Toya Alexis
Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox musical artist
Toya Alexis (born July 16, 1980) is a Canadian vocalist and actress from Ajax, Ontario.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
Alexis won a "Rising Star" contest and sang at the Apollo Theater.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 2001 she appeared, as LaToya Lesmond, as a contestant on season one of Popstars on the Global Television Network.<ref name=ts>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> She was a finalist,<ref name=ts/> and was featured on the debut album of the winners who were named Sugar Jones.<ref name=":0" /> She was a contestant on the first season of Canadian Idol in 2003, reaching sixth place in a controversial decision as she was a judge favourite.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "I actually knew I loved to sing before I could talk," Toya Alexis told students at Ridgewood Public School (Mississauga, ON) after her Canadian Idol experience.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2004, Alexis was one of several Hip-Hop artists to co-write "Drop the Chrome," an anti-violence song aimed at youth. Other co-writers were Marcus Kane, Thrust, Maestro, Michie Mee, and Skitz.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Proceeds from the sale of the 3-track CD were split between two youth-focused charities Tropicana Community Services and Youth Assisting Youth.
Debut albumEdit
Alexis was subsequently offered a recording contract, and released her first single, the Top 40 hit "Am I Loving?", in 2004.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also appeared as a guest vocalist on recordings by several other Canadian artists. Her full-length debut album, S.O.B. Story, was released in August on Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex's label, Plasma, who also served as her manager.<ref name=canoe/>
TheatreEdit
In 2005, she was a featured cast member as "Mabel" in the Canstage show Crowns, at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Her other stage credits have included Doo Wop to Motown (Theatre on the Grand),<ref name=ts/> Once on This Island (Stirling Festival Theatre), Rainbow World (Bathurst Street Theatre), The Good Times Are Killing Me (Royal Alex Theatre) and Dreamgirls, (a co-production between Theatre Aquarius and the Manitoba Theatre Centre).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=canoe>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" />
Idol performancesEdit
- Top 32 (Group 3) - "I Believe In You and Me" (Whitney Houston)
- Wildcard - "Try It on My Own" (Whitney Houston)
- Top 11 - "If You Asked Me To" (Celine Dion)
- Top 8 - "If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder)
- Top 6 - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)<ref name="ctv">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Singles historyEdit
2002: "I Got U" (with Sugar Jones) (#70, Canadian Singles Chart)
2004: "Am I Loving?" (#36, Canadian Singles Chart)
2005: "Toy Boy" (#17, Canadian Singles Chart)
2006: "Where Did Our Love Go?" (#29, Canadian Singles Chart)
DiscographyEdit
AlbumsEdit
| Year | Album details | Peak | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | |||||||||
| 2005 | S.O.B. Story
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SinglesEdit
- "Am I Loving?"
- "Toy Boy"
- "Where Did Our Love Go?"
VideosEdit
Featured on
- Canadian Idol Greatest Moments (2003) (track 11 singing "Try It on My Own")
- Sugar Jones (2001) (featured on "I Got U")