Ayla Brown
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| Ayla Brown | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ayla Marie Brown |
| Born | July 28, 1988 |
| Origin | Wrentham, Massachusetts |
| Genre(s) | Pop |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Label(s) | Double Deal Brand Records |
Ayla Marie Brown (born July 28, 1988) is an American NCAA basketball player and recording artist from Wrentham, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Massachusetts State Senator Scott P. Brown (R-Wrentham) and WCVB-TV reporter Gail Huff.
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[edit] Biography
Ayla 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.[1] In addition, she is a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, named as the top female basketball player in Massachusetts.
Brown finished her senior season as the captain of the Noble and Greenough School girls' basketball team, missing her last few games to compete on the fifth season of American Idol.[2]
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. Currently in her junior year, she plays the forward position for the Boston College Lady 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.
[edit] American Idol
Brown auditioned for American Idol 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.
[edit] Performances
Top 24 - February 22, 2006 – "Reflection" (Christina Aguilera)
Jackson said he was "pleasantly surprised." Abdul liked it, and Cowell commented that the song showed the limits of her voice. However, he said it also showed emotion and that she was improving.
Top 20 - March 1, 2006 – "I Want You to Need Me" (Celine Dion)
Abdul thought Brown had improved from the previous week, and had showed conviction. Jackson was similarly impressed. Cowell said Brown's performance was good, and that he was impressed with her work ethic but described her performance as "somewhat mechanical."
Top 16 - March 8, 2006 – "Unwritten" (Natasha Bedingfield)
Jackson was thought it was okay, while Abdul gave Brown credit for handling a then-popular song. Cowell thought Brown was "actually pretty good," but not great, however that it showed a younger more modern side to her. Brown was shockingly eliminated from American Idol after performing this song.
[edit] post-American Idol
Following her departure from 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, Mass. Ayla also performed in Gloucester, Ma. on August 13.
[edit] 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., 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 Aug. 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 Billboard's AC chart. The album sold 3000 copies, placing Ayla in 23rd place for American Idol alumni un-certified album sales.
[edit] Boston College Lady 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.[3] The Lady Eagles finished one game below .500 for their overall record and failed to make post-season play (NCAA or WNIT) for the first time in several years. The team lost key seniors at the end of the season, including forward Kathrin Ress, and guards Sarah Marshall and Kindyll Dorsey.[4]
[edit] Other Projects
Brown is featured on the compilation album American Christmas with other past American Idol contestants.[5] Her two recordings are the Christmas classics "Grown Up Christmas List" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." On November 21, 2007, American Christmas was released to iTunes and CDBaby.
Ayla Brown's sophomore album is set for an early 2009 release, the new album will be released in stores all over the US. The lead single entitled Absolutely Everybody will be released sometime in April, 2009.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Information |
|---|
Forward
|
TBA
|
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | U.S. AC | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Know You Better" | - | Forward |
| "I Quit" | - | ||
| 2007 | "Forward" | 34 | |
| "Falling Into You" | - | ||
| 2009 | "Absolutely Everybody" | - | TBA |
[edit] References
- ^ Brown is quick to join 2,000-point club in Nobles's victory BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved on January 16, 2007.
- ^ Brown moves ahead TheSunChronicle.com. Retrieved on September 16, 2007.
- ^ Boston Coll. Eagles Stats Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved on September 16, 2007.
- ^ Maryland deflates BC seniors BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved on September 16, 2007.
- ^ Idol Headlines for 11/18/07 MJsBigBlog.com. Retrieved on December 8, 2007.
