Brettina

Brettina

Brettina modeling photo, July 2009, wearing a headband and a Nanette Lepore top
Background information
Birth name Brettina Lorena Robinson
Born December 8
Origin Nassau, the Bahamas
Genres Jazz, Smooth jazz
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, actress, print model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2010–present
Labels Floating Bridge Media (independent)
Website www.Brettina.com

Brettina (born December 8, 1976)[1] is a Bahamian jazz singer-songwriter, model, and SAG actress, who lives in metropolitan Los Angeles.

Early life

Brettina was born in Nassau, the Bahamas. She moved to Chicago with her family while she was a toddler when her mother, gospel-singer/actress Leona Coakley Spring, began acting on the popular stage plays "The Crucible," and "The Other Cinderella."[2] Brettina moved back to the Bahamas during her school years. Rising from humble beginnings, her mother instilled in her the value of hard work and a strong sense of cultural pride.

Brettina began singing at age four, under the influence of her mother, as well as Theo and Kirk Coakley of the popular 1970 Funk/Soul group T-Connection.

While attending C.I. Gibson School in the Bahamas she was awarded the title "Miss C.I. Gibson", which made her eligible for Miss Bahamas Talented Teen.[3] Brettina won the title "Miss Bahamas Talented Teen",[4] and earned a university scholarship. She attended the University of Washington.[3][4]

Musical style and career

Brettina cites as her main influences Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn,[4][5] Shirley Bassey,[6] Sade, Adele, and LIRA.[1] She sings jazz, and describes her style as "organic".[4][5]

She draws from personal experience in her songwriting. For example, she cites her poor childhood as the inspiration for her song "Poor Old Times",[3] her fondness for chai as the inspiration for "Chai",[7] and childhood memories as the inspiration for covering the Belafonte-Burgess song "Island in the Sun".[8]

In addition to her jazz career, she has worked as a print model and an actress in national advertisements. As a singer, she has performed mainly in the Seattle and Los Angeles areas.[1][4][9]

She has performed in public on several occasions, for example:

Awards

Critical Acclaim

Brettina has been praised by a variety of critics, for example:

Philanthropy

Brettina supports several charitable causes, most visibly a donation in support of C.I. Gibson School, which she attended.[7] She also supports All Saints Camp, a shelter for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, with her mother.[3]

Discography

Studio albums: Brettina (2010), Taste (forthcoming)

Brettina CD cover; portrait taken in the Bahamas, January 7, 2010

Music videos

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Brettina FAN PAGE". January 12, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ Christianson, Bill (22 November 2011). "Redmond's Bahama Mama: Many talents, one mission". Redmond Reporter. Sound Publishing, Inc. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Chakara Bennett (February 5, 2010). "Fighting for her dream". The Nassau Guardian Online. The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Biography". Brettina.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010. "Biography". Brettina.com. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Interview with Bahamian Jazz Artist, Brettina Robinson". The Bahamas Weekly. April 30, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Special Guests Ms Charmaine, Pastor Chandra Williams, & Brettina (time 52:50)". Alysha Live. February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Chakara Bennett (April 30, 2010). "Brettina's heart and soul". The Nassau Guardian Online. The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Beautiful Bahamian Girl". Bahamians Online. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Brettina: the New Face of Jazz". November 14, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ Tara Hunnewell (April 1, 2010). "Brettina Music, Brettina CD Release Party, RealTVfilms". RealTVfilms. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Brettina and Julien to perform at Supermodel of the Bahamas". The Bahamas Weekly. April 24, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Brettina. Up Close & Unplugged.". Brettina FAN PAGE. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ "International Creative Talent Agency". International Creative Talent Agency. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bahamian night - May 8". Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  15. ↑ Brettina, 2010, UPC 793573785138 |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  16. ↑ "Brettina Robinson Beautiful Artist". Bahamians Online. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  17. ↑ Chakara Bennett (December 3, 2010). "Feeling the love". The Nassau Guardian. The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved February 23, 2011.

External links

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