Rachel Platten

Rachel Ashley Platten[1] (born May 20, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter and author. After releasing two albums independently in 2003 and 2011, she signed with Columbia Records in 2015 and released her debut single, "Fight Song", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, topped charts in the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of multiple charts worldwide. Platten won a Daytime Emmy Award for a live performance of the song on Good Morning America. Her major-label debut studio album, Wildfire (2016), was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and featured the follow-up singles "Stand by You" and "Better Place". Her second major-label album, Waves (2017), peaked at number 73 in the United States of America.[2]

Rachel Platten
Platten performing at the closing of the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.
Born (1981-05-20) May 20, 1981
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma materTrinity College (BA)
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
Spouse(s)
Kevin Lazan
​
(m. 2010)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • marimba
  • vibraphone
Labels
Associated acts
WebsiteRachelPlatten.com

Early life

Platten was born on May 20, 1981, in New York City to Paul and Pamela Platten,[3] and grew up in Newton Centre, Massachusetts and attended the Mason-Rice Elementary School.[4] She was raised Jewish. She has a younger sister, Melanie.[5][6][7] Platten studied classical piano from the age of 5 and then took up guitar in high school. She attended Buckingham Browne and Nichols high school, where she sang in the school's singing group. At Trinity College, she was a member of the Trinity College Trinitones, the college's first all-female a cappella group.

As a part of a study abroad program, she went to Trinidad to do an internship at a diplomat's office and at a record label. While she was there, she sang backup for a friend's band in front of over 80,000 people at the International Soca Monarch finals in 2002. According to Platten, from that moment on she knew she had to pursue music full-time.[8]

Platten graduated from Trinity College with a degree in political science in 2003. She moved to New York City's Greenwich Village performing in a Prince and Sly and the Family Stone cover band called Dayz of Wild. She performed her solo music around the Village and eventually began touring the country.

She has worked with numerous charities: Musicians on Call (where she sings bedside to hospital patients) for 11 years, Music Unites, Ryan Seacrest Foundation, and Live Below the Line, a call to end world poverty.

Career

2011–2014: Be Here

Her first album, Be Here, was released from Rock Ridge Music in April 2011.[9] The single "1,000 Ships" peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart, also playing at various radio stations.[10] An earlier song, "Seven Weeks", was used for the film The Good Guy.[11] The theme song for ABC Family's Jane by Design, "Work of Art" was performed by Platten on hire.[12] Her song "Begin Again" was used in the hit ABC Family TV show Pretty Little Liars 100th episode "Miss Me x 100".[13] Her song "Don't Care What Time It Is" was used in VH1's Basketball Wives. Her song "You're Safe" was used in MTV's Finding Carter in September 2014. On June 27, 2014, Platten debuted "Fight Song" on the music social network We Heart It as part of an artist spotlight.[14]

2015–2017: Wildfire

On February 19, 2015, Platten released "Fight Song" from Wildfire. The song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Australian Singles Chart, number six in Ireland, number eight in New Zealand, number nine on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart.[15] It has quintuple platinum sales in the US. Platten's 2015 Fight Song EP reached number 20 on the Billboard 200, and it was the official anthem for the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Platten served as a support act on Alex & Sierra's and Andy Grammer's "The Good Guys & A Girl Tour" in early 2015.[16] She then toured with Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri on their "Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour" throughout the summer of 2015.[17]

On September 11, 2015, Platten released second single named "Stand by You"[18] from Wildfire. It has peaked in the top ten on charts in Canada and the United States, and has peaked in the top twenty on charts in Australia and Poland. The song has since been certified Platinum in the United States.

After the Orlando nightclub shooting, Platten announced that proceeds from the new acoustic version of her "Fight Song" will benefit the National Compassion Fund, working to support the needs of people impacted by the event.[19]

In October 2016, Platten sang "The Star Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 of the 2016 World Series.[20]

On New Year's Eve 2016, Platten co-headlined the Times Square Ball festivities in New York City's Times Square alongside Gavin DeGraw performing "Fight Song", "Stand by You", "Beating Me Up", and John Lennon's "Imagine".[21]

In 2017, Platten served as an opening act for two Los Angeles shows and one Las Vegas show on Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s Soul2Soul: The World Tour.[22]

2017–2018: Waves

"Broken Glass", the lead single from her fourth studio album, Waves, was released on August 18, 2017.[23] The album was released on October 27, 2017.[24]

In 2018, Platten was the main musical attraction at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Along with performing her singles "Stand By You", "Better Place", and "Fight Song", she also reminisced about her childhood in Boston.[25]

2019: Tour

Platten toured with the musical band Pentatonix as the opening act in a North American tour during May–July 2019. She wrote a children's book titled You Belong, named after her 2018 single.[2]

Personal life

On July 31, 2010, Platten married Kevin Lazan in a Jewish ceremony.[26] Platten gave birth to their daughter, on January 26, 2019.[27]

Discography
Main article: Rachel Platten discography

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2015 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Herself / Musical Guest "Sofia Vergara/Rachel Platten/Stephen 'tWitch' Boss"
2015 The X Factor Herself / Performer Episode: "Live Decider 6" (Season 7)
2016 2016 MLB All-Star Game Herself National Anthem performer
2016 Stuck in the Middle Herself Episode: "Stuck in the Harley Car"
2016–2017 The Talk Herself / Guest Co-Hostess / Musical Guest Episodes: "Guest Co-Hostess Rachel Platten/ Denis Leary/ Amy Emmerich"

and "Gillian Anderson/ Rachel Platten/ Big Boy"

2017 Miss Universe 2017 Herself / Performer TV Special
2017 Lip Sync Battle Herself Episode: "Uzo Aduba vs. Danielle Brooks"
2017 Megyn Kelly Today Herself / Musical Guest Episode: "Episode #1.25"
2018 Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Herself / Musical Guest Episode: January 10, 2018
2018 American Idol Herself "Top 24 Celebrity Duets" (Season 16, Episode 12)

Awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Breakout Artist Herself Nominated [28]
Choice Summer Song "Fight Song"
2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards Best Lyrics "Fight Song" Won [29]
Radio Disney Music Awards Breakout Artist Of The Year Herself Nominated [30]
Billboard Music Awards Top Selling Song "Fight Song" Nominated [31]
Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Musical Performance in a Talk Show/Morning Program Good Morning America Won [32]
American Music Awards Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist Herself Nominated [33]

References
  1. "Songwriter/Composer: Platten Rachel Ashley". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  2. Rachel Paula Abrahamson. "Rachel Platten turns song 'You Belong' into children's book". Today.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  3. Kaplan, Arielle (January 31, 2019). "'Fight Song' Singer Rachel Platten Joins the Jewish Mom Club! – Kveller". Kveller.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  4. Rachel Platten - Fight Song - Vevo DSCVR (Live). YouTube. May 25, 2015.
  5. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com.
  6. "Rachel Platten Recalls Hanukkah Gift Dilemma - Music News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com.
  7. Suratt, Julie (January 10, 2017). "Real Wedding: Melanie Platten & Adam Feintisch". Bostonmagazine.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  8. Wass, Mike (April 20, 2015). "Rachel Platten Talks "Fight Song," Making A Difference And Her Long Road To The Top: Idolator Interview". Idolator. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  9. William Ruhlmann (April 26, 2011). "Be Here – Rachel Platten | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  10. Bradley, Stephen (September 13, 2011). "Concert review: Rachel Platten". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  11. "The Good Guy (2009) : Cast". Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  12. "Jane by Design (2012– )". IMDb.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  13. "Pretty Little Liars (TV Series) : Miss Me x100 (2014) : Soundtracks". IMDb.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  14. Platten, Rachel. "Rachel Platten post on Twitter". Twitter. Rachel Platten.
  15. "RACHEL PLATTEN". Official Charts. Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  16. Boedeker, Hal (June 23, 2015). "Alex & Sierra joining Andy Grammer on tour". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  17. Gonzalez, John (July 15, 2015). "Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri 'Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too' tour about having fun, not making a statement". Mlive.com. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  18. "Rachel Platten Premieres New Single "Stand By You": Listen Now!". Directlyrics.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  19. "Rachel Platten: The secret of my success is 'telling my story'". TODAY.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  20. TEGNA. "Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga to throw out first pitches at World Series Games 1, 2". WKYC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  21. Newman, Alex (December 31, 2016). "ICYMI: Newton Native Rachel Platten Headlining New Year's Eve Webcast". Patch Media. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  22. "Soul2Soul: The World Tour Tour Dates". Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  23. "Rachel Platten Debuts New Single 'Broken Glass'". Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  24. "Rachel Platten confirms title, release date for new album". Hamada Mania Music Blog. October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  25. Vanni, Olivia (July 5, 2018). "Spectacular return home: Singer Rachel Platten lights up the Esplanade". Boston Herald. MediaNews Group. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  26. "Rachel Platten to Kevin Lazan". Southernweddings.com. December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  27. Juneau, Jen (January 30, 2019). "Rachel Platten Is a Mom! Singer Welcomes Daughter Violet Skye: 'Busy Falling Deeply in Love'". People. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  28. "2015 Teen Choice Award Winners – Full List". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  29. "Instagram". Instagram. April 3, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  30. "Music Awards 2016". Radio Disney. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  31. "Awards Finalists 2016: Billboard Music Awards Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  32. "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES The 43rd ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS" (PDF). Cdn.emmyonline.org. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  33. "AMAs 2016: See the Full List of Winners". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.