Ayla Brown
Encyclopedia
Ayla Marie Brown is an American NCAA basketball
player and recording artist from Wrentham, Massachusetts
. She is also known for her American Idol
showing placing in the Top 16 on season 5
in 2005/06. She is the elder daughter of United States Senator Scott Brown
of Massachusetts
and WCVB-TV
reporter Gail Huff
. Brown is also now a contributor for CBS's The Early Show
.
girls' basketball team, missing her last few games to compete on the fifth season of American Idol
.
Brown was scouted by the staff at Boston College
beginning at the age of 15. She made a commitment to the school, and went on to attend BC on a full athletic scholarship as a Communications major. Currently in her senior year, she plays the forward
position for the Boston College Eagles
, wearing jersey #1. Brown's nickname given to her by her teammates is "Downtown Ayla Brown" because of her ability to sink 3-pointers and lengthy shots and in reference to her father's college basketball nickname, "Downtown Scotty Brown".
at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., in the summer of 2005 before advancing to the judges in Boston
. She was eliminated from the show on March 9, 2006.
For her audition song, Brown sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
." Randy Jackson
said she had a good, though undistinguished voice. Paula Abdul
also thought Brown was a good singer, but that she favored vocal power over dynamics. Simon Cowell
accused Brown of being "robotic and somewhat empty." In the end, Jackson and Abdul (who made the final judgment) sent Brown through to the Hollywood rounds.
During the Hollywood rounds, Brown sang "Reflection
" by Christina Aguilera
, and was one of 24 semi-finalists of the fifth season of American Idol
.
, Brown made hundreds of personal appearances in 2006, most covered by local or national media and drawing as many as 500 to 2,000 or more fans. She appeared at the Kiss 108
Concert in Mansfield, Mass.
in front of 20,000 people on May 20, performing four songs in addition to introducing Natasha Bedingfield
. Brown sang the national anthem on July 4 with the Boston Pops in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Brown's performance featured a multiple F-16 fly-over and was televised by WBZ-TV
, Boston's CBS
affiliate. Brown appeared at Fenway Park
on July 12 and she also performed six shows over three days at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in W. Springfield, Mass.
from September 15–17.
Brown was asked once again to perform with the Boston Pops at the Conte Forum
in Chestnut Hill, Mass. on September 29, where they performed a full orchestrated version of her title track "Forward" as part of B.C.'s parents' weekend celebration. Brown was also featured in the November 2006 issue of American Idol Magazine
.
In 2007, Brown appeared at many events including the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston on March 18 and the Crocker Field Sunset Concert Series on September 16 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
.
Brown performed alongside veteran record producer David Foster
at the "David Foster and Friends" tour when it stopped in Boston on Oct. 25, 2009. Brown sang the disco hit "Got to Be Real" while accompanied by Foster at the concert, which took place at Boston University's Agganis Arena. She returned to the stage to close out the show with other guest performers for the finale of "America's Song."
, and Double Deal Studios in Chappaqua, N.Y.
. The tracks were mixed at A-Pawling Studios by Peter Moshay. Brown began recording the vocals for the album immediately after signing her contract on August 24, and in just over a week, the recording sessions were completed. The reason for the hurried recording schedule was that Brown had to meet NCAA compliance deadlines and finish recording her album before beginning her career at Boston College
.
The title track, "Forward," received airplay at Mainstream AC radio. It peaked at #34 on Billboards AC chart. The album sold 3,000 copies, placing Brown in 23rd place for American Idol
alumni un-certified album sales.
or WNIT
) for the first time in several years.
In her sophomore season with the Lady Eagles, Brown finished the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, having started 31 of 33 games. She averaged 28.5 minutes a game. After finishing the regular season with a 21–12 overall record, BC advanced to the second round of the ACC Tournament in March 2008 but was eliminated by Maryland in the next game by a 93–81 margin. The team wrapped up the 2007–08 season with a second-round elimination in the Women's National Invitation Tournament
(WNIT) in Queens, N.Y.
In her junior year, Brown finished the season as the team's fourth-leading scorer having played in 35 games, of which she started in 30. She averaged 24.5 minutes, 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. The Lady Eagles ended the season at 23–12 overall after losing to Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament on March 6, 2009. BC went on to make the final round of the WNIT, where it lost to South Florida 82–65.
Brown has been recognized for her basketball talents by Sports Illustrated
magazine, as she was featured as the magazine's "Intern of the Week" in June 2008 for her wide array of activities in addition to her hoop skills. She was also featured as WCVB-5's "High 5" high school athlete of the week and has been profiled by New England Sports Network
(NESN) for its staple program SportsDesk
women's basketball team is set to conclude. A tour that would coincide with the releases was also announced, but specifics were still in the process of being worked out.
The EP's first single, "Pick It Up," was written by Ayla's fellow American Idol semi-finalist Will Makar and Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Leigh Jones
. The "Pick It Up" music video premiered on her label's official YouTube channel on the same day of the release. Brown also appeared on the CBS morning program The Early Show
where she performed "No More" and talked about how her life has changed since her father's win. Ayla also performed the single "Pick It Up" on Fox and Friends on February 15, 2010.
On June 16, 2010, it was revealed that Brown was released from her contract with Double Deal.
, Brown finally accepted the role in 2008. From June 12–15 and 19–21, Brown starred in eight shows at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, Mass., alongside Broadway's Eric Kunze
and a host of talented area actors. Of starring in the show, Brown told The Boston Globe
she never got to do a musical in high school because she was focused on her basketball career. "I've always wanted to do a musical, and I really regretted not doing one in high school. I was always interested, but basketball always took up all my time," she said.
Brown received much praise for her acting debut, as TheaterMirror.com described her as being "beautiful and statuesque" and that she "has a fantastic soprano voice which soars in all her numbers including the Prologue, Poor Poor Joseph and Go, Go Joseph." The Daily News Tribune voiced similar praise: "It's hard to take your eyes off Brown in this show. She's a beautiful, tall, willowy girl who has an appealing stage presence and a lovely way of exchanging glances and flirtations with other characters on the set."
Brown is also a spokesperson for the Songs of Love Foundation (www.songsoflove.org) which creates personalized songs for seriously ill children and teens.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player and recording artist from Wrentham, Massachusetts
Wrentham, Massachusetts
Wrentham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,955 at the 2010 census.- History :Wrentham was first settled by the English in 1660 and officially incorporated in 1673. It was burned down during King Philip's War 1675-1676. For a short time, it was the...
. She is also known for her American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
showing placing in the Top 16 on season 5
American Idol (season 5)
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 18 contestants getting record deals -...
in 2005/06. She is the elder daughter of United States Senator Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
reporter Gail Huff
Gail Huff
Gail Huff is a former American broadcast journalist and television reporter for WCVB-TV, Channel 5, the ABC network affiliate in Bostonand the wife of Scott Brown, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. She has been employed as a reporter at WCVB since 1993, working the 3-10 a.m. shift while her...
. Brown is also now a contributor for CBS's The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
.
Biography
Brown finished her high school career as one of the top female basketball players in Massachusetts history, scoring 2,358 career points. This made her the sixth place all-time leading scorer in Massachusetts basketball history, male or female. In addition, she is a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year and named as the top female basketball player in Massachusetts. Brown finished her senior season as the captain of the Noble and Greenough SchoolNoble and Greenough School
The Noble and Greenough School, commonly known as Nobles, is a coeducational, nonsectarian day and boarding school for students in grades seven through twelve. It is located on a campus in Dedham, Massachusetts. The current enrollment of 550 students includes a balance of boys and girls, of whom...
girls' basketball team, missing her last few games to compete on the fifth season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.
Brown was scouted by the staff at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
beginning at the age of 15. She made a commitment to the school, and went on to attend BC on a full athletic scholarship as a Communications major. Currently in her senior year, she plays the forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
position for the Boston College Eagles
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
, wearing jersey #1. Brown's nickname given to her by her teammates is "Downtown Ayla Brown" because of her ability to sink 3-pointers and lengthy shots and in reference to her father's college basketball nickname, "Downtown Scotty Brown".
American Idol
Brown auditioned for American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., in the summer of 2005 before advancing to the judges in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. She was eliminated from the show on March 9, 2006.
For her audition song, Brown sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
." Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
said she had a good, though undistinguished voice. Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
also thought Brown was a good singer, but that she favored vocal power over dynamics. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
accused Brown of being "robotic and somewhat empty." In the end, Jackson and Abdul (who made the final judgment) sent Brown through to the Hollywood rounds.
During the Hollywood rounds, Brown sang "Reflection
Reflection (song)
"Reflection" is a song featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 animated film Mulan, recorded by American recording artist Christina Aguilera. In the months before the recording of the track, Aguilera approached RCA, which gave her the chance to record the theme song to the film Mulan...
" by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, and was one of 24 semi-finalists of the fifth season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.
Performances
| Week | Theme | Song Sung | Artist | Order Sung | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 24 (12 Women) | Contestant's Choice | "Reflection Reflection (song) "Reflection" is a song featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 animated film Mulan, recorded by American recording artist Christina Aguilera. In the months before the recording of the track, Aguilera approached RCA, which gave her the chance to record the theme song to the film Mulan... " |
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994... |
4 | Advanced |
| Top 20 (10 Women) | Contestant's Choice | "I Want You to Need Me I Want You to Need Me "I Want You to Need Me" is the last single from Céline Dion's greatest hits album All the Way... A Decade of Song, released on July 15, 2000.It was written by Diane Warren, who also wrote for Céline Dion her hit "Because You Loved Me" among others... " |
Celine Dion Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record... |
6 | Advanced |
| Top 16 (8 Women) | Contestant's Choice | "Unwritten Unwritten (song) "Unwritten" is a song by English singer Natasha Bedingfield. Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, and Wayne Rodriguez wrote it for her debut album, Unwritten. The single was released as the album's third UK single and second US single... " |
Natasha Bedingfield Natasha Bedingfield Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle... |
6 | Eliminated |
Post-American Idol
Following her departure from IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Brown made hundreds of personal appearances in 2006, most covered by local or national media and drawing as many as 500 to 2,000 or more fans. She appeared at the Kiss 108
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
Concert in Mansfield, Mass.
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
in front of 20,000 people on May 20, performing four songs in addition to introducing Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle...
. Brown sang the national anthem on July 4 with the Boston Pops in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Brown's performance featured a multiple F-16 fly-over and was televised by WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
, Boston's CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate. Brown appeared at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
on July 12 and she also performed six shows over three days at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in W. Springfield, Mass.
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
from September 15–17.
Brown was asked once again to perform with the Boston Pops at the Conte Forum
Conte Forum
The Silvio O. Conte Forum, commonly known as Conte Forum, Kelley Rink , or simply Conte, is an 8,606-seat multi-purpose arena which opened in 1988 on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that lies within the Brighton neighborhood of Boston...
in Chestnut Hill, Mass. on September 29, where they performed a full orchestrated version of her title track "Forward" as part of B.C.'s parents' weekend celebration. Brown was also featured in the November 2006 issue of American Idol Magazine
American Idol Magazine
American Idol Magazine is the official fanzine for the television show American Idol; containing news, gossip and adverts relating to the American Idol franchise, including articles about former participants....
.
In 2007, Brown appeared at many events including the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in South Boston on March 18 and the Crocker Field Sunset Concert Series on September 16 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
.
Brown performed alongside veteran record producer David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
at the "David Foster and Friends" tour when it stopped in Boston on Oct. 25, 2009. Brown sang the disco hit "Got to Be Real" while accompanied by Foster at the concert, which took place at Boston University's Agganis Arena. She returned to the stage to close out the show with other guest performers for the finale of "America's Song."
Forward
Brown's debut album, Forward, was released on October 17, 2006. The album was recorded in New York at Tonic Studios, Raw Sugar Studios in Pawling, N.Y.Pawling (village), New York
Pawling is a village in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,233 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area...
, and Double Deal Studios in Chappaqua, N.Y.
Chappaqua, New York
Chappaqua is a hamlet and census-designated place in northern Westchester County, New York. As of the 2010 census, following a major revision to the delineation of its boundaries by the Census Bureau, the population was 1,436...
. The tracks were mixed at A-Pawling Studios by Peter Moshay. Brown began recording the vocals for the album immediately after signing her contract on August 24, and in just over a week, the recording sessions were completed. The reason for the hurried recording schedule was that Brown had to meet NCAA compliance deadlines and finish recording her album before beginning her career at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
The title track, "Forward," received airplay at Mainstream AC radio. It peaked at #34 on Billboards AC chart. The album sold 3,000 copies, placing Brown in 23rd place for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
alumni un-certified album sales.
Boston College Eagles
Brown's career with the Lady Eagles began in the 2006–07 season, her freshman year. During the season she averaged 8.2 points per game, the second-highest average on the team. The Eagles finished one game below .500 for their overall record and failed to make post-season play (NCAANCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
or WNIT
Women's National Invitation Tournament
The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...
) for the first time in several years.
In her sophomore season with the Lady Eagles, Brown finished the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, having started 31 of 33 games. She averaged 28.5 minutes a game. After finishing the regular season with a 21–12 overall record, BC advanced to the second round of the ACC Tournament in March 2008 but was eliminated by Maryland in the next game by a 93–81 margin. The team wrapped up the 2007–08 season with a second-round elimination in the Women's National Invitation Tournament
Women's National Invitation Tournament
The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...
(WNIT) in Queens, N.Y.
In her junior year, Brown finished the season as the team's fourth-leading scorer having played in 35 games, of which she started in 30. She averaged 24.5 minutes, 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. The Lady Eagles ended the season at 23–12 overall after losing to Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament on March 6, 2009. BC went on to make the final round of the WNIT, where it lost to South Florida 82–65.
Brown has been recognized for her basketball talents by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine, as she was featured as the magazine's "Intern of the Week" in June 2008 for her wide array of activities in addition to her hoop skills. She was also featured as WCVB-5's "High 5" high school athlete of the week and has been profiled by New England Sports Network
New England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
(NESN) for its staple program SportsDesk
SportsDesk
SportsDesk is a former sports news television show that was shown every day on the New England Sports Network, USA. The last current primary anchors were Cole Wright and Jade McCarthy. Various reporters included Kathryn Tappen, Heidi Watney, Naoko Funayama, and Jayme Parker on a rare basis....
Ayla Brown Live!
On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, an eight-minute video consisting of concert and behind-the-scenes footage from a live show Brown performed at with "The James Montgomery Blues Band" and "The Uptown Horns" earlier in the summer was posted on Brown's record label's official YouTube channel. In the video, it was revealed that Brown's next release would be titled Ayla Brown Live! and would be a collection of live tracks performed with the two bands at the concert profiled in the video. It was also stated that Brown's next studio album, Circles, was scheduled for an April 6, 2010, release date, which is roughly one month after her career with the Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
women's basketball team is set to conclude. A tour that would coincide with the releases was also announced, but specifics were still in the process of being worked out.
Circles – EP
Following her father's victory in the Massachusetts senate election, Brown received a great amount of media attention which led her label to rush release her new EP Circles. The EP was originally slated for an April 2010 release but her label wanted to capitalize on all the attention her family was getting, and so the EP was put on iTunes roughly three months earlier than expected. A physical release is still expected sometime in the spring following the conclusion of Brown's basketball career at BC.The EP's first single, "Pick It Up," was written by Ayla's fellow American Idol semi-finalist Will Makar and Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Leigh Jones
Nathan Leigh Jones
Nathan Leigh Jones is a pop singer, songwriter and pianist born in Adelaide Australia, currently living between both Sydney Australia and New York City....
. The "Pick It Up" music video premiered on her label's official YouTube channel on the same day of the release. Brown also appeared on the CBS morning program The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
where she performed "No More" and talked about how her life has changed since her father's win. Ayla also performed the single "Pick It Up" on Fox and Friends on February 15, 2010.
On June 16, 2010, it was revealed that Brown was released from her contract with Double Deal.
Other projects
Brown has also dabbled in musical theatre. After twice turning down offers to star as the narrator in the Reagle Players' production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
, Brown finally accepted the role in 2008. From June 12–15 and 19–21, Brown starred in eight shows at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, Mass., alongside Broadway's Eric Kunze
Eric Kunze
Eric Kunze , born in 1971 in San Diego, California, is a Broadway actor and singer. He showed an early aptitude for singing and was involved in choir and theater at Rancho Buena Vista High School. He attended theater studies at University of California, Irvine. In his junior year, the students...
and a host of talented area actors. Of starring in the show, Brown told The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
she never got to do a musical in high school because she was focused on her basketball career. "I've always wanted to do a musical, and I really regretted not doing one in high school. I was always interested, but basketball always took up all my time," she said.
Brown received much praise for her acting debut, as TheaterMirror.com described her as being "beautiful and statuesque" and that she "has a fantastic soprano voice which soars in all her numbers including the Prologue, Poor Poor Joseph and Go, Go Joseph." The Daily News Tribune voiced similar praise: "It's hard to take your eyes off Brown in this show. She's a beautiful, tall, willowy girl who has an appealing stage presence and a lovely way of exchanging glances and flirtations with other characters on the set."
Brown is also a spokesperson for the Songs of Love Foundation (www.songsoflove.org) which creates personalized songs for seriously ill children and teens.
Albums
| Information |
|---|
| Forward Forward (Ayla Brown album) Forward is the debut album of singer Ayla Brown, which was released on October 17, 2006.The album was recorded in New York City, at Tonic Studios, Raw Sugar Studios and Double Deal Studios, and mixed at A-Pawling Studios by Peter Moshay, of Hall & Oates, and Mariah Carey fame...
|
| Ayla Brown Live!
|
| Circles – EP
|
Singles
| Year | Title | US AC Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks Adult Top 40 is a variation on the United States Billboard charts... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Know You Better" | — | Forward Forward (Ayla Brown album) Forward is the debut album of singer Ayla Brown, which was released on October 17, 2006.The album was recorded in New York City, at Tonic Studios, Raw Sugar Studios and Double Deal Studios, and mixed at A-Pawling Studios by Peter Moshay, of Hall & Oates, and Mariah Carey fame... |
| "I Quit" | — | ||
| 2007 | "Forward" | 34 | |
| "Falling Into You" | — | ||
| 2010 | "Pick It Up" | — | Circles – EP |
| 2011 | "Goodbye For Good" | — | TBD |