Josie Aiello is an American singer-songwriter originally from

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Her albums include ''Unkunvenshunal Girl'', ''Where I Am'', and ''Ashes to Beauty''. She is known for her pop vocals on '' Music & Songs from Starlight Express,'' including the duet "Only You" with Peter Hewlett. She has recorded background vocals for numerous film soundtracks including ''Dinosaur'', ''The Thing You Do'', and ''The Guardian'', and for musical artists such as

Kenny Loggins Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded with Jim Messina (musician), Jim Mess ...

Cheryl Cole Cheryl Ann Tweedy (born 30 June 1983) is an English singer and television personality. She rose to fame as a member of Girls Aloud, a Pop music, pop girl group created through ITV (TV network), ITV's reality competition show ''Popstars: The R ...

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...

, and

Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She was discovered by record producer Jazze Pha in the early 2000s, and rose to prominence with her debut studio album, ''Goodies ...

Early life and education

Aiello got her start as a performer singing at her family's Sicilian restaurant, Cas and Lou's, in the north side of Chicago, where she worked from the age of nine. In 1978, she was featured in the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'', which described her as a "polished entertainer" at the age of twelve: "Josie's powerful singing voice – à la

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...

, her idol – is perfectly on key, filled with emotion and depth." In 1979, she starred as Baby June in a

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

production of ''

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.'' She graduated from The Chicago Academy for the Arts in 1984, with honors from the arts department, and attended

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...

Career

After moving to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, she did session work, as well as

voice-over Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique used in radio, television, filmmaking, theatre, and other media in which a descriptive or expository voice that is not part of the narrative (i.e., non- ...

s for radio station identification spots, and eventually began writing songs and singing background vocals. In 1987, Aiello recorded five songs for the

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

release of the

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End theatre, West End and on Broadway theatre, Broad ...

original cast recording album '' Music & Songs from Starlight Express,'' including "Only You" with Peter Hewlett. She also recorded vocals for the soundtrack of the

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola ( ; born April 7, 1939) is an American filmmaker. He is considered one of the leading figures of the New Hollywood and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. List of awards and nominations received by Francis Ford Coppo ...

film ''Dear Me'' and a duet with

Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...

. Other highlights included recording vocals for

, and soundtracks for movies including ''

South Park ''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boysStan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand the ...

'', '' The Out-of-Towners'', ''To the Max'', ''Dinosaur'', ''The Thing You Do'', and ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

''. In 2000,

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

signed her to his record label

Qwest Qwest Communications International, Inc. was a United States telecommunications carrier. Qwest provided local service in 14 western and midwestern U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dako ...

, a partnership with

Warner Brothers Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

, which released her debut album, ''Unkunvenshunal Girl,'' her unique take on contemporary dance-pop. The Qwest label shut down soon afterwards and Aiello had limited success despite touring with bands including

98 Degrees 98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American vocal group consisting of brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre. Their first Christmas album '' This Christmas'' has sold over two million copies and is widely recognized ...

and Hootie & the Blowfish. In 2006, the Lady J label released her second album, ''Where I Am,'' featuring R&B-influences. Aiello resumed collaborative projects, and recorded mainly background vocals with artists including

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known as R. Kelly, is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames suc ...

, and

. In 2015, her current record label, Breath of Life, released the single "Elevate" from her third album, ''Ashes to Beauty''.

Critical reception

Qwest positioned Aiello as "a nice fit between

Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...

and

Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, she became a cultural phenomenon during the mid 199 ...

, with the soul of

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

". Her debut album, ''Unkunvenshunal Girl'', was noted for its "too cute title", and received mixed reviews. Noting that her influences included Barbra Streisand,

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

, and

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...

, the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' said, "Aiello has a

Richter scale The Richter scale (), also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale, is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Richter in collaboration with Beno Gutenberg, and pr ...

voice that should speak volumes", while ''The Daily Herald'' in Arlington Heights, Illinois, called her "a pop princess in the vein of Alanis Morissette". Meanwhile, ''The Morning Call'' in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said that "Aiello's mix of

Oprah Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', broadcast from Chic ...

-esque positive reinforcement...and eager-to-please pop pandering has a familiar, bland taste, dare I say, as 'konvenshunal' as it gets." ''Unrated Magazine'' said that her second album, ''Where I Am'', had the intensity of her first album, but "chills out vocals with music and incorporates neo-soul with hip-hop, Latin and world beat rhythms". Acknowledging that ''Where I Am'' was "more of a group project that one person's vision", ''Unrated'' stated, "Make no mistake, it's all Josie, but she is more like the conductor in this train ride."

Discography

Albums

* 2000 – ''Unkunvenshunal Girl'' * 2006 – ''Where I Am'' * 2015 – ''Ashes to Beauty''

Selected album appearances

* 1986: ''Taylor Street'' – Josie Falbo * 1986: ''Save Tonight for Me'' –

Chuck Mangione Charles Frank Mangione ( ; born November 29, 1940) is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer. He came to prominence as a member of Art Blakey's band in the 1960s, and later co-led the Jazz Brothers with his brother, Gap Mangione, ...

* 1987: '' Music & Songs from Starlight Express'' riginal Cast Recording–

* 1987: ''Simple Things'' –

Richie Havens Richard Pierce Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music encompassed elements of folk music, folk, soul music, soul (both of which he frequently cover song, covered), and rhythm and b ...

* 1988: ''

Intuition Intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without recourse to conscious reasoning or needing an explanation. Different fields use the word "intuition" in very different ways, including but not limited to: direct access to unconscious knowledg ...

'' –

Angela Bofill Angela Tomasa Bofill (May 2, 1954 – June 13, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter and composer of Cuban- Puerto Rican origins. A New York native, she began her professional career in the mid-1970s and is most known for singles such as " T ...

* 1992: ''Designer's Original'' –

Danniebelle Hall Danniebelle Hall (October 6, 1938 – December 28, 2000), was an American gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter. Biography Early life Danniebelle Hall was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the fourth of eight children. She was born t ...

* 1996: ''Blues, Dues & Love News'' –

Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson (November 11, 1928 – March 10, 2016) was an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than six decades, she recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She sang at Carnegie Hall, ...

* 1998: '' Vuelve'' –

Ricky Martin Enrique Martin Morales (born December 24, 1971), known professionally as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, with his Ricky Martin albums discography, discography incorporati ...

* 1998: '' Stay Awhile'' –

Steve Cole Steve Cole (born August 17, 1970) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist. He is also a professor/adviser of music business at the University of St. Thomas. Early career and education Cole was born in Chicago, Illinois and began to play musi ...

* 1998: ''Crowe'' – Crowe * 1999: ''Stratosphere'' –

Jimmy Earl James Christopher Earl (born 1957) is an American jazz bass guitarist who is a member of the ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' band. Early life and education In 1957, James Christopher Earl was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to James and Sylvia Earl. He i ...

* 1999: ''Somethin' Bout Love'' –

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* 1999: ''Out of Towners'' –

Marc Shaiman Marc Shaiman ( ; born October 22, 1959) is an American composer and lyricist for films, television, and theatre, best known for his collaborations with lyricist and director Scott Wittman, actor Billy Crystal, and director Rob Reiner. Shaiman ha ...

* 1999: ''Open My Heart'' – Deborah Franco * 2000: ''Shall We Dance?'' – Baila * 2000: ''

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'' –

* 2001: ''On the Way to Love'' –

Patti Austin Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter best known for " Baby, Come to Me", her 1982 duet with James Ingram, which topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 after its re-release ...

* 2001: ''7 Years of Plenty'' –

Louchie Lou & Michie One Louchie Lou & Michie One are a British female ragga/soul duo from London, best known for the single " Shout (It Out)", plus their collaboration with Suggs on the single "Cecilia", both of which reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. Ca ...

* 2003: '' It's About Time'' –

* 2004: ''Broadway Favorites Collection'' – Andrew Lloyd Webber * 2005: ''The 1st Chapter'' – Paul M. * 2006: ''Halloween, Vol. 2: Creatures Collection'' – Mannheim Steamroller * 2007: '' Double Up'' –

* 2008: '' Christmasville'' –

Mannheim Steamroller Mannheim Steamroller is an American neoclassical new-age music ensemble founded and directed by percussionist/composer Chip Davis in 1974. The group is known primarily for its '' Fresh Aire'' series of albums, which blend classical music with e ...

* 2012: '' Dance Again... the Hits'' –

* 2012: ''

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'' –

* 2013: ''

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'' –

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* 2013: ''

'' –

* 2014: '' Sweet Talker'' –

Jessie J Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical '' Whistle Down the Wind ...

Selected song appearances

* "AC/DC" ''(Andrew Lloyd Webber)'' * "Alright" * "Better with U" * "Can This Be Love" * "Dear You" * "Drastic Measures" * "Elevate" * "Even If" * "Everybody's Breakin'" * "Extreeem" * "Free" * "Get Sommo" * "Having a Bad Day" * "Heavy Heart" * "Inner Logic" * "Into You" * "Isn't It Romantic" * "Let It Rain" * "Let the Good Life (Lead to So Much Love)" * "Little Boy Sweet" * "Lotta Locomotion" ''(Andrew Lloyd Webber)'' * "Love Yourself" * "

Make Up My Heart '' Starlight Express'' is a 1984 Musical theatre, musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It tells the story of a young but obsolete Steam locomotive, steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against mode ...

" ''(Andrew Lloyd Webber)'' * "My Prayer" * "My Way" * "Myself" * "Need to Be Lonely" * " Only You" ''(Andrew Lloyd Webber)'' * "Puerto Rican Boy" * "Ready or Not" * "Rebel Music" * "Stop Lovin You" * "Strong Enough" * "The Call" * " Till I Loved You" * "Unkunvenshunal Girl" * "Venom" * "War" * "Where I Am" * "You Can Hear Me Now"

Song covers by other artists

;"Make Up My Heart" *

Reva Rice Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer, best known for originating the role of Pearl in ''Starlight Express'' on Broadway. Background Rice was born in Toledo, Ohio to Flute and Pearl Esterine Shields Rice. She began training ...

– '' Starlight Express: New London Cast Recording'' (1992)Amazon.com (1992 album)
/ref> *

Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman (born 14 August 1960) is an English classical crossover soprano singer and actress. Brightman began her career as a member of the dance troupe Hot Gossip and released several disco singles as a solo performer. In 1981, she made ...

– '' Love Changes Everything'' (2005) *

Connie Fisher Connie Fisher (born 17 June 1983) is a British actress, singer and TV presenter, who won the BBC One talent contest '' How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'' On 15 November 2006, she opened to excellent reviews in the part of Maria von Trapp i ...

– ''

Secret Love Secret Love may refer to either a secret admirer or: Film, TV and theatre * ''Secret Love'' (1916 film), directed by Robert Z. Leonard * ''Secret Love'' (1994 film), directed by Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao * ''Secret Love'' (2010 film), directed by ...

'' (2009)

Filmography

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Aiello, Josie 20th-century American singer-songwriters American women pop singers American women singer-songwriters American contemporary R&B singers DePaul University alumni Living people Qwest Records artists Singers from Chicago Singer-songwriters from Illinois Smooth jazz singers Year of birth missing (living people) 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters