Victoria Hart
Encyclopedia
Victoria Hart is a California
-born English
jazz-pop singer.
).
Hart attended an International School
in Mougins
and finished her GCSEs in the summer of 2004. Having finished school and exams for the summer, she sang jazz
to friends and family.
, she was heard singing at a party in a vineyard by producer Geoff Gurd who was so impressed he took her under his wing and began recording her.
Shortly afterward Hart recorded for the first time at Gurd's recording studio
. Gurd has written several songs specifically for Hart. Hart, Gurd and Lynne Pearson formed a team of singer, writer/producer and manager who, together with a promotional team, developed Hart's debut album released in June 2007.
In May 2006 she performed at the Cannes Film Festival
, Alex Proud heard Hart perform at the Pangea Club and later invited her to sing at the opening night of his new bar and gallery in London, At Proud. The audience included journalists and club owners and from this she was asked to perform at The Pigalle Club
, in Piccadilly
in London
. Hart supported the Blue Harlem group.
In 2007, while working as a singing waitress at the Naked Turtle restaurant in London, the 18-year-old Hart was invited to perform for a benefit party during the Cannes Film Festival
hosted by George Clooney
and other stars, including Brad Pitt
. The story was a press sensation and not soon after Hart had signed a purportedly one-million-dollar contract with Decca Records
. This led to the "singing waitress" nickname.
of Jazz and if she's good enough for George and Brad she's good enough for Decca.". Her musical hero is Ella Fitzgerald
.
. The string quartet
Pavao provides backup.
.
On 1 June 2008, Hart performed at the Southport International Jazz Festival.
During June and July 2008, Hart appeared as the special guest of tenor
Russell Watson
on his United Kingdom tour. She performed two songs solo and one duet with Watson.
She also performed live on The Today Show on 5 July 2008.
In December 2008, Hart made an impromptu guest appearance with the Guards Big Band at a Super Busking gig in London's Covent Garden as part of Covent Garden's Christmas Delight celebrations. The performance took place in-sync with a visual light display by United Visual Artists in aid of homeless charity Crisis. The live performances can be seen exclusively on the Covent Garden website.
In 2009, Hart performed before British troops in Afghanistan
. Before embarking on the trip she took advice from Dame Vera Lynn who performed similar duties in World War II
.
In February 2010, Hart appeared at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington, as a guest artist in Taboo-Be-Do! Hits and Misses from the Politically Incorrect Songbook, a show compiled and performed by Terence Terence Blacker
and Derek Hewitson of the duo Something Happened. The show was later performed at festivals, including the Hay Festival
, and the Aldeburgh Literary Festival.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-born English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
jazz-pop singer.
Early years
Hart studied vocals at London music school Vocaltech (Part of Tech Music SchoolsTech Music Schools
Tech Music School is a contemporary music school that trains musicians for the music industry in the following disciplines: drums, vocals, guitar, bass guitar and music business...
).
Hart attended an International School
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
in Mougins
Mougins
Mougins is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It is located on the heights of Cannes, in the district of Grasse. Mougins is a 15-minute drive from Cannes. The village is surrounded by forests, such as the Valmasque forest...
and finished her GCSEs in the summer of 2004. Having finished school and exams for the summer, she sang jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to friends and family.
Discovery
At age 15, while living with her parents in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, she was heard singing at a party in a vineyard by producer Geoff Gurd who was so impressed he took her under his wing and began recording her.
Shortly afterward Hart recorded for the first time at Gurd's recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
. Gurd has written several songs specifically for Hart. Hart, Gurd and Lynne Pearson formed a team of singer, writer/producer and manager who, together with a promotional team, developed Hart's debut album released in June 2007.
In May 2006 she performed at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Alex Proud heard Hart perform at the Pangea Club and later invited her to sing at the opening night of his new bar and gallery in London, At Proud. The audience included journalists and club owners and from this she was asked to perform at The Pigalle Club
Pigalle Club
The Pigalle Club is a supper club and live music venue in Piccadilly, London, owned by Vince Power .Dave West also owns shares in The Pigalle Club...
, in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Hart supported the Blue Harlem group.
In 2007, while working as a singing waitress at the Naked Turtle restaurant in London, the 18-year-old Hart was invited to perform for a benefit party during the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
hosted by George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
and other stars, including Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
. The story was a press sensation and not soon after Hart had signed a purportedly one-million-dollar contract with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. This led to the "singing waitress" nickname.
Musical style
Her style has been described as a "renaissance of all things kitsch and fabulously forties", while Decca music mogul Mark Cavell hailed her as, "the Lily AllenLily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
of Jazz and if she's good enough for George and Brad she's good enough for Decca.". Her musical hero is Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
.
Whatever Happened to Romance
Her debut album Whatever Happened to Romance was released on 30 June 2007 and peaked at the number 22 position on the Billboard Top Jazz Album list.The Lost Gershwin
On 27 October 2008 she released The Lost Gershwin, an album of lesser-known songs by George GershwinGeorge Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
. The string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
Pavao provides backup.
Touring and live appearances
In July 2007, Hart performed at the three-day jazz festival at WoburnWoburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:...
.
On 1 June 2008, Hart performed at the Southport International Jazz Festival.
During June and July 2008, Hart appeared as the special guest of tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
on his United Kingdom tour. She performed two songs solo and one duet with Watson.
She also performed live on The Today Show on 5 July 2008.
In December 2008, Hart made an impromptu guest appearance with the Guards Big Band at a Super Busking gig in London's Covent Garden as part of Covent Garden's Christmas Delight celebrations. The performance took place in-sync with a visual light display by United Visual Artists in aid of homeless charity Crisis. The live performances can be seen exclusively on the Covent Garden website.
In 2009, Hart performed before British troops in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Before embarking on the trip she took advice from Dame Vera Lynn who performed similar duties in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In February 2010, Hart appeared at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington, as a guest artist in Taboo-Be-Do! Hits and Misses from the Politically Incorrect Songbook, a show compiled and performed by Terence Terence Blacker
Terence Blacker
Terence Blacker is an English author, columnist, journalist, and publisher. He is the son of General Sir Cecil Hugh Blacker, and the brother of sculptor Philip Blacker....
and Derek Hewitson of the duo Something Happened. The show was later performed at festivals, including the Hay Festival
Hay Festival
The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts is an annual literature festival held in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales for ten days from May to June. Devised by Norman and Peter Florence in 1988, the festival was described by Bill Clinton in 2001 as "The Woodstock of the mind"...
, and the Aldeburgh Literary Festival.