Toya Alexis
| Toya Alexis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | LaToya Lesmond |
| Born | July 16, 1980 |
| Origin | Ajax, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Soul, jazz, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer–songwriter, Actress |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2001-2006 |
| Associated acts | Sugar Jones, Jully Black |
Toya Alexis (born Ajax, Ontario), is a Canadian vocalist and actress.
Career
Alexis won a "Rising Star" contest and sang at the Apollo Theater.[1] In 2001 she appeared, as LaToya Lesmond, as a contestant on season one of Popstars on the Global Television Network.[2] She was a finalist,[2] and was featured on the debut album of the winners who were named Sugar Jones. She was a contestant on the first season of Canadian Idol in 2003, reaching sixth place in a controversial decision as she was a judge favourite.[3] While on the show, her vocal range was the impressive.[3]
Debut album
Alexis was subsequently offered a recording contract, and released her first single, the Top 40 hit "Am I Loving?", in 2004. She also appeared as a guest vocalist on recordings by several other Canadian artists. Her full-length debut album, S.O.B. Story, was released in August on Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex's label, Plasma, who also served as her manager.[4]
Theatre
In 2005, she was a featured cast member as "Mabel" in the Canstage show Crowns, at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.
Her other stage credits have included Doo Wop to Motown (Theatre on the Grand),[2] Once on This Island (Stirling Festival Theatre), Rainbow World (Bathurst Street Theatre), The Good Times Are Killing Me (Royal Alex Theatre) and Dreamgirls, (a co-production between Theatre Aquarius and the Manitoba Theatre Centre).[4]
Idol performances
- Top 32 (Group 3) - "I Believe In You and Me" (Whitney Houston)
- Wildcard - "Try It on My Own" (Whitney Houston)
- Top 11 - "If You Asked Me To" (Celine Dion)
- Top 8 - "If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder)
- Top 6 - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)[3]
Singles history
2002: "I Got U" (with Sugar Jones) (#70, Canadian Singles Chart)
2004: "Am I Loving?" (#36, Canadian Singles Chart)
2005: "Toy Boy" (#17, Canadian Singles Chart)
2006: "Where Did Our Love Go?" (#29, Canadian Singles Chart)
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | |||||||||
| 2005 | S.O.B. Story
|
— |
| ||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Singles
- "Am I Loving?"
- "Toy Boy"
- "Where Did Our Love Go?"
Videos
Featured on
- Canadian Idol Greatest Moments (2003) (track 11 singing "Try It on My Own")
- Sugar Jones (2001) (featured on "I Got U")
References
- ↑ "Bio & Pics". Toya Alexis Online. 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 Currie, Harry (2 April 2001). "Sugar Jones shakes up Fergus; Canada's newest singing sensation in town to see Popstars! finalist perform". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- 1 2 3 "CIdol judges shocked by latest elimination". CTV Edmonton. 20 August 2003.
- 1 2 Ward, Lindsay (17 April 2008). "Canadian Idol: 'Canadian Idol' living the Dream". CANOE -- JAM! Television. Retrieved 21 January 2012.