Toya Alexis
Toya Alexis is a Canadian vocalist and actress from Ajax, Ontario.[1][2]
Toya Alexis | |
---|---|
Birth name | LaToya Lesmond |
Born | July 16, 1980 |
Origin | Ajax, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer–songwriter, actress |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2001-2006 |
Associated acts |
Career
Alexis won a "Rising Star" contest and sang at the Apollo Theater.[3][4][2] In 2001 she appeared, as LaToya Lesmond, as a contestant on season one of Popstars on the Global Television Network.[5] She was a finalist,[5] and was featured on the debut album of the winners who were named Sugar Jones.[2] She was a contestant on the first season of Canadian Idol in 2003, reaching sixth place in a controversial decision as she was a judge favourite.[2][6] While on the show, her vocal range was the impressive.[2][6]
Debut album
Alexis was subsequently offered a recording contract, and released her first single, the Top 40 hit "Am I Loving?", in 2004.[7] She also appeared as a guest vocalist on recordings by several other Canadian artists. Her full-length debut album, S.O.B. Story, was released in August on Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex's label, Plasma, who also served as her manager.[8]
Theatre
In 2005, she was a featured cast member as "Mabel" in the Canstage show Crowns, at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.[2][7]
Her other stage credits have included Doo Wop to Motown (Theatre on the Grand),[5] Once on This Island (Stirling Festival Theatre), Rainbow World (Bathurst Street Theatre), The Good Times Are Killing Me (Royal Alex Theatre) and Dreamgirls, (a co-production between Theatre Aquarius and the Manitoba Theatre Centre).[2][8][7]
Idol performances
- Top 32 (Group 3) - "I Believe In You and Me" (Whitney Houston)
- Wildcard - "Try It on My Own" (Whitney Houston)
- Top 11 - "If You Asked Me To" (Celine Dion)
- Top 8 - "If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder)
- Top 6 - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)[6]
Singles history
2002: "I Got U" (with Sugar Jones) (#70, Canadian Singles Chart)
2004: "Am I Loving?" (#36, Canadian Singles Chart)
2005: "Toy Boy" (#17, Canadian Singles Chart)
2006: "Where Did Our Love Go?" (#29, Canadian Singles Chart)
Discography
Albums
Year | Album details | Peak | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
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CA | |||||||||
2005 | S.O.B. Story
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— |
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"—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Singles
- "Am I Loving?"
- "Toy Boy"
- "Where Did Our Love Go?"
Videos
Featured on
- Canadian Idol Greatest Moments (2003) (track 11 singing "Try It on My Own")
- Sugar Jones (2001) (featured on "I Got U")
References
- "Toya Alexis". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- "Runaway Toya Alexis". World News. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- "Bio & Pics". Toya Alexis Online. 2007. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2012.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- "Toya Alexis". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- Currie, Harry (2 April 2001). "Sugar Jones shakes up Fergus; Canada's newest singing sensation in town to see Popstars! finalist perform". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
- "CIdol judges shocked by latest elimination". CTV Edmonton. 20 August 2003.
- "Toya Alexis at Intimate & Interactive Open Mic at Lambadina Lounge, Toronto (2010) ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- Ward, Lindsay (17 April 2008). "Canadian Idol: 'Canadian Idol' living the Dream". CANOE -- JAM! Television. Retrieved 21 January 2012.