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Rachael Yamagata facts for kids

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Rachael Yamagata
Rachael Yamagata2005.jpg
Rachael Yamagata on stage in 2008
Background information
Born (1977-09-23) September 23, 1977 (age 47)
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Genres Adult alternative, indie
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Piano, guitar, vocals
Years active 1995–present
Labels RCA Victor, Warner Bros., Frankenfish/Megaforce

Rachael Amanda Yamagata (born September 23, 1977) is an American singer and songwriter. She also plays the piano. Rachael is from Arlington, Virginia.

She started her music journey with a band called Bumpus. Later, she became a solo artist. She has released five EPs (Extended Plays) and four studio albums. Her songs have been used in many TV shows. She has also worked with famous artists like Jason Mraz, Bright Eyes, and Ray Lamontagne.

Early Life and School Days

Rachael Yamagata was born to a Japanese American father. Her mother has Italian and German roots. She grew up with her half-brother, Josh Ruben, who is a comedian and actor.

Rachael went to the Holton-Arms School. She also studied at Northwestern University and Vassar College.

Rachael's Music Career

Rachael became the singer for a band called Bumpus in Chicago. She spent six years traveling, writing, and recording with the band. In 2001, she left the band to start her solo career.

In 2002, she signed a deal for two albums with Private Music. Her first EP, named Rachael Yamagata EP, came out in October 2002. Her first full album, Happenstance, was released in 2004. Between 2003 and 2005, Rachael performed at popular places like Amoeba Records in Hollywood.

Rachael was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals. This album won a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album. Many other famous musicians were also on that album.

She toured with singer Mandy Moore. Rachael also wrote a song for Mandy Moore's 2007 album, Wild Hope.

In May 2008, Rachael released a three-song EP called Loose Ends. Her second full album, Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, came out in October 2008. Billboard magazine said this album sounded darker and sadder than her first one. In April 2009, Rachael sang her song "Elephants" on the TV show One Life to Live.

Rachael released her third studio album, Chesapeake, in October 2011. In 2012, she released another EP called Heavyweight.

Rachael has often sung as a guest on other artists' songs. For example, she sang on Jason Mraz's "Did You Get My Message?". She also sang on songs by Rhett Miller, Ray Lamontagne, and Ryan Adams. She lent her voice to six songs on the Bright Eyes album Cassadaga. Rachael also helped write and sing on the song "Kaleidoscope" by Jill Cunniff. She even appeared on an episode of the TV show 30 Rock.

Her song "You Take My Troubles Away" is a duet with Dan Wilson and was featured in the movie Dear John. She also sang the Muppets song "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" for a cover album called Muppets: The Green Album.

Rachael worked with PledgeMusic again for her album Tightrope Walker, which was released on September 23, 2016.

Rachael's Personal Life

Rachael has a twin brother named Benji. Her half-brother, Josh Ruben, is an actor and director. He used to work for CollegeHumor.

Rachael's Music Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
US
Happenstance 40
Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart
  • Released: October 7, 2008
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
53
Chesapeake
  • Released: October 11, 2011
  • Label: Frankenfish
13 122
Acoustic Happenstance
  • Released: April 23, 2016
  • Label: Sony Music
47
Tightrope Walker
  • Released: September 23, 2016
  • Label: Frankenfish
32

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
The Very Best of Rachael Yamagata 67

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
EP
Live at the Loft & More
  • Released: January 26, 2005
  • Label: BMG
Loose Ends
  • Released: May 22, 2008
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
Heavyweight EP
  • Released: November 20, 2012
  • Label: Frankenfish
44
Porch Songs EP
  • Released: October 12, 2018
  • Label: Sony Music
91

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
KOR
Intl.

US
Adult

"Worn Me Down" 2003 33 EP
"Letter Read" 2004 Happenstance
"1963"
"Be Be Your Love" 26 1
  • KOR: 1,635,206
"River" 2005 Live at the Loft & More
"Elephants" 2008 Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart
"Faster"
"Sunday Afternoon"
"Starlight" 2011 Chesapeake
"Even If I Don't"
"You Won't Let Me" 12
  • KOR: 337,397
"Nothing Gets By Here" 2012 6
  • KOR: 53,513
Heavyweight EP
"I'm Not in Love"
(10cc cover)
2014 28
  • KOR: 10,053
The Very Best of Rachael Yamagata
"Nobody" 2016 Tightrope Walker
"Over"
"Let Me Be Your Girl"
"Be Somebody's Love" 2018 Porch Songs EP
"It's Always the Little Things"
(with Guo Ding)
Non-album single

Original soundtrack contributions

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
Intl.

"I Wish You Love" 2005 Prime OST
"Jesus Was a Cross Maker"
(Judee Sill cover)
2005 Elizabethtown OST
"He Needs a Kidney"
(with various artists) (from 30 Rock)
2009 Non-album single
"Hand of God" 2012 That's What She Said OST
"Let's Begin Again"
(with John Medeski) (Robert Altman cover)
2014 Altman OST
"Something in the Rain" 2018 10 Something in the Rain OST
"La La La" 31
"No Direction" 2019 One Spring Night OST
"Is It You"
"We Could Still Be Happy"

Other soundtrack appearances

Rachael Yamagata's songs have been used in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of them:

Title Year Media
"1963" 2005 Monster-in-Law
2015 November Rule
"Be Be Your Love" 2004 One Tree Hill
2005 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
2005 Trust the Man
2006 Brothers & Sisters
2009 So You Think You Can Dance
2011
2012 Wilsberg
"Be Somebody's Love" 2018 Something in the Rain
"Blister of the Spotlight"
(with Ashtar Command)
2008 Ugly Betty
"Brown Eyes" 2009 Grey's Anatomy
"Collide" 2005 In Her Shoes
"Don't" 2009 Private Practice
"Duet" 2008 Brothers & Sisters
2009 Grey's Anatomy
"Elephants" 2009 One Life to Live
2010 Gravity
2015 The Vampire Diaries
"Horizon" 2009 One Tree Hill
"I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" 2012 Hope Springs
"I Want You" 2006 Men in Trees
"I'll Find a Way" 2005 ER
"Keep Going" 2015 The Vampire Diaries
"Meet Me by the Water" 2006 Bella
"The Other Side" 2008 The L Word
"Paper Doll" 2005 Trust the Man
"Quiet" 2006 How I Met Your Mother
2023 Ted Lasso
"The Reason Why" 2004 Smallville
2005 The O.C.
2008 Cashmere Mafia
2009 Hotel for Dogs
2009 Brain Drain
"Saturday Morning" 2020 Scare Me
"Sunday Afternoon" 2010 One Tree Hill
"The Way It Seems to Go" 2013 Lucky Them
"Worn Me Down" 2003 Miss Match
2004 The O.C.

See also

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