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 also a talented songwriter.
When she was 19, Melody had a serious accident. She was hit by a car and got a head injury. Music became super important in helping her get better. Because of her own experience, she became a big supporter of music therapy. She visited hospitals and universities to talk about how music can help people heal. In 2012, she even started a music therapy program in New Jersey that was named after her.
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Early Life and School
Melody Gardot was born in New Jersey. She was raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother came from Poland. Melody's mother was a photographer who traveled a lot. Because of this, they didn't have many things and often lived out of suitcases. Melody studied fashion at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Accident and Recovery
In November 2003, Melody was riding her bicycle in Philadelphia. She was hit by a large car called an SUV. This accident caused serious injuries to her head, spine, and pelvis. She had to stay in a hospital bed for a whole year. She needed to learn how to do simple things again, like walking.
After the accident, Melody became very sensitive to light and sound. She also had trouble remembering things, both recent and from the past. She often felt confused about time.
A doctor thought music could help her brain heal. So, Melody started humming, then singing into a tape recorder. Eventually, she began to write her own songs. For several years, she traveled with a special therapist. She also used a small device to help with pain.
Because loud sounds bothered her, she chose to listen to quiet music. She enjoyed bossa nova music, especially "The Girl from Ipanema". It was hard for her to sit at a piano. So, she learned to play the guitar while lying on her back. The songs she wrote during her recovery became part of her first music collection. It was called Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions. At first, Melody didn't want to share her songs. She felt they were too personal. But she later allowed them to be played on a radio station in Philadelphia.
About Her Life
Melody Gardot is a Buddhist. She also follows a special diet called macrobiotic. She cares a lot about helping others. She speaks French very well, along with her native English. She sees herself as a "citizen of the world". This means she feels connected to people everywhere.
Her 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 every Friday and Saturday night. She only played music she truly loved. This included artists like The Mamas & the Papas, Duke Ellington, and Radiohead.
While she was recovering in the hospital, she learned guitar. She also started writing songs. These songs were first available as downloads online. They were later released as an album called Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions in 2005. Melody began performing these songs in Philadelphia. People from a local radio station, WXPN, noticed her talent. They encouraged her to send them a demo tape. This tape eventually reached Universal Music Group.
She released her first official album, Worrisome Heart, in 2006 with Verve. Her next album, My One and Only Thrill, came out in 2009. It was produced by Larry Klein.
Her Music 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 (2022) – with Philippe Powell
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 them 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)
Working with Other Artists
Melody Gardot has also sung or played piano/guitar on songs by other artists. This is called a collaboration. Some of her collaborations include:
- "High Night (Alta Noite)" with Till Brönner (2008)
- "If I'm Lucky" with Charlie Haden Quartet West (2010)
- "Sous les ponts de Paris (Under the Bridges of Paris)" with Juliette Gréco (2012)
- "Tant pis" with Jesse Harris (2012)
- "Insensatez" with Vinicius Cantuária (2015)
- "He's a tramp" and "The Bare Necessities" on Jazz loves Disney (2016)
- "Little Something" with Sting (2020)
See also
In Spanish: Melody Gardot para niños
