Fantasia: Biography

Fantasia
Born:
Jun 30, 1984 in High Point, NC

Genres:
Gospel & Religious Music, R&B and Soul Music, Contemporary R&B Music

Decades Active:
2000's


Popularity
Low



She may have won with her version of American Idol's 2004 single "I Believe", but it was her passionate take on George Gershwin's "Summertime" that had everyone talking weeks after she had performed. That she delivers teenpop and classics from the American songbook with equal conviction is a testament to the versatility of singer Fantasia Barrino. Confident to the degree you could consider her brash, Barrino seemed an unlikely candidate to take the teenoriented show's title at first glance, but with her dynamic gospeltinged voice that never failed her, she not only became the Idol judges' obvious favorite, but the American public's too. Born and raised in High Point, North Carolina, Barrino fell in love with music through the recordings of Monica, Brandy, Aretha Franklin, Pink, and in keeping with her diverseness Aerosmith. Being a 19yearold single mother and an Idol finalist had some of the media mumbling and sneering but the alwayscertain Barrino paid no mind. Becoming a mother at the age of 17 had focused Barrino and gave her the strength and drive to audition for the show in Atlanta. Out of 70,000 hopefuls, Barrino earned her way to the top by adjusting her style to whatever genre was thrown at her. Upon beating runnerup Diana DeGarmo, Barrino's first words as American Idol 2004 were "I broke my shoe" Numerous appearances on talk shows and a cameo on the television show American Dreams playing the role of her beloved Aretha Franklin followed. Barrino made history when she became the first artist in history to debut at 1 with their first single, "I Believe" written by Idol alum Tamyra Gray. JRecords released her fulllength debut, Free Yourself, in November of 2004.

- David Jeffries, All Music Guide

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