Adore Delano

Adore Delano

Adore Delano performing live in 2014
Born Daniel Noriega
September 29, 1989
Residence Azusa, California U.S.
Occupation Drag queen, singer, YouTube personality
Years active 2008–present

Adore Delano is the stage name of American singer, drag queen, and YouTube personality Daniel "Danny" Noriega. He is known for appearing on the seventh season of American Idol and the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. His first studio album released under the Adore Delano pseudonym, Till Death Do Us Party, was released in June 2014.

Early life

Adore Delano was born Daniel Noriega, on September 29, 1989 in Azusa, California. He is the youngest of five children in his family, having two older brothers and two older sisters. His parents were primarily Mexican-American, with some German and Native American ancestry. In early August 2014, Noriega's father passed away. Noriega attended Paramount Elementary School, Center Middle School, and Sierra High School.[1]

Career

2008: American Idol

In 2008, Noriega appeared on the seventh season of American Idol, making it to the semi-finals. He became known for his flamboyant personality and sassy rapport with the judges, notably a comment towards judge Simon Cowell, "Some people weren't liking it", after his first live performance, which later went viral and was frequently featured on The Soup. After watching him on Idol, Rosie O'Donnell invited Noriega to perform on her R Family Vacations cruise.[2] Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres also invited Noriega to be a guest on her show.

Performances:
Stage Theme Song choice Original artist Result
Audition Singer's Choice "Proud Mary" Creedence Clearwater Revival Advanced
Hollywood Singer's Choice "When I Need You" Albert Hammond Advanced
Top 24 The 1960s "Jailhouse Rock" Elvis Presley Safe
Top 20 The 1970s "Superstar" Delaney & Bonnie Safe
Top 16 The 1980s "Tainted Love" Gloria Jones Eliminated

2009–10: Post-American Idol

Following American Idol, Noriega became a YouTube personality, performing skits as himself, in drag as Adore Delano, or as his other character, Angel Baby. In June 2009, Noriega released the music video for his song "24/7," featuring Diamonique, his sister.[3]

2011–Present: Drag career, RuPaul's Drag Race, and Till Death Do Us Party

After seeing RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Raven perform at the nightclub Micky's in West Hollywood, Noriega was inspired to enter a drag competition at the club, later winning it.[4] Following the win, Noriega started performing regularly in Southern California as Adore Delano.[5] Along with other RuPaul's Drag Race contestants, Adore walked the Marco Marco runway for Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2013.[6]

In December 2013, Logo announced that Adore Delano was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[7] Adore had previously competed for the Season 5 fan-vote, ultimately losing to Penny Tration. Despite a slow start to the competition, Delano eventually went on to win three challenges, the joint most of the season. He became a member of the final three and in the season finale, was ultimately named co-runner up along with Courtney Act, losing out to Bianca Del Rio.

Immediately following the finale of Drag Race, Noriega released the single "DTF" on May 20, 2014, his first single as Adore Delano and the leading single off his album "Till Death Do Us Party". The full album was released on June 3, 2014, and debuted at #3 on the Dance/Electronic Albums Chart as well as #59 on the Billboard 200, making Noriega the highest charting artist of any RuPaul's Drag Race contestant, including RuPaul himself.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[8]		 US
Dance
[9]		 US
Indie
[10]
Till Death Do Us Party 59 3 11

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Hot
Dance
[11]		 US
Digital
Dance
[12]
"DTF" 2014 — — Till Death Do Us Party
"I Adore U" 49 34
"Party" — —
"Hello, I Love You" — —
"I Look Fuckin' Cool"
(featuring Alaska Thunderfuck)		 — —
"My Address Is Hollywood" — —
"Jump The Gun" 2015 — —
"Give Me Tonight" — —

Promotional singles

Title Year Album
"Oh No She Betta Don't"
(RuPaul featuring Drag Race Season 6 Cast)		 2014 non-album single

Other appearances

Title Year Album
"Superstar" 2014 RuPaul Presents: The CoverGurlz

Music videos

Title Year Director
"24/7" 2009 Streetlight
"Superstar" 2014 World Of Wonder
"Oh No She Better Don't"
RuPaul (featuring Drag Race Season 6 Cast)
"DTF" Michael Serrato
"I Adore U" Ben Simkins
"Party" Rami Films
"Hello, I Love You" Ben Simkins
"I Look Fuckin' Cool"
"My Address Is Hollywood" Jayson Whitmore
"Jump The Gun" 2015 Josef J. Weber

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2008 American Idol Himself Top 16
The Ellen DeGeneres Show 1 Episode
Entertainment Tonight 1 Episode
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Finalist (Top 3)
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Let the Music Play Himself Produced by World of Wonder

Music video appearances

Year Song Director
2014 "Oh No She Betta Don't" (RuPaul) Unknown
"Sissy That Walk" (RuPaul) Steven Corfe
"Mean Gays" (Courtney Act) Kain O'Keeffe

References

  1. ↑ Velazquez, Maritza (15 February 2008). "Interview with American Idol’s Danny Noriega". Inside Socal. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Danny Noriega Gets His First Job Offer — From Rosie O’Donnell!". People. 7 March 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. ↑ Stranksky, Tanner (10 June 2009). "'American Idol' alum Danny Noriega's new single '24/7': Too much to handle...ish". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Amabile, Michelle (10 December 2013). "'American Idol' Alum Danny Noriega to Compete on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (9 December 2013). "‘Idol’ Alum Danny Noriega to Compete on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Avery, Dan (18 October 2013). ""Drag Race" Queens Walk L.A. Fashion Week Runway For Marco Marco". New Now Next. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Beard, Lanford (9 December 2013). "'RuPaul's Drag Race': Check out the sickening season 6 supertease and meet the queens -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Adore Delano - Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Adore Delano - Chart History - Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Adore Delano - Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Adore Delano - Chart History - Hot Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Adore Delano - Chart History - Dance/Electronic Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2015.

External links