Lisa Gabrielle Tucker (born June 13, 1989) is an American singer, musical theater actress, and television actress who was the tenth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. After American Idol, she performed in the American Idols Live! Tour 2006 for three months and 60 concerts across the United States. After the tour, Tucker recorded a duet with Dionne Warwick on Warwick's album, My Friends & Me. She also appeared on The O.C. in a cameo as herself, and had recurring television roles on Zoey 101, The Game, and The Vampire Diaries. She began her theater career at the Orange County Children's Theater, and at 11, performed as Young Nala in a Pantages Theatre production of The Lion King musical.
Lisa Tucker | |
|---|---|
 Tucker in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lisa Gabrielle Tucker |
| Born | June 13, 1989 Anaheim, California, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, country, folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Life and career
editEarly life and career beginnings
editTucker was born and raised in Anaheim, California[1] by her mother Eleanor, a customer service supervisor with Pacific Life, and her father Stan, an attorney.[2] She began acting and singing during childhood, including performances with the Orange County Children's Theater and singing the national anthem at an Anaheim Angels baseball game.[3][2] She began her theater career in a production of The Little Princess at age 9.[1]
At age 11, Tucker played the role of young Nala for nine months in a Pantages Theatre production of The Lion King musical.[2][3][4][1] Resident director of The Lion King, Frank Lombardi, wrote about Tucker: "Her talent is extraordinary. So much so that upon realizing her skills as a singer, one of our composers added a complex vocal arrangement to one of the original songs. Lisa sang with a simplicity and beauty that made it seem effortless, even though it actually took great skill and concentration."[citation needed]
When Tucker was 13, she was a finalist on Star Search and then released her first LP, Please Come Home for Christmas.[1] She graduated high school in 2006,[5] after attending La Palma, California's John F. Kennedy High School.
American Idol
editAt the age of 16, she auditioned for the fifth season of American Idol in Denver, Colorado with One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston where she amazed the judges, with Simon Cowell declaring, "Wow. I think the best 16-year-old we've ever had throughout this whole competition." Later, the judges made a unanimous decision to put her through to the season's final 24. America voted her through to the top 12. While she was on American Idol she attended high-school classes with former Idol finalists Paris Bennett and Kevin Covais. Tucker was eliminated on March 29, 2006, after being in the bottom 3 with Katharine McPhee and Ace Young.[6][7] Tucker finished at tenth place on the show.[8]
She then performed on the American Idols Live! Tour 2006 tour, performing "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and "Your Song" by Elton John.[5][9] A review by Michael Slezak in Entertainment Weekly described her performance as the "most surprising," based on the show, and said that she had "the night's strongest showing among the women, sitting down at the piano to offer a restrained, heartfelt rendition of Elton John’s "Your Song" — with no accompaniment from the band."[8]
| Week | Theme | Song Sung | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 24 | 12 Women | "I Am Changing" | Jennifer Holliday | Advanced |
| Top 20 | 10 Women | "Who's Lovin' You" | The Miracles | Advanced |
| Top 16 | 8 Women | "Here's Where I Stand" | Tiffany Taylor | Advanced |
| Top 12 | Songs of Stevie Wonder | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | Stevie Wonder | Bottom 2 |
| Top 11 | '50s Hits | "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" | Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers | Bottom 3 |
| Top 10 | 2000s Songs | "Because of You" | Kelly Clarkson | Eliminated[10] |
Post-Idol
edit
Tucker has performed at numerous local events in Orange and Los Angeles counties including singing the national anthem at Lakers, Clippers, Angels,[4] and Mighty Ducks games. She sang on the city of Anaheim float in the 118th Tournament of Roses parade.[citation needed] Tucker was invited to tour the U.S. Air Force bases in Europe to promote the kickoff of the annual USAFE Services Xtreme Summer Program.[citation needed]
She made a guest appearance on The O.C. playing herself in the prom episode.[11] She was in the third and fourth seasons Zoey 101 as Lisa Perkins; her first appearance was in the episode "Michael Loves Lisa", which aired on January 7, 2007. In August 2007, Tucker was featured on the reality TV show "Dr. 90210" as the singing instructor for Dr. Rey's children. She was cast for the pilot of the FOX series Born in the USA,[12] also by 19 Entertainment. She had a recurring role on The Game, where she played Pucci Wright in the third season. She also had a recurring role as Greta Martin in The Vampire Diaries.
Tucker sang "Then Came You" with Dionne Warwick on Warwick's new album, My Friends & Me.
Tucker performed as a special guest at Lord Rhaburn's Music Awards Show in Belize.[citation needed]
Tucker was formerly signed to recording artist Ne-Yo's production company Compound Entertainment and had a recording deal through Island Def Jam.[13]
In July 2020, she released a country-folk ballad titled "Fickle."[1]
Discography
edit| Year | Album | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Rocket Baby: Shake, Rattle & Rhyme | Rocket Baby | "The Rainbow Waltz" |
| 2003 | Star Search - The Finalists | Sony | "I Have Nothing" |
| Please Come Home for Christmas | OnePoint | Holiday album, released November 20 | |
| 2006 | American Idol Season 5: Encores | RCA | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" |
| My Friends & Me | Concord Records | "Then Came You" (with Dionne Warwick)[14] |
Filmography
edit| Year | Project | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The O.C. | Herself | Cameo[9][4] |
| 2006 | American Idol | Herself (top 10 contestant) | |
| 2007–2008 | Zoey 101 | Lisa Perkins (recurring) | [4] |
| 2008 | Zoey 101: Chasing Zoey | Lisa Perkins | |
| 2009 | 90210 | Student | |
| 2009 | The Game | Pucci | |
| 2011 | The Vampire Diaries | Greta Martin[15] | 3 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Monger, James Christopher. "Lisa Tucker Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Bleiberg, Laura (October 15, 2000). "Girl wins a role of a lifetime PROFILE: Anaheim's Lisa Tucker portrays Young Nala in 'The Lion King.'". Orange County Register. ProQuest 273476709
- ^ a b "'Lion King' kids". Variety. October 29, 2000. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c d ""Idol" finalist Tucker "Born" for Fox pilot". Reuters. April 5, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Slezak, Michael (July 28, 2006). "Lisa Tucker on getting better after Idol". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Berman, Craig (March 29, 2006). "Lisa goes home on a surprising 'Idol' night". Today. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "Lisa Tucker's 'American Idol' Run Ends". MTV News. March 30, 2006. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Slezak, Michael (July 14, 2006). "Reviewing the 'American Idol' tour". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Craker, Lorilee (August 15, 2006). "'Idol' Lisa Tucker pumped about piano ; Finalist sings Elton John songs on tour". The Grand Rapids Press. ProQuest 286001293
- ^ Shaw, Jessica (March 30, 2006). "Lisa Tucker on saying farewell". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Ex-'Idol' Goes to Prom in 'The O.C.' Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, Zap2It.com TV news, April 5, 2006, accessed June 2, 2006
- ^ "Former 'Idol' Tucker Books FOX Pilot - She's been cast in 'Born in the USA,' which is appropriate, because she was. - Zap2it". Zap2it. Archived from the original on April 9, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ "Lisa Tucker". Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Vaziri, Aidin (January 14, 2007). "POP QUIZ: DIONNE WARWICK". SFGATE. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ 'The Vampire Diaries' casts 'American Idol's' Lisa Tucker as the newest witch in town Archived 2011-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit- Lisa Tucker on Instagram
- Lisa Tucker at IMDb