| Kimberley Locke | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kimberley Dawn Locke |
| Born | January 3 1978 |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genre(s) | AC, R&B, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Model, Songwriter, TV Personality, Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2003–present (singing) 2005–present (model) |
| Label(s) | Curb |
| Associated acts |
American Idol |
| Website | Official Website |
Kimberley Dawn Locke (born January 3 1978 in Hartsville, Tennessee) is an American adult contemporary pop/R&B singer and plus-size fashion model. In recent years, Locke has had eight Top 20 Adult Contemporary hits, and six # 1's across various Billboard charts. She gained fame with her participation in the 2003 American Idol television series, and in 2007 garnered media attention for her participation in Celebrity Fit Club.
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Locke was born to Donald and Christine Locke, respectively a truck driver and a clothing warehouse worker for the Gap/Old Navy distribution center in Gallatin, Tennessee. She is the second of two children, with an older brother named Ashley (both of whom are biracial; their father is African-American and their mother is white). She and her brother spent most of their life in Gallatin. At age five, Locke began singing in church. Her parents divorced when she was eight years old. Locke grew up admiring such singers as Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston Pattie Labelle and Diana Ross. In 1987, she and childhood friends Chandra Boone, Selina Robb, and NaCole Rice formed a quartet named Shadz of U, which performed at many local churches. The group later appeared on Locke's 2007 'Based On A True Story' album, singing backup on 'Everyday Angels'. Locke went to Gallatin High School, where she was one of sixteen members to participate in its performing group. She remained in the group throughout her high-school years. She was also selected twice as a member of the All-Middle State Chorus. After graduating, she began to work for a company in Nashville as an administrative assistant. Like 2007 American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle, Locke is an alumna of Belmont University in Nashville. She is very smart, dedicated, and talented.
American Idol and Singing career
On October 30, 2002, the reality-TV singing competition American Idol held auditions in Nashville, Tennessee for the show's second season. Locke successfully passed through to the next round, and in December was chosen to perform on the show. She finished third, behind runner up Clay Aiken and eventual champion Ruben Studdard. Simon Cowell at first criticized Locke as lacking in personality; by the final three however, he declared her, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard to be as worthy winners as any. Locke went on to sign a record deal with Curb Records on September 6, 2003. Her debut album, One Love, was released May 4, 2004. Debut single "8th World Wonder" reached the top half of the Billboard Hot 100 and was successful on other charts, and even entered the UK chart with little promotion. "Wrong" and "I Could" followed as singles and were hits on the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts respectively. "Coulda Been" was the album's only single not to chart. Locke released her version of "Up On The Housetop" in Fall 2005 and by the end of year it had reached the top spot of the AC charts and broke many records, due to its quick rise to the top. The following year, Kimberley's version of "Jingle Bells" was released and topped the same charts. A full Christmas album entitled Christmas was released on November 6, 2007. Locke's second album, Based On A True Story, was released on May 1, 2007. The album's original lead single, "Supawoman", co-written with her producers Damon Sharpe and Mark J. Feist, was released to radio August 7, 2006, however after underwhelming radio support, Curb Records decided to refocus. "Change", was released to radio on January 15, 2007 to positive support and climbed the charts well into the summer of 2007. The album's next single is a cover of Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold", which was released to radio on August 13, 2007 and became Locke's 6th solo Adult Contemporary Top 10 hit.
Songs performed on American Idol
Original Audition: "Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland.
| Round | Song Choice | Original Artist | Theme (if any) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | "Band Of Gold" (with Frenchie Davis) | Freda Payne | Group Performances | Safe |
| Top 32 | "Over The Rainbow" | Judy Garland | Semifinal Group 2 | Top 2 |
| Top 12 | "Heat Wave" | Martha And The Vandellas | Motown | Bottom 3 |
| Top 11 | "Home" | Diana Ross | Movie Hits | Safe |
| Top 10 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Bonnie Raitt | Country-Rock | Safe |
| Top 9 | "It's Raining Men" | Weather Girls | Disco | Bottom 3 |
| Top 8 | "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | Billboard #1 | Bottom 3 |
| Top 7 | "New York State of Mind" | Billy Joel | Billy Joel | Safe |
| Top 6 | "If You Asked Me To" | Patti LaBelle | Diane Warren | Safe |
| Top 5 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" "Where The Boys Are" |
Gladys Knight & The Pips Connie Francis |
60s Neil Sedaka |
Safe |
| Top 4 | "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" "Emotion" |
Andy Gibb Samantha Sang |
Bee Gees | Bottom 2 |
| Top 3 | "Band Of Gold" "Anyone Who Had a Heart" "Inseparable" |
Freda Payne Dionne Warwick Natalie Cole |
Random Judge's Choice Idol's Choice |
Eliminated |
Discography
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
One Love
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Based on a True Story
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Christmas
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Singles
| Year | Title | Billboard Chart Positions (North America) | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Top 40 | U.S. AC | U.S. Hot AC | U.S Dance | CAN AC | |||
| 2003 | "Silver Bells" (with Clay Aiken) | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | American Idol: Great Holiday Classics |
| 2004 | "8th World Wonder" | 49 | 19 | 6 | 36 | — | 16 | One Love |
| "Wrong" | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005 | "Coulda Been" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "I Could" | — | — | 8 | — | — | 18 | ||
| "Up On the House Top" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | Christmas | |
| 2006 | "Jingle Bells" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | "Change" | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | Based on a True Story |
| "Band Of Gold" 1 | — | — | 9 | — | 2 | 24 | ||
| "Frosty the Snowman" | — | — | 1 | — | — | 40 | Christmas | |
1 Current single
Other recordings
- 2003: "Ammon" - New Blues Sessions (backing vocals)
- 2003: "Over the Rainbow" (American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs)
- 2003: "God Bless the USA" (along with the other Idols of AI2) (American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs)
- 2003: "What the World Needs Now" (along with the other Idols of AI2) (American Idol Season 2: All Time Classic American Love Songs)
- 2003: "The Christmas Song" (American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics)
- 2003: "O Come, All Ye Faithful" (Group performance) (American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics)
- 2003: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Group performance) (American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics)
- 2005: "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" (DisneyMania 3)
- 2005: "Wishes" (duet with Peabo Bryson) (Wishes)
- 2005: "Better Than This" (The Perfect Man)
- 2005: "Come Together Now" (Multi-artist charity single) (Come Together Now Collaborative)
- 2007: "Please Come Home for Christmas" (with Dave Koz on his album Memories of a Winter's Night)
Musical achievements
- Locke was the first Idol finalist to debut at #1 on the singles sales charts with a non-Idol single ("8th World Wonder").
- Locke was the second Idol finalist (with Kelly Clarkson) to have two consecutive top-40 hits ("8th World Wonder" & "Wrong")
- "Up On The Housetop" made the largest leap into the top 5 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in the chart's history, jumping from #32 to #5 in just one week.
- "Up On The Housetop" became the fifth song in the history of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart to reach the top spot in only three weeks. It was the second-longest running holiday-themed chart-topper in the history of the chart [4 weeks], behind Josh Groban's "Believe" [5 weeks].[1]
- Locke's version of "Jingle Bells" had the highest charting debut week on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in 2006,[2] debuting at #17. Even though hundreds of artists have recorded the song, Locke's recording was the first to ever top the Billboard AC chart.[3]
- In an Entertainment Weekly magazine, "8th World Wonder" was listed as one of the top 5 songs to come out of American Idol.
- Locke's first seven solo single releases in the Adult Contemporary genre reached Billboard's top 10 chart.[4]
- To date, Locke is the only American Idol finalist to top Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart with an original song. The only other alumni from the show to top this chart was Jennifer Hudson with her cover of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from the Dreamgirls musical.
Television career
Whilst pursuing her music career, Locke was also interested in becoming a television star. Since 2005, Locke has featured on many television shows. In August 2004, Locke was invited to be a guest host on Good Day Live, and was invited back to co-host twice more. In 2005, she was a contestant on the game show, Family Feud, and she hosted Word Slam!, a GSN live game show; an accompanying documentary with Locke aired on that cable channel that September. Throughout the summer of 2005, a proposed reality TV series, Aren't You That Girl?, taped Locke's progress on her second album and preparations for her upcoming wedding. The engagement was later called off and the project was cancelled.[5] During MTV's early fall 2006 lineup, Locke was a judge and co-host on the short lived reality-show competition "The Little Talent Show". Locke sat in as a guest co-host of The View in March 2007.
Celebrity Fit Club: Men vs. Women
In November 2006, VH1 issued a press release confirming that Locke would be a participant on the fifth season of Celebrity Fit Club, which began airing on April 22, 2007.[6] She has been the focused target of derision from fellow cast member Dustin Diamond, who has repeatedly called her "a loser on another show [American Idol]." Later, he says, "She is a nobody...If there were eight of her here, nobody would watch the show." She responded on-camera at a weigh-in ceremony, "Two-faced, backstabbing people who will smile in your face one day and eat you up the next. That's why I don't have anything to do with you...If you even fucking look at me, Dustin. [Because] you talk about losers? Let's talk about 'I'm a fucking child star. Now I've got a porn tape on TV and selling T-shirts to pay for my house note.'" He later walked off the stage. He later offered her a sex toy in the shape of his penis, saying that she "needed one." The ensuing argument caused all other contestants to leave the stage. [7] On June 17, 2007, the season finale of Celebrity Fit Club aired, drawing in 2.7 million viewers, the show's highest yet. Kimberley weighed in at a final weight of 149lbs, down a total of 27lbs. from her original start weight of 176lbs. She has stated that she would like to lose a total of 10lbs. before her endorsement deal as Jenny Craig's newest spokesperson begins. A feature in the September 10th issue of People Magazine shows Kimberley at 141lbs., only 3 pounds away from her goal. Locke announced through her official blog on October 4, 2007 that she had finally achieved her 40 pound weight loss goal.
Modeling career
From 2005 through September 2006, Locke was signed with Ford Models. She has appeared on the covers of the July 2005 issue of Figure magazine and the summer 2007 issue of UneQ magazine. She is a plus-size model and former spokesperson for Lane Bryant and Seven7 Jeans. She also had a lingerie line with Lane Bryant's sister company, Cacique. In December 2006, Locke signed a deal with Jenny Craig.[8]
Business career
In 1999, Locke enrolled at Belmont University and graduated in August 2001 with a Bachelor's degree of Business Administration in Marketing. In December 2006, Locke, with partners Eric Kupferberg, Liam Harvey and Jim Stake, opened the Croton Creek Steakhouse & Wine Bar. It is located in Croton Falls, New York.
Charitable Work
Locke has been active in many charities, particularly in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and Breast cancer. Locke's first exposure to working with children living with HIV/AIDS was through her work with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which sent her on an 11 day trip through Africa. She then went on to work with other organizations such as YouthAIDS, the Davy Foundation and Camp Heartland. In recognition of her extensive charitable efforts as an HIV/AIDS activist, Locke was presented with the Red Ribbon award on November 9, 2007. "The Red Ribbon Award is done for someone in the community that advocates AIDS awareness, and especially HIV awareness," said press liaison Chris Prouty. "They want to pinpoint one specific person and get the community involved in the accolades and a congratulatory celebration." At a news conference prior to her performance that night, Locke gave an acceptance speech. "All the kids [at Camp Heartland] have a great story, and that's what I've chosen to be a part of. It's the old cliche: kids are our future."[9] In October 2007, Locke teamed up with General Mills to introduce the 'Pink For A Cure' campaign to promote awareness of breast cancer in the African American community. "My aunt is a breast cancer survivor. So, as someone whose family has been directly touched by this disease, I'm very passionate about getting people talking more about their health," said Locke.[10]
Videography
- "8th World Wonder" (2004) directed by Sam Erickson.
- "Wrong" (2004) directed by Urban Strom.
- "Coulda Been" (2004) directed by Urban Strom.
- "Change" (2007) directed by Roman White.
Awards and nominations
- 2005: Nominated - Female Adult Contemporary Artist Of The Year
- 2003: Nominated - Choice TV Reality/Variety Star - Female
- 2004: Nominated - Favorite Love Song - "8th World Wonder"
References in pop culture
- An essay written by Kimberley about her experiences with American Idol was included in the book Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul.
- American Idol judge Simon Cowell, in his book, I Don't Mean to be Rude, but..., referred to Locke as looking like "an overweight librarian".
- A reference to Kimberley straightening her naturally curly hair on an episode of American Idol, and as a result getting a comment from Simon Cowell that he was glad she got rid of her "weird hair", is included in the book Wanting To Be Her: Body Image Secrets Victoria Won't Tell You by Michelle Graham.
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
References
- ^ Bronson, Fred. "Housetop of the Pops", Billboard Magazine, December 29, 2005.
- ^ Bronson, Fred. "He Also Walks the Line", Billboard Magazine, November 30, 2006.
- ^ Bronson, Fred. "Jingle All the Way", Billboard Magazine, December 14, 2006.
- ^ Bronson, Fred. "Locked", Billboard Magazine, May 11, 2007.
- ^ Stiletto Entertainment "Kimberley Locke Models For Lane Bryant", June 29, 2005.
- ^ Edwards, Martha "Celebrity Fit Club 5 Cast Announced", "That's Fit", November 20, 2006.
- ^ Ho, Rodney "Kelly, charts, Fit Club", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Idol Blog, May 9, 2007.
- ^ Extra "Kimberley Locke's New Years Resolution"" December 22, 2006
- ^ Larson, Kris. "Locke 'Sparkles' at Benefit", Bay Area Reporter, November 15, 2007.
- ^ Popdirt.com "Kimberley Locke Joins the Pink Together Cause", October 4, 2007.
External links
- Official Website
- Official Fan Club
- Official MySpace artist profile
- Kimberley Locke at the Internet Movie Database
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| Albums | One Love · Based on a True Story · Christmas |
| Singles | "8th World Wonder" · "Wrong" · "Coulda Been" · "I Could" · "Up on the House Top" · "Jingle Bells" · "Change" · "Band of Gold" · "Frosty the Snowman" |
| Other charted songs | "Silver Bells" • "Come Together Now" |
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| Ruben Studdard · Clay Aiken · Kimberley Locke · Josh Gracin · Trenyce · Carmen Rasmusen · Kimberly Caldwell · Rickey Smith · Corey Clark · Julia DeMato · Charles Grigsby · Vanessa Olivarez |
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| Nikki McKibbin · Kimberley Locke · Jasmine Trias · Vonzell Solomon · Elliott Yamin · Melinda Doolittle |
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| Seasons | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
| Hosts | Ryan Seacrest · Brian Dunkleman |
| Judges | Randy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell |
| Winners | Kelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks · Jordin Sparks |
| Winner's Singles | "A Moment like This" · "Flying Without Wings" · "I Believe" · "Inside Your Heaven" · "Do I Make You Proud" · "This Is My Now" |
| Runners-up | Justin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee · Blake Lewis |
| Other alumni | Tamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Jennifer Hudson · Kellie Pickler · Chris Daughtry · Elliott Yamin |
| Spin-offs | From Justin to Kelly · Juniors · Christmas · Extra · Rewind |
| Other | Underground · Compilation Series · Controversy · Discography · Episodes · Font · Idol series · Magazine · Video game |
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| Contestants | Willie Aames | Daniel Baldwin | Tempestt Bledsoe | Chastity Bono | Gary Busey | Kim Coles | Jeff Conaway | Mark Curry | Tiffany Darwish | Dustin Diamond | Brian Dunkleman | Erika Eleniak | Mablean Ephriam | Joseph R. Gannascoli | Warren Griffin III | Marcel Hall | Wayne Hardnett | Shawntae Harris | Jackée Harry | Victoria Jackson | Rufus Johnson | Toccara Jones | Cledus T. Judd | Wendy Kaufman | Jani Lane | Ted Lange | Kelly LeBrock | Kimberley Locke | Phil Margera | Ross Mathews | Ralphie May | Maureen McCormick | Erin Moran | Gunnar Nelson | Gena Lee Nolin | Lawrence Parker | Vincent Pastore | Lori Rambough | Dawn Robinson | Angie Stone | Nicholas Turturro | Mia Tyler | Countess Vaughn | Bruce Vilanch | Andrew Wilkes-Krier | Carnie Wilson | Tina Yothers | Marvin Young |
| Staff | Panel: Dr. Ian Smith | Dr. David Katz | Marisa Peer | Dr. Linda Papadopoulos | Stacy Kaiser | Harvey Walden IV Host: Anthony Steven Kalloniatis |
| VH1 | Official website | |
