Amii Stewart
|
|
AmiiStewart.jpg
Amii Stewart
Amy Nicole Stewart (born January 29, 1956 in Washington D.C.) is an American singer.
Stewart trained as a singer and dancer, and appeared in the stage production Bubbling Brown Sugar on Broadway, before being signed to a recording contract by record producer Barry Leng.
Her first single, a disco cover version of the Eddie Floyd hit "Knock On Wood", reached number one in the US in April 1979, and earned her a platinum record and a Grammy Award nomination. It was her only American hit single, and she was dismissed as a one hit wonder.
In Europe she established herself as a popular performer during the disco era of the late 1970s, scoring her highest chart placing in the UK with another disco cover version, of The Doors' "Light My Fire" (released as "Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven"), which reached number five in 1979. Further singles such as "Jealousy" were popular in European discos, but as disco began to lose popularity she branched into other contemporary musical styles. During this period she worked with such producers as Giorgio Moroder and Ennio Morricone. Her 1984 single, "Friends" reached number one in several European countries, and number 12 in the UK.
Stewart has resided in Italy since the mid 1980s, and in her adopted homeland has become a respected performer of a wide range of musical styles. In 1993 and 1994 she was one of several singers invited to perform at the Vatican before the Pope in Christmas pageants.