Vickie Natale
Vickie Lynn Natale (born December 20, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) was a winner on the CBS's version of the Star Search television programme in 2003.
Vickie's musical stylings are infused with contemporary R&B and pop, however, funk, jazz, and blues flow just as naturally from her voice. Vickie also writes, arranges, composes, and produces her own music.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, she grew up in a single parent home. Vickie literally sang her way through school. "We did not have money for rent, let alone music lessons". She received her first "musical schooling" from listening to artists like Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
Early in 2002, while performing at the Sugar Bar owned by legendary songwriters Ashford & Simpson, Vickie was approached by a CBS Star Search casting director and invited to appear on the show. She became the winner of the 2003 Star Search Adult Competition. Vickie was invited back to Star Search in 2004 to compete in its Winner's Circle Competition, a format that had previous Star Search stand-outs challenged weekly by new contestants who set out to knock the previous winners out of the "Winner Circle". Vickie did well throughout the competition and released her first major label single "Like no other" on A&M Records. Vickie was invited by high-powered music lawyer L. Londell McMillan and the Artist Empowerment Coalition (A non profit coalition Founded by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Alicia Keys and many other industry professionals) to perform a tribute to Chaka Khan at the 2nd annual Grammy Brunch.
She was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall on May 10, 2004 in a concert entitled, "New Faces of '04. Vickie opened for country artist Reba McEntire. She also performed a live tribute to two of her mentors Ashford and Simpson at Lincoln center. Vickie has released her CD "Never Gonna Stop" and has worked with producers such as Narada Michael Walden.
In 2004 she recorded 5 songs with Sony records which were never released due to creative differences. After being invited to perform on Star Search again for season 2 she recorded "Like no other" which she co-wrote with pianist and producer John Beaseley. The song "Like no other" was released digitally on iTunes and Napster. It was executive produced by Ron Fair.
In 2011 Vickie auditioned for the test pilot of The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep and was chosen by Dave Broome and Queen Latifah to play herself in the pilot which never aired.