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Tori Kelly

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Tori Kelly
Kelly at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival
Born
Victoria Loren Kelly

(1992-12-14) December 14, 1992 (age 31)[1]
Wildomar, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • record producer
Years active2004–present
Spouse
André Murillo
​
(m. 2018)​
Musical career
OriginCanyon Lake, California, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
  • drums
  • keyboard
Labels
Websitetorikellymusic.com
Signature

Victoria Loren Kelly (born December 14, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer. Kelly first gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube at the age of 14. When she was 16, she auditioned for the singing competition television series American Idol. After being eliminated from the show, Kelly began to work on her own music. In 2012, she independently released her first EP that she produced, wrote, and mixed herself, titled Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly. The following year, Scooter Braun became her manager after seeing her videos on YouTube and introduced her to Capitol Records, with which she signed in September. Kelly's second EP Foreword came out in October 2013 as her first major label release. On June 23, 2015, Kelly's debut album, Unbreakable Smile, was released. The lead single, "Nobody Love", was released in February 2015 and became her first US Billboard Hot 100 appearance. Kelly was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Grammy Awards. She voiced a shy teenage elephant named Meena in the 2016 animated film Sing.

Life and career

1992–2009: Early life and career beginnings

Kelly was born in Wildomar, California. Her father, Allwyn, is of Jamaican and Puerto Rican ancestry, while her mother, Laura, is of Irish and German descent.[3] She has a younger brother named Noah, born August 29, 1996.[4] Growing up, she was exposed to a variety of music by her parents. "I give them a lot of credit for just playing all different genres, and no genre was off limits," she said when asked about her upbringing. Kelly is a Christian. Faith plays a part in her songwriting, though she does not consider herself a part of the Christian music genre.[5][6] Kelly appeared on the show Star Search, but lost to vocalist Tiffany Evans, who won the title of Junior Champion in the junior singer division.

In 2004, she participated on America's Most Talented Kids, singing Christina Aguilera's "Keep on Singin' My Song" and won, beating out musician Hunter Hayes. She made a second appearance on the show in the Tournament of Champions, but lost to Antonio Pontarelli, a rock musician. At age twelve, Kelly accepted a record deal with Geffen Records, but both sides agreed to end the contract due to creative differences.[7] In 2007, Kelly began posting videos to YouTube, at the age of 14. The first video she uploaded was a cover of John Wesley Work, Jr.'s "Go Tell It on the Mountain", which she originally performed back in December 2004. Kelly gained recognition for her acoustic cover, with a fellow YouTuber named Angie Girl, of Frank Ocean's "Thinkin Bout You".[8][9]

Despite failing to reach the top 24 on "American Idol," she took a new tack in her music, learning how to play the guitar, composing original song pieces, and recording them herself on her computer. Tori began posting her performances on YouTube, and quickly reached over 1,000,000 subscribers.[10]

2010–2012: Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly

In 2010, Tori auditioned for Season 9 of American Idol in Denver, Colorado and made it through to Hollywood Week but did not reach the "Top 24" of the artists. She had claimed that 'she was devastated' but she had 'given it her all'. Afterwards, she was asked to take part in a youth version of the 1985 charity song "We Are the World" titled "We Are the World: The Next Generation". On May 1, 2012, she released her first EP, titled Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly, which was released on her own label, Toraay Records. Kelly wrote, produced, engineered, and recorded the EP by herself in her bedroom. Shortly after its release, the EP made it to the Top 10 Pop Albums list on iTunes.[11] She called the EP a "warm up" to a full-length album that was to come in the future.[12] As of 2013, it had sold more than 14,000 copies and reached number nine on the US Heatseekers Albums chart.[13]

In February 2013, Kelly released a single called "Fill a Heart", which she wrote for the "Child Hunger Ends Here" campaign by ConAgra Foods and Feeding America. The song was later performed by British boy band The Wanted on Dancing With the Stars. Starting in April 2013, Kelly performed at eight venues across continental U.S. for her "Fill a Heart" tour, helping out at the cities' food banks during the day.[14] She has performed in venues such as the Troubador and the Roxy in Los Angeles, the Gramercy Theater in New York and Bush Hall in London. She has also been featured in magazines such as Teen Vogue, Elle and Glamour.[15]

During mid-2013, Kelly's newly assigned manager Scooter Braun introduced her to the heads of Capitol Records. She had been "very skeptical" about signing with a major record label in fear that things would not work out in her favor. "I'd been burned before. But when I met those guys, I had never felt that way: They were fans and really got me." On September 6, 2013 she was signed to Capitol Records.[13]

2013–2017: Foreword and Unbreakable Smile

Kelly performing in 2015

In September 2013, she was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, where she performed live her single "Dear No One". Kelly on The Today Show that her major label debut, a second EP, titled Foreword, would be released on October 22, 2013 on Capitol Records. By the end of November the EP had sold more than 16,000 copies, debuting at number 16 on the US Billboard 200.[16] Kelly was the sole supporting act to Ed Sheeran at Madison Square Garden on November 1, 2013 and supported Sam Smith on his In the Lonely Hour UK tour in October 2014.[17] Kelly wrote and recorded a song called "Silent" for The Giver: Music Collection, supporting the film adaptation (The Giver) of the novel The Giver, which was released on iTunes on August 5, 2014.[18] On August 7, 2014, Kelly posted a live acoustic version of the song on her YouTube channel; which has over 2.6 million views as of October 2015.[19] Kelly was featured on "Lullaby" by British rapper Professor Green, which was released in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2014.[20] The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, thus providing Kelly with her first British top ten hit.[21] Kelly was featured on the medley "Winter Wonderland"/"Don't Worry Be Happy" on Pentatonix's album That's Christmas to Me that was released in October 2014. On December 1, 2014, it was announced that Tori Kelly was one of MTV's Artist's To Watch. She privately performed two songs for MTV: "Funny" and "Dear No One"; both can be found on her Artist To Watch page.[22] Her "Funny" performance was aired on MTV for several weeks.

Throughout 2014, Kelly worked with Braun on her debut album in which she had contributions from Toby Gad, Max Martin, and Ed Sheeran.[23] The lead single from the album, "Nobody Love", was released on February 8, 2015. It was written by Rickard Goransson, Max Martin, and Tori Kelly herself.[24] Kelly performed "Nobody Love" at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. The album, entitled Unbreakable Smile, was released on June 23, 2015,[25] and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.[26] Kelly performed "Should've Been Us" at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.[27] In October 2015, Kelly covered the song "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas on the We Love Disney album.[citation needed] "Hollow" was released on October 22, 2015[28] as the first single from the new edition of Unbreakable Smile.[29] In the same month, Kelly became the brand-ambassador of William Rast, the clothing line co-founded by Justin Timberlake.[30] In late 2015, Kelly received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 58th Grammy Awards.[31] She performed at the ceremony with English singer James Bay.[32] She became the first artist in history to perform a Christian pop song at the Grammy Awards.

Kelly recorded an updated version of "Baby Baby" with the song's original artist, Amy Grant. This recording commemorates the song's 25th anniversary and was released on April 29, 2016.[33] Kelly made her cinematic debut in the animated movie Sing (2016), voicing Meena the elephant.[34] On July 10, 2016, Kelly released an original song "Blink of an Eye" in honor of her friend Christina Grimmie, on the one-month anniversary of her killing during a meet and greet at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida, on June 10, 2016 while on tour with Before You Exit.[35] In September 2016, Kelly announced her engagement to basketball player André Murillo.[36] On May 7, 2017, Kelly played the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee opening for Soundgarden at what would be one of their final performances before frontman Chris Cornell committed suicide on May 17.[37] On June 9, Kelly and rapper Lecrae, released the single "I'll Find You", with Kelly as the featured artist. The accompanying music video was released on July 28, 2017. It features various St. Jude Hospital patients, and Kelly and Lecrae singing over a black backdrop. It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart, No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs and No. 17 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. She also collaborated with country singer Chris Lane on his single "Take Back Home Girl" which has since charted at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100.[38]

2018–present: Hiding Place

On March 30, 2018, Kelly released the single "Help Us to Love" featuring the HamilTones, which served as the lead single to her sophomore studio album. On May 20, 2018, she announced her and Murillo's marriage in an Instagram post.[39] On August 23, Kelly revealed on her personal Instagram that her album, Hiding Place, would be released on September 14. The second single of the album, "Never Alone", was released on August 24. On September 7, Kelly announced a tour in support of the album. [citation needed]

On January 18, 2019, Kelly announced that she would be going on The Acoustic Sessions tour starting in February. Tickets went on sale on January 25th along with the release of her new lead single "Change Your Mind" for her upcoming third studio album.

Discography

Main article: Tori Kelly discography

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Sing Meena Main Role
2020 Sing 2

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Star Search Herself Contestant
2004 America's Most Talented Kid
2010 American Idol Season 9
2015 The Voice Season 9 and Season 10 Battle Advisor for Team Adam
2016 The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60 Sang "The Rainbow Connection" with Kermit the Frog
Beat Bugs Millie Pede Episode: 24b
Sesame Street Herself Sang "Try a Little Kindness"
2017–present Nationwide commercials

Tours

Headlining

  • Fill a Heart Tour (2013)
  • Where I Belong Tour (2015)
  • Unbreakable Tour (2016)
  • Hiding Place Tour (2018)

Promotional

  • The Acoustic Sessions (2019)

Awards and nominations

List of Tori Kelly awards
Award Wins Nominations
BET Awards
 1 1
Billboard Women in Music
 1 1
Glamour Awards
 0 1
GMA Dove Awards
 1 2
Grammy Award
 0 3
MTV Europe Music Awards
 0 3
People's Choice Awards
 0 1
Radio Disney Music Awards
 1 2
Soul Train Awards
 0 1
Streamy Awards
 0 1
Teen Choice Awards
 0 2
VH1's Big Music in 2015
You Oughta Know
 0 1
YouTube Music Awards
 1 1
Overall
 5 20

The following is a list of awards and nominations received by Tori Kelly.

BET Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational I'll Find You (with Lecrae) Won [40]

Billboard Women in Music

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Breakthrough Artist Herself Won [41]

Glamour Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 International Musician/ Solo Artist Herself Nominated [42]

GMA Dove Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Song of the Year I'll Find You (with Lecrae) Nominated [43]
2018 Short Form Video Of the Year I'll Find You (with Lecrae) Won [44]

Grammy Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 Best New Artist Herself Nominated [45]
2019 Best Gospel Album Hiding Place Pending [46]
Best Gospel Performance/Song "Never Alone" (with Kirk Franklin) Pending

MTV Europe Music Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Best New Act Herself Nominated [47]
Best Push Act Nominated
Artist on the Rise Nominated

People's Choice Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 Favorite Breakout Artist Herself Nominated [48]

Radio Disney Music Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 Breakout Artist of the Year Herself Won [49]
Best Crush Song "Should've Been Us" Nominated

Soul Train Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2018 Best Gospel/Inspirational Award Herself Nominated [50]

Streamy Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Breakthrough Artist 1875 Herself Nominated [51]

Teen Choice Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Choice Web Star: Music Herself Nominated [52]
2017 Choice Movie Actress: Comedy Herself Nominated [53]

VH1's Big Music in 2015: You Oughta Know

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [54]

YouTube Music Awards

Year Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 50 Artists to Watch Herself Won [55]

References

  1. ^ "About Tori Kelly (Facebook)". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  2. ^ Deming, Mark. "Tori Kelly Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ^ "Tori Kelly Interview with Tre (7:49)". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "Tori kelly on Instagram: "thankful for this punk. @noahjameskelly - you're 2 decades old! Happy birthday, lil bro🙏🏽"".
  5. ^ Singer-Songwriter Tori Kelly on 'Intimidating' Max Martin and 'Inspiring' Manager Scooter Braun
  6. ^ "Tori Kelly on "Handmade Songs" EP and Viral Success". Fuse. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  7. ^ Adam, Mike (July 2015). "Mike Adam's Music Minute: Get to Know Tori". Popstar!. 16 (4): 81.
  8. ^ "Take Cover: Frank Ocean's 'Thinkin Bout You': Tori Kelly (and Angie Girl)". Rolling Stone. August 21, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  9. ^ "104.3 MYfm New Music – Interview with Tori Kelly". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  10. ^ "Tori Kelly – Biography | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  11. ^ "Tori Kelly – Sushi Challenge – Nobu Unplugged January (2:19)".
  12. ^ Benjamin, Jeff. "YouTube Star Tori Kelly Reveals Plans for Full-Length Album".
  13. ^ a b Wete, Brad. "Tori Kelly Moves 'Foreword,' Releases 'Dear No One' Video – 21 under 21 (2013): Tori Kelly". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  14. ^ Costello, Carly. "Toi Kelly Launches Fill a Heart Tour Today". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Justin Bieber Curates the 2013 Music Portfolio". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  16. ^ Wete, Brad. "Tori Kelly Moves 'Foreword,' Releases 'Dear No One' Video". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  17. ^ "Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance at Ed Sheeran's Madison Square Garden show". Thecelebritycafe.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "The Giver: Music Collection". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  19. ^ "Tori Kelly – 'Silent' from The Giver movie soundtrack". Youtube.com. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  20. ^ "Professor Green – Lullaby ft. Tori Kelly". Youtube.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  21. ^ "Lullaby – Professor Green Feat. Tori Kelly". Hot40uk.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  22. ^ Walker, John (December 1, 2014). "Artist To Watch: Tori Kelly's The Idol You've Been Looking For, America". Mtv.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  23. ^ "Tori Kelly – About". Torikellymusic.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  24. ^ "Tori Kelly – About – paragraph 2".
  25. ^ "Unbreakable Smile on iTunes". iTunes.com. Apple. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  26. ^ Tori Kelly – Chart history. Billboard (July 11, 2015). Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  27. ^ Lindner, Emilee (August 28, 2015). "Tori Kelly Reveals What She'll Be Doing For Her VMA Performance". Mtv.com.
  28. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ^ Garibaldi, Christina (October 22, 2015). "Tori Kelly's Single 'Hollow' Is Your New Heartbreak Song: Will someone please wrap Tori up in their love?". Mtv.com. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  30. ^ Chan, Stephanie (October 23, 2015). "Tori Kelly is the new face of William Rast". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  31. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  32. ^ "Tori Kelly & James Bay Mash-Up Their Hits "Hollow" and "Let It Go" at the 2016 Grammys". Billboard. February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  33. ^ "Amy Grant Releasing Updated Version of 'Baby Baby' With Tori Kelly". Vintage Vinyl News. April 18, 2016.
  34. ^ "Sing" (2016) – Sneak Peek. Usatoday.com (November 10, 2015). Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  35. ^ Tori Kelly (July 10, 2016), Tori Kelly - "Blink of an Eye" (Original), retrieved September 4, 2016
  36. ^ "Tori Kelly Engaged to Basketball Player Andre Murillo". People Magazine. September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  37. ^ "Soundgarden to Co-Headline 2017 Beale Street Music Festival". Loudwire. February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  38. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxqDUGnnZ3k
  39. ^ Taylor Weatherby, Tori Kelly Weds Andre Murillo in Beautiful Mountainside Ceremony: See Photo, Billboard, May 20, 2018
  40. ^ "BET Awards 2018 | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Nominees".
  41. ^ "Tori Kelly to Perform, Receive 'Breakthrough' Award at Billboard's Women in Music 2015". Billboard. November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  42. ^ GLAMOUR WOTY voting 2016. Demographix.com (February 25, 2014). Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  43. ^ "GMA Dove Awards 2018: See the Full Winners List". doveawards.com. August 8, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  44. ^ "GMA Dove Awards 2018: See the Full Winners List". doveawards.com. August 8, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  45. ^ "Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  46. ^ Minsker, Evan (December 7, 2018). "Grammy Nominations 2019: See The Full List Here". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  47. ^ "Taylor Swift Leads MTV EMAs With 9 Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  48. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2016: See the Full List of Winners Here". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  49. ^ Radio Disney Music Awards Nominations 2016 — Full List Of Nominees Revealed. Hollywood Life (March 4, 2016). Retrieved on June 18, 2016.
  50. ^ https://www.vibe.com/2018/10/soul-train-awardsnomination-list-2018 (October 25, 2018). Retrieved on November 17, 2018.
  51. ^ "5th Annual Winners & Nominees". Streamy Awards. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  52. ^ Reiher, Andrea (July 30, 2015). "Justin Bieber, Bethany Mota lead 3rd wave of 2015 Teen Choice nominations". Zap2it.
  53. ^ Lupo, Marc (August 13, 2017). "Teen Choice Awards 2017: All the Nominees and Winners". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  54. ^ "Cast Your Vote for VH1 Artist of the Year!". VH1 News. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  55. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (March 3, 2015). "Here Are The Winners of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards". Forbes. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
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