Dawn Angelique Richard
Encyclopedia
Dawn Angeliqué Richard (born August 5, 1983) is a American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Richard is a former member of the musical group Danity Kane
, from 2005 to 2009. She is currently a member of the group Diddy-Dirty Money, along with label head Sean "Diddy" Combs
and another singer/songwriter named Kalenna Harper
.
descent and was born in New Orleans, Louisiana with one brother. She is currently living in Baltimore
, Maryland due to being displaced after Hurricane Katrina
. Music has played an influential part in her life since early childhood. Her father is Frank Richard, former lead singer and percussionist of the popular Funk/Soul band Chocolate Milk
. Her mother owned a dancing school where Dawn spent much of her childhood developing her skills at choreography and singing.
", featuring the single "So What" which was co-produced by NeYo. Yeah! Brother Records and its New Orleans management company, Scratch Entertainment, headed by Kemic A. Smothers, Esq., agreed after negotiations with Sean "Diddy" Combs
of Bad Boy Records
, to postpone release of the album while arranging an immediate release from her exclusive recording contract with Yeah! Brother Records. Although it had no releases and did not chart, the studio album "Been A While" was still good enough to secure her a spot as the opening act for Anthony Hamilton
in Tallahassee, Florida. During the recording of "Been A While", she focused on touring and live performances, dance, and becoming an NBA cheerleader
for the New Orleans Hornets while attending the University of New Orleans
Richard's "big break" came in 2005 when she auditioned for the MTV show Making the Band
3 in Orlando, where she was chosen to compete for a spot in Combs's future girl group. After the negotiated release from her contract with Yeah! Brother Records, she elevated her career by signing with international powerhouse Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment. She beat out numerous contestants to secure herself a spot, along with Aubrey O'Day
, Aundrea Fimbres
, Wanita Woodgett
(now known as "D. Woods
"), and Shannon Bex
.
The newly formed group became Danity Kane
. The idea for the name of the group came from one of Richard's drawings. An avid fan of manga
, while Danity Kane was in the studio, Richard drew a female superhero which caught the attention of Combs. When asked what the character's name was, she replied, "Danity Kane." To Combs, this represented the girls of Making the Band 3. He then decided that it should be the name of the group. The name and story were first introduced during Danity Kane's Total Request Live
appearance on June 14, 2006.
Richard has also remixed a song with London-based artist Cherri V, whose title is "Fast Car." The song has since become one of the most listened to songs on Cherri V's MySpace.
Early 2008, a song called "Phase" was leaked onto the internet and featured Lil Wayne
. Although it was buzzed as a Danity Kane track, only Richard's voice was featured on the song, which left speculation that it was a solo demo. In July 2008, two new tracks were released onto the internet, one called "Rush Love" which featured Flo Rida
, and another track called "Strobe Light" (written by Mary Brown and produced by Chad Beatz (Tastemaker Music
). It is still unknown if this was part of a future solo endeavor.
During a MTV News break, it was stated that Richard was working on an untitled comic book. Richard's also stated in an interview that she would be releasing a soundtrack for the Danity Kane Comic Book, to be released in March 2009. Included would be the leaked track "Falls Away".
On January 27, 2009, Richard confirmed to MTV News in an interview that Danity Kane had completely split up. In that same interview, she stated that she still considered herself a member of Danity Kane (along with Aundrea Fimbres), and still had hopes that each girl would be willing to work as a group again.
On the April 16, 2009 episode of Making the Band, Combs revealed that he released O'Day and Woods, along with Bex, from their contracts, and would be releasing Fimbres as well. He told Richard that she will stay on the label and that if there are any future plans for a new Danity Kane, she will be the only returning member. However, on the April 23, 2009 finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decides to reunite the group.
, writing for artist Cassie and Combs himself. Soon after Danity Kane's breakup, Richard was featured in a commercial on the opposition of California's Prop 8. Richard has now become a member of another group called Diddy-Dirty Money, which includes Combs and singer/songwriter Kalenna Harper
. The band have been recently working heavily on Diddy's new album Last Train to Paris
. They have released three singles to date. Angels was the bands debut single, it was officially released on November 3. The band's second single Love Come Down was released on the same day. The band's third single "Hello Good Morning
" featured rapper T.I.
and was released on March 30, 2010. She did an apparition in Keri Hilson's video for "The Way You Love Me" as "Money". She is the first member of Danity Kane
to have released professional music under a major label after their split, with the Dirty Money album.
Since 2010, Richard has been busy working on putting the finishing touches on her mix-tape, The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
. Before full mix-tape release Dawn has released a few songs, one of them being "Me Myself & Y" which she released as a promotional single on globalgrind.com. Other are "These Tears", a heavy ballad with amazing vocals from Richard, and "Let Love In", another rocking ballad with heavy vocal harmonies. The Mix-tape The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
or alternate title: #ATellTaleHeart was released February 7, 2011 on her official web-site. There are 15 tracks. It called "the prelude to..." because there will be official debut studio album by Dawn Richard entitled A-Tell Tale Heart, which she is working on for past 3 years. She is working with Trendsetter (producer) on few tracks for that album. Celebrating the release of her mix-tape, Dawn Richard organized several club events. On February 7, 2011 at "Milan" club in Baltimore and on February 12, 2011 at PHX – "Nightclub MIXTAPE PARTY RELEASE".
Dawn has announced that her major solo debut project will be a broken up trilogy of albums entitled "GoldenHeart, "BlackHeart", and "RedemptionHeart". "GoldenHeart", the first of the trilogy is expected to be released late 2011. On June 19, 2011 a buzz track entitled "Stuck On Mad" was released to the public. Followed by a release of a remix to Frank Ocean's Novacane. The remix which was co-written by songwriter Intyce, hit the net on June 21, 2011 and reached over 5000 downloads within a few hours. Intyce was enlisted as one of the writers for Richard's solo debut.
2011-present: Golden Heart
SMFU (SAVE ME FROM U) was released on the internet 31st October and is set to be on the first album. This album is set to have an concept of a alter-ego named NEON. The concept has not yet been discussed.
, Day26
, and Donnie J. Klang were aired together on the second season of Making the Band
4. The series showed the two groups doing performances, living together, and the relationships between members of the bands. During the series, it showed Richard's relationship with Day26's Qwanell Mosley
grow, and the two enter into a romantic relationship. Then broke up.
Singles
Mix-tapes
Danity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
, from 2005 to 2009. She is currently a member of the group Diddy-Dirty Money, along with label head Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
and another singer/songwriter named Kalenna Harper
Kalenna Harper
Kalenna Harper , better known mononymously as Kalenna , is an American singer-songwriter. She is currently a member of the hip hop group Diddy-Dirty Money, along with Diddy and fellow singer-songwriter Dawn Richard .The winner of four Russian Grammy Awards, Kalenna is currently working on her solo...
.
Early life
Richard is of African-American and HaitianHaitian
Haitian may refer to:* A person or thing of, from, or related to the country of Haiti* Haitian Creole language * Haitian cuisine* Haitian , minor character in the 2006 television series Heroes...
descent and was born in New Orleans, Louisiana with one brother. She is currently living in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland due to being displaced after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Music has played an influential part in her life since early childhood. Her father is Frank Richard, former lead singer and percussionist of the popular Funk/Soul band Chocolate Milk
Chocolate Milk (band)
Chocolate Milk is a former American funk and soul band from New Orleans, Louisiana, active in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Biography:Chocolate Milk was formed in 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee by saxophonist Amadee Castenell, Jr shortly after the emergence of the bands Kool & the Gang and Earth, Wind &...
. Her mother owned a dancing school where Dawn spent much of her childhood developing her skills at choreography and singing.
Early career
Early on in her teenage life, Richard began performing with a local New Orleans group called "Realiti". Discovered as a solo artist by Kemic A. Smothers at a 2004 live performance at Tipitina's Uptown in New Orleans, Richard was soon signed under the name "Dawn Angelique" to an exclusive recording contract/development deal with Octarve Anderson, Jr. and his Atlanta independent record label, Yeah! Brother Records. Recording in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New Orleans, Richard and Yeah! Brother records, along with platinum awarded production team The NexMen, Rochad Holiday and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, crafted a stellar studio solo album called "Been a WhileBeen a While
Been a While is the debut solo album by former Danity Kane and current Dirty Money member, Dawn Richard, under the name of Dawn Angeliqué. It was released on October 4, 2005. This album was made before Richard joined Danity Kane, in 2005, and Dirty Money, in 2009...
", featuring the single "So What" which was co-produced by NeYo. Yeah! Brother Records and its New Orleans management company, Scratch Entertainment, headed by Kemic A. Smothers, Esq., agreed after negotiations with Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
of Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
, to postpone release of the album while arranging an immediate release from her exclusive recording contract with Yeah! Brother Records. Although it had no releases and did not chart, the studio album "Been A While" was still good enough to secure her a spot as the opening act for Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton (musician)
Anthony Hamilton is an American R&B, and soul singer-songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame with his platinum-selling second studio album Comin' from Where I'm From , which featured the singles "Comin' from Where I'm From" and "Charlene."-Life and career:Hamilton was born in Charlotte,...
in Tallahassee, Florida. During the recording of "Been A While", she focused on touring and live performances, dance, and becoming an NBA cheerleader
National Basketball Association Cheerleading
National Basketball Association Cheerleading, or simply NBA Cheerleading, is a professional cheerleading league in Canada and the United States that supports a professional basketball team...
for the New Orleans Hornets while attending the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
2005–2009: Making the Band 3 and Danity Kane
Making the Band
Making the Band is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang...
3 in Orlando, where she was chosen to compete for a spot in Combs's future girl group. After the negotiated release from her contract with Yeah! Brother Records, she elevated her career by signing with international powerhouse Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment. She beat out numerous contestants to secure herself a spot, along with Aubrey O'Day
Aubrey O'Day
Aubrey Morgan O'Day is an American singer, actress, fashion designer, television personality, and former member of the girl group Danity Kane...
, Aundrea Fimbres
Aundrea Fimbres
Aundrea Aurora Fimbres is an American singer and dancer. Fimbres is a former member of the pop music group Danity Kane, from 2005 to 2009...
, Wanita Woodgett
D. Woods
Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett is an American R&B singer, dancer, and actress. She is a former member of the girl group Danity Kane. Woods is the founder and CEO of Woodgrane Entertainment.-Early life:...
(now known as "D. Woods
D. Woods
Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett is an American R&B singer, dancer, and actress. She is a former member of the girl group Danity Kane. Woods is the founder and CEO of Woodgrane Entertainment.-Early life:...
"), and Shannon Bex
Shannon Bex
Shannon Rae Bex is a singer, professional dancer, anda former member of the musical group Danity Kane.The group was founded by P. Diddy through the MTV reality television series Making the Band 3. Danity Kane's debut album debuted at #1 on August 22, 2006, as did their second album Welcome to the...
.
The newly formed group became Danity Kane
Danity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
. The idea for the name of the group came from one of Richard's drawings. An avid fan of manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, while Danity Kane was in the studio, Richard drew a female superhero which caught the attention of Combs. When asked what the character's name was, she replied, "Danity Kane." To Combs, this represented the girls of Making the Band 3. He then decided that it should be the name of the group. The name and story were first introduced during Danity Kane's Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
appearance on June 14, 2006.
Early 2008, a song called "Phase" was leaked onto the internet and featured Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
. Although it was buzzed as a Danity Kane track, only Richard's voice was featured on the song, which left speculation that it was a solo demo. In July 2008, two new tracks were released onto the internet, one called "Rush Love" which featured Flo Rida
Flo Rida
Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
, and another track called "Strobe Light" (written by Mary Brown and produced by Chad Beatz (Tastemaker Music
Tastemaker Music
Tastemaker Music LLC is a record production company, owned and operated by songwriter & multi-platinum selling record producer, Chad Dexter, primarily known as Chad Beatz.-Background:...
). It is still unknown if this was part of a future solo endeavor.
During a MTV News break, it was stated that Richard was working on an untitled comic book. Richard's also stated in an interview that she would be releasing a soundtrack for the Danity Kane Comic Book, to be released in March 2009. Included would be the leaked track "Falls Away".
On January 27, 2009, Richard confirmed to MTV News in an interview that Danity Kane had completely split up. In that same interview, she stated that she still considered herself a member of Danity Kane (along with Aundrea Fimbres), and still had hopes that each girl would be willing to work as a group again.
On the April 16, 2009 episode of Making the Band, Combs revealed that he released O'Day and Woods, along with Bex, from their contracts, and would be releasing Fimbres as well. He told Richard that she will stay on the label and that if there are any future plans for a new Danity Kane, she will be the only returning member. However, on the April 23, 2009 finale of the series, Combs stated that all five original members would be returning if he ever decides to reunite the group.
2009–present: Diddy-Dirty Money
In 2009, Richard began working with Bad Boy RecordsBad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
, writing for artist Cassie and Combs himself. Soon after Danity Kane's breakup, Richard was featured in a commercial on the opposition of California's Prop 8. Richard has now become a member of another group called Diddy-Dirty Money, which includes Combs and singer/songwriter Kalenna Harper
Kalenna Harper
Kalenna Harper , better known mononymously as Kalenna , is an American singer-songwriter. She is currently a member of the hip hop group Diddy-Dirty Money, along with Diddy and fellow singer-songwriter Dawn Richard .The winner of four Russian Grammy Awards, Kalenna is currently working on her solo...
. The band have been recently working heavily on Diddy's new album Last Train to Paris
Last Train to Paris
Last Train to Paris is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Diddy, released on December 13, 2010 through Bad Boy Records . The album follows Diddy's alter-ego as he travels from London to Paris to regain a lost love...
. They have released three singles to date. Angels was the bands debut single, it was officially released on November 3. The band's second single Love Come Down was released on the same day. The band's third single "Hello Good Morning
Hello Good Morning
"Hello Good Morning" is song by American rapper and producer Diddy and his band Dirty Money, from their debut album, Last Train to Paris. It was released from March 30, 2010 as the album's third single...
" featured rapper T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
and was released on March 30, 2010. She did an apparition in Keri Hilson's video for "The Way You Love Me" as "Money". She is the first member of Danity Kane
Danity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
to have released professional music under a major label after their split, with the Dirty Money album.
Since 2010, Richard has been busy working on putting the finishing touches on her mix-tape, The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart is the first, full-length studio mix-tape released by Dawn Richard.Before the full mix-tape release Richard has released a few songs, one of them being "Me Myself & Y" which was released as a promotional single on globalgrind.com...
. Before full mix-tape release Dawn has released a few songs, one of them being "Me Myself & Y" which she released as a promotional single on globalgrind.com. Other are "These Tears", a heavy ballad with amazing vocals from Richard, and "Let Love In", another rocking ballad with heavy vocal harmonies. The Mix-tape The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart
The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart is the first, full-length studio mix-tape released by Dawn Richard.Before the full mix-tape release Richard has released a few songs, one of them being "Me Myself & Y" which was released as a promotional single on globalgrind.com...
or alternate title: #ATellTaleHeart was released February 7, 2011 on her official web-site. There are 15 tracks. It called "the prelude to..." because there will be official debut studio album by Dawn Richard entitled A-Tell Tale Heart, which she is working on for past 3 years. She is working with Trendsetter (producer) on few tracks for that album. Celebrating the release of her mix-tape, Dawn Richard organized several club events. On February 7, 2011 at "Milan" club in Baltimore and on February 12, 2011 at PHX – "Nightclub MIXTAPE PARTY RELEASE".
Dawn has announced that her major solo debut project will be a broken up trilogy of albums entitled "GoldenHeart, "BlackHeart", and "RedemptionHeart". "GoldenHeart", the first of the trilogy is expected to be released late 2011. On June 19, 2011 a buzz track entitled "Stuck On Mad" was released to the public. Followed by a release of a remix to Frank Ocean's Novacane. The remix which was co-written by songwriter Intyce, hit the net on June 21, 2011 and reached over 5000 downloads within a few hours. Intyce was enlisted as one of the writers for Richard's solo debut.
2011-present: Golden Heart
SMFU (SAVE ME FROM U) was released on the internet 31st October and is set to be on the first album. This album is set to have an concept of a alter-ego named NEON. The concept has not yet been discussed.
Personal life
Danity KaneDanity Kane
Danity Kane was an American female music group signed to Bad Boy Records, first established in 2005. Formed on the third installment of MTV's Making the Band reality television series, the quintet comprised members Aubrey O'Day, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea...
, Day26
Day26
Day26 is an American male R&B music group formed on August 26, 2007 by Sean "Diddy" Combs in a handpicked selection at the end of MTV's Making the Band 4. The group consists of Robert Curry, Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Michael McCluney. The moniker is a tribute to the day when Andrews,...
, and Donnie J. Klang were aired together on the second season of Making the Band
Making the Band
Making the Band is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang...
4. The series showed the two groups doing performances, living together, and the relationships between members of the bands. During the series, it showed Richard's relationship with Day26's Qwanell Mosley
Qwanell Mosley
Qwanell Anthony Mosley , better known as "Que", is an American singer who is best known for being a contestant, and winner on the hit TV show Making the Band 4. He was the youngest member of the group Day26 signed to Bad Boy Records, along with their former label members, Danity Kane and Donnie Klang...
grow, and the two enter into a romantic relationship. Then broke up.
Discography
Solo Studio albums- 2005: Been a WhileBeen a WhileBeen a While is the debut solo album by former Danity Kane and current Dirty Money member, Dawn Richard, under the name of Dawn Angeliqué. It was released on October 4, 2005. This album was made before Richard joined Danity Kane, in 2005, and Dirty Money, in 2009...
- 2011: GoldenHeart
Singles
- 2005: "So What"
- 2010: "Bottles" (featuring Trina)
Mix-tapes
- 2011: The Prelude to A Tell Tale HeartThe Prelude to A Tell Tale HeartThe Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart is the first, full-length studio mix-tape released by Dawn Richard.Before the full mix-tape release Richard has released a few songs, one of them being "Me Myself & Y" which was released as a promotional single on globalgrind.com...
External links
- Dawn Richard Online (Official Site)
- Official Blog