Melody Gardot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melody Gardot
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Gardot in Berlin, Germany, 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melody Gardot |
| Born | February 2, 1985 New Jersey |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2004–present |
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Melody Gardot (born February 2, 1985) is an American jazz singer. She is known for her unique voice and inspiring story.
When she was 19, Melody had a serious accident. Music became a very important part of her healing journey. She now helps others by talking about how music can help people recover. In 2012, a music therapy program in New Jersey was named after her.
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Melody Gardot's Early Life
Melody Gardot was born in New Jersey. She was raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother was an immigrant from Poland. Melody's mother was a photographer who traveled a lot. Because of this, they often lived simply and moved around. Melody studied fashion at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Her Accident and Healing Journey
In November 2003, while riding her bicycle in Philadelphia, Melody was hit by an SUV. She was badly hurt, with injuries to her head, spine, and pelvis. She had to stay in a hospital bed for a whole year. During this time, she had to relearn simple things. The accident also made her very sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds. She also struggled with remembering things, both recent and from the past.
A doctor thought that music could help her brain heal. Melody was encouraged to hum, then sing into a tape recorder. Eventually, she started writing her own songs.
For several years, she traveled with a physical therapist. She also used a special device to help reduce her pain.
Because she was so sensitive to sound, she chose to listen to quieter music. She enjoyed bossa nova music, especially "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz. It was hard for her to sit at a piano, so she learned to play the guitar while lying on her back. During her recovery, she wrote songs that later became part of her first music collection, Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions. At first, Melody didn't want to share her songs because they felt too personal. But she eventually allowed them to be played on a radio station in Philadelphia.
Melody's Music Career
Melody started taking music lessons when she was nine years old. By age 16, she was playing piano in Philadelphia bars. She played for four hours on Friday and Saturday nights. She only played music she truly loved, like songs by The Mamas & the Papas, Duke Ellington, and Radiohead.
While she was recovering in the hospital, she learned guitar and started writing songs. These songs were first available online and then released as Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions in 2005. She began performing these songs in Philadelphia. People from the radio station WXPN noticed her talent. They encouraged her to send a demo tape, which eventually reached Universal Music Group.
Melody released her first album, Worrisome Heart, in 2006 with Verve Records. Her next album, My One and Only Thrill, came out in 2009.
Melody's Albums
Melody Gardot has released several studio albums, extended plays (EPs), and live albums. Here are some of her main releases:
Studio Albums
- Worrisome Heart (2008)
- My One and Only Thrill (2009)
- The Absence (2012)
- Currency of Man (2015)
- Sunset in the Blue (2020)
- Entre eux deux (with Philippe Powell) (2022)
Extended Plays (EPs)
- Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions (2005)
- Live from SoHo (2009)
- Bye Bye Blackbird (2010)
- A Night with Melody EP (2011)
Live Albums
- Live in Europe (2018)
Singles
Melody has also released many singles, which are individual songs. Some of these include:
- "Worrisome Heart" (2008)
- "Who Will Comfort Me" (2009)
- "Baby I'm a Fool" (2009)
- "Mira" (2012)
- "Preacherman" (2015)
- "From Paris with Love" (2020)
- "Little Something" (featuring Sting) (2020)
Collaborations with Other Artists
Melody Gardot has also worked with many other musicians. She has lent her vocals, and sometimes played piano or guitar, on their songs. Some of these collaborations include:
- "High Night (Alta Noite)" with Till Brönner (2008)
- "If I'm Lucky" with Charlie Haden Quartet West (2010)
- "Tant pis" with Jesse Harris (2012)
- "Insensatez" with Vinicius Cantuária (2015)
- "He's a tramp" and "The Bare Necessities" on Jazz loves Disney (2016)
- "La javanaise" with André Manoukian (2021)
See also
In Spanish: Melody Gardot para niños
