Lillie McCloud facts for kids

Lillie Arlene Nicole Jade McCloud (born December 7, 1958, in Rochester, New York) is an American singer. She is known by her stage names Nicole McCloud or Nicole J. McCloud. She sings R&B, soul, and house songs.

Lillie McCloud has released several studio albums. Her song "Don't You Want My Love" became popular around the world. She also had other hit songs like "Runnin' Away" and "Search'n". In the late 1990s, she was part of a music group called Voices of Freedom.

In 2013, Lillie McCloud competed on The X Factor, a singing competition show in the United States. She was eliminated in the fifth week of the show.

Music Career

Early Days as Nicole

Lillie McCloud first appeared on the Billboard US R&B charts in 1985. She used the name 'Nicole' back then. Her song "Always and Forever" was her first charted hit.

In 1986, her single "Don't You Want My Love" became a Top 10 hit on the US Dance charts. This song also became popular in several European countries like Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Lillie McCloud had ten singles that made it onto the US Billboard R&B and dance charts. Her biggest hit was "Runnin’ Away" in 1994, which reached No. 3 on the US Dance charts. In 2002, using the name Nicole J. McCloud, she returned to the Top 10 with "Search’n", which peaked at No. 5 on the US Dance charts. That same year, she was nominated for an International Dance Music Awards.

She has recorded songs with famous artists like Timmy Thomas, U.S.U.R.A., and The Source. She has also performed with music legends such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Kool & The Gang, Bruce Springsteen, and Mick Jagger.

Joining Voices of Freedom

In the late 1990s, Lillie McCloud joined an American house music group called Voices of Freedom. The group also included Angel Williams and Simone Böhlhoff. They sang on several recordings, including "Lift Your Hands Up" by E-Smoove & Ni-Che in 1999. The group also appeared on a 2002 song by DJ Pope called "America at War (Freedom)".

Life in Slovakia

In the mid-2000s, Lillie McCloud moved to Košice, a city in Slovakia. Her first performance there was at the Košice International Jazz Festival in 2006. She performed with the famous jazz musician Peter Lipa.

In 2010, McCloud sang the main theme song for Česko Slovensko má talent. This is a version of the Got Talent TV show for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It was shown on TV JOJ in Slovakia and TV Prima in the Czech Republic.

The X Factor Journey

In 2013, Lillie McCloud decided to return to the spotlight. She competed in season 3 of The X Factor. She used her birth name, Lillie McCloud, for the show. When she applied, she was 54 years old. She had three children and seven grandchildren.

Her audition was shown on September 12, 2013. She sang "Alabaster Box" by CeCe Winans. All four judges, Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Paulina Rubio, and Kelly Rowland, gave her a standing ovation and said "yes".

The judges chose her to move on to the Final 40. She then successfully competed in the Four Chair Challenge, which secured her spot in the Final 16. She was part of the "Over 25s" group and was mentored by Kelly Rowland. Lillie McCloud made it to the Top 8 contestants. She was eliminated from the competition on November 28, 2013.

Her performances on The X Factor included:

After X Factor

Red Apples Album

In 2014, Lillie McCloud signed with Spectra Music Group. She released two singles, "What About The Beautiful Children" and "The Other Part of Me". Her album, "Red Apples", was released on May 27, 2015. It debuted at #16 on the UK Soul Charts in September 2015.

Discography

Albums

Lillie McCloud has released several albums throughout her career:

• 1986: What About Me? (as Nicole)
• 1988: Jam Packed (as Nicole)
• 1989: Rock The House (US re-release of Jam Packed, as Nicole)
• 1998: Love Town (as Nicole McCloud)
• 2002: So What? (as Nicole J McCloud)
• 2015: Red Apples (as Lillie Nicole McCloud)
• 2015: Number One Contender (re-release of Love Town, as Lillie McCloud)

Singles

Some of her notable singles include:

• 1985: "Always and Forever" (as Nicole)
• 1986: "Don't You Want My Love" (as Nicole)
• 1986: "New York Eyes" / "Ordinary Girl" (with Timmy Thomas, as Nicole)
• 1988: "Jam Packed (At the Wall)" (as Nicole)
• 1994: "Runnin' Away" (as Nicole)
• 2002: "Search'n" (as Nicole J. McCloud)
• 2010: "Got Talent" (theme for Slovak Česko Slovensko má talent)
• 2014: "What About the Beautiful Children"
• 2014: "The Other Part of Me"

Songs She Was Featured In

Lillie McCloud has also been featured on other artists' songs:

• 1994: "I Love Music" (with O'Jays)
• 2011: "Dance" (Guest singer on Takin'Off album Eleven)

As part of Voices of Freedom:

• 1999: "Lift Your Hands Up" (E-Smoove & Ni-Che featuring Voices Of Freedom)
• 2002: "America at War (Freedom)" (DJ Pope featuring Voices of Freedom)

Videos

• 2013: "The X Factor USA" (contestant)
• 2014: "The Good Life" (performer)

See also

In Spanish: Lillie McCloud para niños