Melody Thornton

Melody Thornton
Background information
Also known as	Mel Baby Doll Melody
Born	September 28, 1984 (1984-09-28)
Origin	Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Genres	Pop, R&B, hip hop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, model, dancer, television personality
Labels	A&M, The Network Artist Agency, Melody SangReal
Associated acts	Pussycat Dolls, Jibbs
Website	onlythemelody.com

Melody Thornton (born September 28, 1984) is an American vocalist and model. She rose to stardom as a member of the successful pop group the Pussycat Dolls. The youngest member of the group, Thornton assumed the second most prominent vocal role, after lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger, and was distinguished for her melismatic vocal runs. As of 2010, Thornton has departed the group to focus on her solo career. Thornton has a soprano voice and is better known for her vocal runs than for singing solos. Thornton released her debut single Sweet Vendetta in 2011. Thornton confirmed the title of her debut album will be Hit The Ground Running to be released sometime in 2012.

Early life

Thornton graduated from Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 2003. She is of Mexican descent from her mother Elia, and her father Theolph Thornton of African American descent. Thornton has an older sister named Nichole Thornton. Her talent was first discovered at a Papago Elementary School talent show when she sang Mariah Carey's remake of Badfinger's "Without You".

Career

2004–10: Pussycat Dolls era

Thornton on the World Domination Tour

Main article: Pussycat Dolls

In 2003, soprano vocalist Thornton was recruited in the Pussycat Dolls order to add vocal strength to the group. She saw the Pussycat Dolls on MTV Diaries featuring Christina Aguilera and heard they were auditioning for a new group member. Thornton went to the audition and was recruited in December 2003. For her audition, Thornton only sang and was still accepted into the group. As with the other Dolls, she is a salaried employee of Interscope Records. Her nickname for the group is "Baby Doll" because she is the youngest of the group. As of 2009, she announced during a concert that she usually introduces herself as "Baby Doll", but she wants the world to know her as "Melody".

The Pussycat Dolls achieved worldwide success in 2005 with their album PCD, which debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and produced the hits "Don't Cha", "Buttons", and "Stickwitu", the last of which earned the group a Grammy Award nomination. Following the departure of Carmit Bachar in March 2008, the group continued as a quintet and in 2008 released their second studio album, Doll Domination which included the hits "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" and "Hush Hush". She was the only member to have contributed vocals apart from Scherzinger on Doll Domination (Standard Edition). She provides additional backing vocals and ad-libs to many of the songs, although on "Elevator", "Love the Way You Love Me", "Takin' Over the World" and "Painted Windows" she can be found sharing the lead vocals with Scherzinger. Additionally on "When I Grow Up", "Whatcha Think About That" and "Top of the World" she sings secondary vocals. She also recorded her very first Pussycat Doll solo song called "Space" which was included in the deluxe edition of Doll Domination.

2010–present: Solo career

"Thank you for supporting me, even if I'm not featured. You know what I'm saying? And I feel like it's my responsibility to say to all the little boys and girls in the house tonight that myself and Ashley Roberts are examples that you can do anything that you want to do, don't give up on your dreams and don't let anyone stomp on them ever!"

—Thornton, Circus tour in Phoenix.^{[citation needed]}

During the Pussycat Doll's hiatus, Thornton worked on several projects including a cameo on Keri Hilson's music video "Slow Dance" and being a judge at E!'s TV show Bank of Hollywood with the production by Ryan Seacrest. In June 2010 Rap-Up reported that she has departed from the group and was working on her solo album. Speaking about her position in the group she commented, "I got into the group to sing. That was made very clear to me. But it became more and more apparent what was going on. Roles were being minimized and minimized, and then by the time it got on the show, it was very much like 'Y'all play your part and this is what it is.' It was tough because you don't want to shit on your own opportunity."

In an interview for The Source Thornton explained that her songs will be different from the group’s sound but she's not going to abandon that pop demographic that she acquired through the Pussycat Dolls. "[...] But it's not popular-for-the-moment, the kind of music that I'm making. It's live instrumentation and it derives from '60s influences. It's just kind of what I was raised on, James Brown, B.B. King-ish as far as instrumentation goes. But vocally, I admire Mariah Carey and was raised on Aretha Franklin, Jackson 5 and all of that, so it's not going to be like Pussycat Dolls at all." In June 2010 Rap-Up first announced that Thornton was working on her solo album with collaborators including Cee Lo Green, Polow da Don, and Lil Wayne. On Vibe Magazine she stated that she is also working with Dre and Vidal. Thornton's recording of the Cee Lo produced song "Love Gun" leaked to the internet around this time. The song was eventually recorded by Green and Lauren Bennett for his album The Lady Killer.

In June 2011, Melody was a contestant on the UK TV show Popstar to Operastar alongside Joe McElderry, Claire Richards, Cheryl Baker, Midge Ure, Joseph Wahbourne, Jocelyn Brown and Andy Bell. She was in the bottom two week one (5th of June) alongside Midge Ure but was saved by the Judges. She did not sing in Week 2 (the first two weeks, singers were split into groups of four, with four singing Week 1, and four Week 2). However, she was in the bottom two again in Week 3 alongside Joseph Washbourne and was sent home. Whilst on the show, Melody struck up a close friendship with fellow contestant Joe McElderry. They were dubbed "Jelody" by the fellow contestants and after her departure from the show, Melody backed Joe to win. Both Joe and Melody have expressed an interest in working together in future.

On June 17, 2011, Thornton's first official single "Sweet Vendetta" was released.

Thornton confirmed during a recent interview at the Fourth Annual 'Creme of the Crop' post-BET Awards Dinner Celebration After Party that she plans to have her debut solo album released sometime in 2012.

Discography

Album

Year	Album	U.S.	U.S. R&B	UK	Certifications
2012	Hit The Ground Running	TBR	TBR	TBR	TBR

Featured singles

Year	Single	Chart positions	Album
		NZ
2006	"Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton)	17	Jibbs Featuring Jibbs

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions	Album
		UK
2011	"Sweet Vendetta"	—	Hit the Ground Running

Album appearances

Year	Contribution	Album	Album artist	Notes
2008	"Space"	Doll Domination	Pussycat Dolls	Included on the International Deluxe edition disc.
2009	"Ease Off the Liquor"	Shock Value 2	Timbaland	Additional vocals

Leaked/ unreleased music

Year	Song	Intention of song
2006	Fever (Little Willie John song)	Unreleased Version for Pussycat Dolls' PCD World Tour, Honda Civic Tour & Back To Basics Tour
2009	Hey Big Spender	Unreleased Solo Version for Pussycat Dolls' Doll Domination Tour
2009	"Painted Windows"	Unreleased Solo Version for Pussycat Dolls
2010	"Love Gun" (Prod. by Cee Lo)	Leaked Demo Version for Cee Lo Green
2010	"Hit The Ground Running"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2010	"Bad Bitch" (prod. by Dre & Vidal)	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2010	"You & I"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2011	"Hate To See You Cry"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2011	"Help From Above"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2011	"Phoenix Rise"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album
2011	"There You Go"	Hit The Ground Running Debut Solo Album

Music videos

Year	Song	Director(s)	Album
2007	"Go Too Far" (Jibbs featuring Melody Thornton)	Meiert Avis	N/A
2009	"Slow Dance" (cameo appearance)	Chris Robinson	N/A
2011	"Don't Wanna Go Home" (cameo appearance)	Rich Lee	N/A
2012	"Sweet Vendetta"	N/A	Hit The Ground Running

Filmography

Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Keeping Up with the Kardashians	Herself	Episode 1
	Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll	Herself
2009	Bank of Hollywood	Judge
2010	TV Guide's Countdown to the Grammys	Host	Co-host with Justin Guarini
	World Music Awards	Herself	Presenter
2011	Popstar to Operastar	Herself	Performer/Contestant

External links

• Official website
• Melody Thornton at the Internet Movie Database