Sasha Allen
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Sasha Allen | |
|---|---|
 Allen performing withThe Rolling StonesatHyde Parkin 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sasha Sierra Allen |
| Born | June 4, 1982 New York City,New York,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
Sasha Sierra Allen(born June 4, 1982) is an American singer and actress. Born and raised inHarlem, New York,she began her career in the music industry as abacking vocalistforChristina Aguilera,Alicia Keys,John Legend,Leona Lewis,andUsher.In January 2016, she joined theRolling Stonestouring band. In May 2020, she joinedThe Pussycat Dollstouring band.
Allen portrayed Dionne in the 2009 Broadway revival ofHairat theAl Hirschfeld Theatreand the 2010 West End revival at theGielgud Theatre.[1]In 2013, she was a semi-finalist on thefourth seasonof theAmerican versionof the singing competition TV seriesThe Voice.
Life and career
[edit]Early life
[edit]Allen's maternal Bermudian grandmother was one of the first people of African descent to attendJuilliard School of Music.Sasha's maternal grandfather and father were of African American descent. Allen is the elder of two children. She was educated atLaGuardia High School of Performing ArtsinNew York City.
At the age of 14, she starred inAndrew Lloyd Webber'sWhistle Down the Wind.[2]While still in high school, she was featured in commercial and print work, including advertisements inTIMEmagazineforAT&T.[citation needed]
At 17 she was signed toElektra Records,working with producersWarryn Campbell(Mary Mary,Kanye West) andJ. Moss(Karen Clark Sheard,Kiki Sheard). Later, she was signed byArista RecordswhenLA Reidwas president.[3]Her album, unfortunately, never came together. Allen says regarding her failed record contracts, “I got caught up in one of those crossroads moments in the record business [...] It was heartbreaking, because singing is what comes most naturally to me.”[3]This caused Sasha to pursue other avenues of performing, such as acting.
2000s
[edit]She was cast in the cult filmCamp(2003) starring as "Dee."[4]Allen was spotlighted onVH1'sBorn to Diva,a pre-American Idoltalent reality TV show highlighting her talent.[5]
She has performed on world tours andplatinum albumsof several performers, includingChristina Aguilera'sBack to Basics Tourand resulting DVD (Back to Basics: Live and Down Under),John Legend's albumOnce Again,andKenny "Babyface" Edmonds' albumPlaylist.[6]Allen was also the feature vocalist on Babyface's "Playlist" World Tour, singing the classic hits with Babyface that he wrote and produced forWhitney Houston,Toni Braxton,Madonna,and others. Sasha has also toured withAlicia Keys,Leona Lewis,andJohn Legend,performed with Usher andDavid Bowie,and recorded withCeline Dion.Allen's television work as a vocalist with musical director Rickey Minor garnered her performances withJessica Simpson,Patti LaBelle,Yolanda Adams,Fantasia,andClint Black.
Allen's music showcases her love for rock, soul andR&B.Her first single, "Let's Fly Away", was released on July 4, 2008, and the follow-up, a cover ofJoan Osborne's "One Of Us", was released in September 2008. The remix for "Let's Fly Away", produced byRob Lewisand TrakFire Productions climbed the dance charts.[clarification needed]
2012–present,The Voiceand afterwards
[edit]Returning to reality TV, Allen was selected as a participant for the fourth US season ofThe Voice.She auditioned with "Not Ready to Make Nice"by the Dixie Chicks, which turned all four coaches' chairs. Sasha decided to joinAdam Levine'steam. In the battle round she competed against Amber Carrington, who Adam would end up picking, making Sasha available to be stolen. BothUsherandShakirapressed their button for Sasha, and she opted to join team Shakira. Allen would be the final remaining member of Team Shakira, and the first stolen contestant onThe Voiceto advance to the semifinals.
Between September 2014 and July 2015, Allen toured the US as "Leading Player" in a revival of the Broadway musicalPippin.[7]
Allen joinedThe Rolling Stoneson theirAmérica Latina Olé Tour 2016as a backing vocalist, filling the role handled byLisa Fischersince 1989 as Fischer had prior touring commitments.[8]The role included duetting withMick Jaggeron "Gimme Shelter".[9]
Her songs Oh! Darling peaked # 29 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs, Ain't No Way # 17, Next To Me # 39, and I Will Always Love You # 39.[10]
The Voiceperformances and results
[edit]- – Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes
| Stage | Song | Original Artist | Date | Order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Audition | "Not Ready to Make Nice" | The Dixie Chicks | April 8, 2013 | 5.6 | All four chairs turned Joined Team Adam |
| Battle Rounds | "Try"(vs. Amber Carrington) | Pink | April 15, 2013 | 7.1 | Defeated Stolen byShakira |
| Knockout Rounds | "At Last"(vs. Shawna P.) | Etta James | April 29, 2013 | 11.8 | Saved by Coach |
| Live Playoffs | "Oh! Darling" | The Beatles | May 7, 2013 | 15.8 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 12 | "Alone" | Heart | May 13, 2013 | 17.6 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 10 | "Next To Me" | Emeli Sande | May 20, 2013 | 20.5 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 8 | "Without You" | David Guettafeat.Usher | May 27, 2013 | 22.4 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 6 | "Ain't No Way" | Aretha Franklin | June 3, 2013 | 25.4 | Saved by Public Vote |
| "Before He Cheats" | Carrie Underwood | 25.12 | |||
| Live Top 5 (Semifinals) | "I Will Always Love You" | Dolly Parton | June 10, 2013 | 27.2 | Eliminated |
| "Bad Girls" | Donna Summer | 27.7 |
References
[edit]- ^Billington, Michael (April 14, 2010)."Hair".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedFebruary 1,2017.
- ^Gans, Andrew (August 21, 2009)."DIVA TALK: Chatting with Hair's Sasha Allen Plus News of Buckley, Chenoweth, Luker".Playbill.RetrievedNovember 20,2020.
- ^ab"Happy Hair Hippie Sasha Allen Balances a Busy Life".Broadway.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2020.
- ^"Sasha Allen".IMDb.com.RetrievedAugust 10,2014.
- ^Born to Diva series,VH1
- ^Daniels, Karu F. (November 3, 2019)."Sasha Allen tells Daily News about her 'life-changing' role in revival of Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls'".nydailynews.com.RetrievedNovember 30,2020.
- ^Kennedy, Lisa (June 25, 2014)."'Pippin' national touring cast revealed: Sasha Allen as Leading Player ".DenverPost.com.The Denver Post.RetrievedJuly 6,2014.
- ^"The Rolling Stones Give Cubans What They Need, A Two-Hour Free Concert".Billboard.RetrievedNovember 24,2020.
- ^Dewey, Richard L. (March 26, 2016)."Rolling Stones Thrill Huge Crowd at Historic Havana Show".Rolling Stone.RetrievedNovember 24,2020.
- ^"R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs positions".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 19,2016.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1982 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American women singers
- 21st-century American singer-songwriters
- African-American actresses
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 20th-century American women singers
- 20th-century American singers
- African-American women singer-songwriters
- African-American rock singers
- American contemporary R&B singers
- American women rock singers
- American women singer-songwriters
- American film actresses
- American musical theatre actresses
- American people of Bermudian descent
- Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
- Participants in American reality television series
- The Voice (franchise) contestants
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century African-American singers
- Singer-songwriters from New York (state)