Mandy Harvey facts for kids

Amanda Lynn Harvey (born January 2, 1988) is an American jazz and pop singer and songwriter. She became completely deaf at age eighteen after an illness. Mandy Harvey became famous as a contestant on the 12th season of America's Got Talent. She performed her own original songs during the competition.

Early Life and Education

Mandy Harvey was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her family later moved to St. Cloud, Florida. When she was a young child, her family moved to Colorado. Mandy had some hearing problems and had several surgeries to try and fix them.

She loved singing throughout her childhood. Her talent was noticed at Longmont High School, where she finished in 2006. Mandy slowly lost her hearing because of a health condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She became completely deaf at eighteen years old. At that time, she was studying vocal music at Colorado State University. Because of her hearing loss, she left the university.

Music Career

After losing her hearing in 2007, Mandy felt very sad and stopped making music. But she found a way to sing again. She used special visual tuners to help her find the correct musical pitches.

In 2008, she met jazz pianist Mark Sloniker in Fort Collins, Colorado. She started performing regularly at a place called Jay's Bistro. Later, she performed at Dazzle Jazz Lounge in Denver. She also recorded three jazz albums. Her first album, Smile, came out in 2009. People said her singing on it was "rich and captivating." Her second album, After You've Gone, was released in 2010.

In 2011, Mandy won an award called VSA's International Young Soloist Award. She then performed at the Kennedy Center. Her third album, All of Me, came out in 2014. Her fourth album, Nice to Meet You, was released in 2019. Her fifth album, Paper Cuts, arrived in 2022.

America's Got Talent Journey

In 2017, Mandy Harvey appeared on America's Got Talent during its 12th season. She impressed everyone and finished in fourth place. The famous judge Simon Cowell gave her the Golden Buzzer. This meant she went straight through to the live shows. She performed an original song with her ukulele during the competition.

In July 2022, Simon Cowell ranked his favorite Golden Buzzer moments from AGT history. Mandy Harvey's performance was ranked 5th out of 15.

Author and Advocate

In 2017, Mandy Harvey also wrote a memoir (a book about her life) with Mark Atteberry. It is called Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World Without Sound.

Personal Life

Mandy Harvey is an ambassador for a nonprofit organization called No Barriers. This group helps people with disabilities overcome challenges in their lives.

In May 2022, Mandy announced she was expecting a baby. She and her husband had kept it a secret at first. In June 2022, Mandy and her husband welcomed their son, Louis, into the world.

Discography

• Smile (2009)
• After You've Gone (2010)
• All of Me (2014)
• Nice to Meet You (2019)
• Paper Cuts (2022)