Melissa Rapp
Encyclopedia
Melissa Catherine Rapp is a Los Angeles
-based singer-songwriter
. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a featured cast member of Bravo's first season of the songwriting competition show Platinum Hit
. Her music is a blend of pop, soul, folk and rock.
Rapp’s great grandfather was a professional drummer on Mississippi river boats. Her grandfather, Roy T. Rapp, put himself through medical school by playing the trumpet in Chicago big bands. Roy Rapp also raised each of his six children to play a different instrument so Rapp grew up playing music in the basement with her musical uncles and cousins.
Rapp took up piano at age five, training privately in Honolulu. She started playing guitar at age 15. She graduated with honors from Punahou School
, the same high school attended by President Barack Obama
. She went on to graduate from Stanford University
with a degree in History, with a Literature and the Arts focus. While at Stanford, she was a member of the Harmonics, a co-ed a cappella group, as well as a member of the collegiate alpine ski racing and triathlon teams.
, Chuck Prophet
, Josh Ritter
, and ALO
.
In 2008, she recorded the album The Other Side in Berkeley, California. The album was produced by Jon Evans and features drumming by Allison Miller
and keyboards by Julie Wolf. The album drew critical acclaim and attention from San Francisco radio stations KFOG
104.5 and KUSF
.
In 2010, she recorded her second album Just Like That in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The record featured a cast of musicians including drummer Jimmy Paxson
, bassist Michael Valerio, Julie Wolf and guitarists Ray Bergstrom and Betsy Adams.
She has appeared on Today show segment with Paul Ehrlich
and is one of the participants of Platinum Hit
on Bravo (2011).
on Bravo American entertainment channel as one of 12 aspiring songwriters for the title which she landed in 8th place.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a featured cast member of Bravo's first season of the songwriting competition show Platinum Hit
Platinum Hit
Platinum Hit is a reality competition series on Bravo launched in 2011 in which 12 singer-songwriters compete through innovative songwriting challenges that will test their creativity, patience and drive. The series was created and produced by Evan Bogart...
. Her music is a blend of pop, soul, folk and rock.
Biography
Rapp is from an educated and musical family. Her father is a lawyer and also a published drummer. Her mother has an MBA and has worked as a University of Hawaii dean.Rapp’s great grandfather was a professional drummer on Mississippi river boats. Her grandfather, Roy T. Rapp, put himself through medical school by playing the trumpet in Chicago big bands. Roy Rapp also raised each of his six children to play a different instrument so Rapp grew up playing music in the basement with her musical uncles and cousins.
Rapp took up piano at age five, training privately in Honolulu. She started playing guitar at age 15. She graduated with honors from Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
, the same high school attended by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. She went on to graduate from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
with a degree in History, with a Literature and the Arts focus. While at Stanford, she was a member of the Harmonics, a co-ed a cappella group, as well as a member of the collegiate alpine ski racing and triathlon teams.
Musical career
Rapp first performance of her original music was at the Stanford Coffeehouse. She started playing professionally in San Francisco immediately following her college graduation. Since that time, she has toured the United States, sharing stages with artists such as Sara BareillesSara Bareilles
Sara Beth Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She achieved mainstream success in 2007 with the hit single "Love Song", which brought her into the number one spot on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. She has sold over 1 million records in the United States alone and has been...
, Chuck Prophet
Chuck Prophet
Chuck Prophet is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. A Californian, Prophet first achieved notice in the American psychedelic/desert rock group Green on Red, with whom he toured and recorded in the 1980s...
, Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.- Early life :Josh...
, and ALO
Animal Liberation Orchestra
Animal Liberation Orchestra is an American musical group, currently signed on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released three full length albums...
.
In 2008, she recorded the album The Other Side in Berkeley, California. The album was produced by Jon Evans and features drumming by Allison Miller
Allison Miller (drummer)
Allison Miller is a New York City-based drummer, singer, and composer.Miller has performed with songwriting vocalists Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant, and Erin McKeown, and toured with avant-garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich and organist Doctor Lonnie Smith....
and keyboards by Julie Wolf. The album drew critical acclaim and attention from San Francisco radio stations KFOG
KFOG
KFOG is an FM radio station in San Francisco, California, broadcasting on 104.5 and sister station KFFG 97.7 FM MHz. The 97.7 transmitter is located near Cupertino, California, and it is a simulcast of 104.5 KFOG....
104.5 and KUSF
KUSF
KUSF was a non-commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California and owned by the University of San Francisco. From 1963 until 2011, the station broadcast at 90.3 FM MHz....
.
In 2010, she recorded her second album Just Like That in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The record featured a cast of musicians including drummer Jimmy Paxson
Jimmy Paxson
Jimmy Paxson Jr. is an American drummer. He has played in a jazz trio with Stanley Clarke and Mike Garson and toured with Giorgia.- References :...
, bassist Michael Valerio, Julie Wolf and guitarists Ray Bergstrom and Betsy Adams.
She has appeared on Today show segment with Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich was a German scientist in the fields of hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy, and Nobel laureate. He is noted for curing syphilis and for his research in autoimmunity, calling it "horror autotoxicus"...
and is one of the participants of Platinum Hit
Platinum Hit
Platinum Hit is a reality competition series on Bravo launched in 2011 in which 12 singer-songwriters compete through innovative songwriting challenges that will test their creativity, patience and drive. The series was created and produced by Evan Bogart...
on Bravo (2011).
Platinum Hit
In 2011, she is appeared on the new songwriting competition reality show Platinum HitPlatinum Hit
Platinum Hit is a reality competition series on Bravo launched in 2011 in which 12 singer-songwriters compete through innovative songwriting challenges that will test their creativity, patience and drive. The series was created and produced by Evan Bogart...
on Bravo American entertainment channel as one of 12 aspiring songwriters for the title which she landed in 8th place.
Discography
- 2008: The Other Side (Self-released—CD, music download)
- 2010: Just Like That (Self-released—CD, music download)