married and divorced City High-member Ryan Toby. They have 2 sons Daunte Toby & Joel Toby.
Ortiz said: "We are very close friends. We had both of our sons before we got married… we had a good relationship for a long time. Around 2007 it started fading out, we were changing… we’d gotten together pretty young & so we separated. I started seeing someone else & had my daughter at that time & I don’t know who Malicious Jynx is, that is not my daughter’s father. My daughter’s father is just a normal hard working business man. He’s not even in the industry"
In an interview Ortiz spoke about her daughter and how she did not know the guy reported by the media as her daughter's father:"So hold on… you don’t know that guy that is being reported as your daughter’s father?" Claudette Ortiz: "No I don’t know who that is. I saw a rumor on Wikipedia a while back saying I was dating him & had a child by him… I was in the studio with Brian Michael Cox & we were laughing about it… I wasn’t even pregnant with my daughter yet… I don’t know that guy & never met him. My daughter's father is just a normal hard working business man. He's not even in the industry."[9]
In 2013, Ortiz was contemplating joining the U.S Air Force Reserves, when she was contacted by TV One's producer Phil Thornton to do R&B Divas: LA. She relocated her family from New Jersey to partake in the series.[10]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S Rap | UK | ||||
| 2006 | "Can't Get Enough" (feat. Mase) |
89 | 37 | 42 | 96 | Non single releases | |
| 2010 | "Simply Amazin'" | — | — | — | — | ||
As featured performer
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | U.S. | U.S. R&B | UK | NZ | ||||
| "Two Wrongs" (Wyclef Jean feat. Claudette Ortiz) |
2002 | 5 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 1 | Masquerade | |
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "IN CITY HIGH'S BOOK, EVERY SONG TELLS A STORY". Daily News (New York). May 29, 2001. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Grammys: City High". USA Today. January 21, 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ↑ "Life Soundtrack". Lifemovie.com. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ↑ "Billboard- City High". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ↑ "Claudette Ortiz- Can't Get Enough ft. Mase". YouTube. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- ↑ "Claudette Ortiz & Mase - Can't Get Enough". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- ↑ "She is...: A Conversation With Claudette Ortiz (EXCLUSIVE)". Sheisnyc.com. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- ↑ http://tvone.tv/shows/r-b-divas--la.html
- ↑ View Comments (2010-02-02). "Claudette Ortiz Tells Her Side of the Story: Says Robbie "Spit in Her Face"…"I Have Never Met Malicious Jynx"". Bossip. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- ↑ http://blackamericaweb.com/154182/claudette-ortiz-it-was-rb-divas-or-the-army/
- ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2002 Singles". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
- ↑ Steffen Hung. "Forum - Chart of the Decade. (General)". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
External links
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