Denise Bestman (born July 11, 2000) is an American singer-songwriter from Staten Island, New York.[1]

Denise Bestman
Background information
Birth nameDenise Bestman
Born (2000-07-11) July 11, 2000 (age 24)
Staten Island, New York
GenresPop
Soul
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active2010–present
LabelsPurpleThrone Corporation
NY Perks Entertainment
NY Perks Music
Websitewww.denisebestman.com
www.purplethrone.com

Early life

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Bestman was born in Staten Island to parents who immigrated from Liberia, West Africa. Her father returned to Liberia in 2010. Bestman's mother is Dextina Lincoln, a single parent.[2]

Singing is a family tradition for Bestman as she credits her singing talent to her great-grandmother and passed through her mothers line to her.[1]

In 4th Grade she auditioned for the renowned PS22 Chorus which is part of the Public School 22 in Graniteville, Staten Island, New York in 2010.[3]

Bestman procured the lead role of the PS22 Chorus. She performed improvised sessions, which led to her writing her own original songs. The school's chorus received an invitation to perform the closing number of "Over The Rainbow" at the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. The Chorus went on to perform with Katy Perry on The Oprah Winfrey Show post Oscar show at the Kodak Theatre on February 28, 2011.[1]

Career

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It was PS22 Chorus' rendition of Adele's, "Rolling in the Deep," with Bestman as lead singer that caught the attention of the Target Corporation.[4] She gained more attention for the 54th Annual Grammy Award night Target ad where she sang Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" for its 40 million viewers.[5]

Target ad

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Bestman was spotted by The Target Corporation representatives after one of her YouTube videos received more than two million hits.[6] When representatives couldn't get in touch with her mother, they contacted PS22 choral director, Gregg Breinberg. The 30-second Target ad features Denise standing on a bus listening to her iPod singing as her classmates add the harmonies and wave their hands in time to the music.[7] Adele took home six Grammy Awards for her album, 21, which escalated the popularity of Denise Bestman's cover song.[8] Adele was so impressed with Denise's rendition that she pinned a link to Denise's performance on her official website.[4] Aretha Franklin also said she saw the ad. The then 11-year-old vocalist was invited to perform on BET's 106 & Park with Terrence J & Rocsi where she debuted her original composition "Lying Man".[9]

Bestman was interviewed by Piers Morgan who said he was impressed by her voice and that her career was just beginning as "a diva in the making".[10][11][12]

Target + Feed

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On June 19, 2013, "Target VIP" + Lauren Bush Lauren Feed USA[13][14] commissioned a special performance by Bestman and American singer and songwriter, Phillip LaDon Phillips Jr. who won the eleventh season of American Idol on May 23, 2012. The partnership's mission was to make it easy for consumers to make a positive impact on hunger in the U.S. with every product displaying the number of meals donated with purchase. This event launched the retailer's largest socially conscious design collaboration. Glee Star Lea Michele hosted the event.

Solo work

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Bestman's voice has been described as "seasoned raspy," "sophisticated," "extraordinary," "soothing," and "intriguing."[15] On February 18, 2015, Bestman debuted her Single "HIDDEN" off the Gallery of Fools EP.[16][17][18] This EP was received well when she performed her songs at "The Hunger Project" fall annual Gala on October 17, 2015.[19][20] On August 28, 2017, her single "Echoes of Love" deputed on Bree Noble's[21] Women of Substance radio that received much acclaim.[22]

Blick.ch

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On February 23, 2015, Bestman's single "Echoes of Love" was featured in a Mercedes CLS newspaper editorial video on the largest Web Portal in Switzerland, Blick.ch[23] On November 11, 2015, her single "Gallery of Fools" was featured in a Porsche 911 newspaper editorial video on the largest Web Portal in Switzerland, Blick.ch[24]

PurpleThrone Corporation

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Bestman signed an independent management and production company with C.E.O Aziz M. Bey and his company PurpleThrone in 2011.[25][26]

Personal life

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Bestman sings everywhere, citing that when she reads she sings the words of a book to herself.[1]

Discography

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Releases

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  • 2014: Hidden
  • 2015: Gallery of Fools

Videos

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  • 2015: Denise Bestman, "Gallery of Fools," produced by Aziz M. Bey and Denise Bestman, directed by Joseph Ciccarella (JC)/ Quiet. All. Around.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Staten Island girl cheers Grammy ad". Daily News. New York. February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  2. ^ "Staten Island girl, PS 22 alumna, stars in Grammy ad". Staten Island Advance. February 13, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Ny Perks (January 30, 2015), Denise Bestman 'My Story' | from School to Stardom, retrieved December 5, 2018
  4. ^ a b "Video: Girl Stuns, Singing Adele in Ad". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "Video: Target's Adele Ad Puts Young Singer in Spotlight". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Rehab, About the Author Rap (March 16, 2014). "Our Hidden Queen: Denise Bestman". Rap Rehab. Retrieved December 5, 2018. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Denise Bestman: 11-year-old becomes post-Grammy sensation by covering Adele". TheGrio. February 15, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Denise Bestman, 11, Sings Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' In Target Commercial (Video)". HuffPost. February 17, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. ^ "106 & Park: Denise Bestman Takes On The World". BET.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "Only in America: Piers Morgan on an 11-year-old diva". Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "cnn.com – Transcripts". CNN. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  12. ^ "Ist sie die wahre Grammy Gewinnerin? Elfjähriges Mädchen wird mit Adele-Hit zum YouTube-Star". Deutsch Türkische Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "PIX: Lea Michele & More Stars at Feed USA & Target VIP Launch Event". Star Magazine. June 20, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  14. ^ "Target and Lauren Bush Lauren Celebrate Feed Collaboration at Brooklyn Event". EPKLink.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  15. ^ "New performing artist Denise Bestman releases her first single "Hidden"". Bridget OBrien PR and Events. July 11, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  16. ^ Spadine, Richard (February 12, 2018). "Denise Bestman – Hidden". DJBooth. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  17. ^ "Gallery of Fools by Denise Bestman on Amazon Music". Amazon UK. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  18. ^ Gallery of Fools – EP, retrieved December 5, 2018
  19. ^ "Seizing the Opportunity to End Hunger – 2015 Fall Gala". The Hunger Project. October 28, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  20. ^ The Hunger Project, October 17, 2015, retrieved December 8, 2018
  21. ^ "About WOS". Women of Substance Radio & Podcast. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  22. ^ "Women of Substance Music Podcast: #663 Music by Denise Bestman, Katherine Nagy, Brooke Ratliff, Halie & The Moon, Pa & Sunlending Sky, Sha'la, Florence Foxwell, Chelsea and the Cityscape". breenoble.libsyn.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  23. ^ "Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake: Comfort, Luxus & Spass". Blick. February 23, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  24. ^ "Erste Fahrt im neuen Porsche 911: Turbogeil". Blick. November 12, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  25. ^ "Denise Bestman". Broadtube Music Channel. May 7, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  26. ^ "The next generation music industry mogul talks New Beta App for the very first time". News US Today. October 4, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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