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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Francesca Battistelli| image = Francesca09.JPG| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name =| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1985|5|18| origin = New York City , New York , USA| instrument = Vocals , guitar , piano | genre = Contemporary Christian music|CCM , pop music|pop , soul music|soul | occupation = Singer , songwriter | years_active = 2002–present| label = Fervent Records|Fervent , Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. | Spouse = Matthew Goodwin (August 27, 2009-present)| website = URL| http://www.francescamusic.com/| notable_instruments = Francesca Battistelli (born May 18, 1985) is an American Christian music ian from New York City , New York .cite web |url= http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/FrancescaBattistelli.asp |title=Francesca Battistelli Artist Database, Francesca Battistelli Discography |publisher= Jesus Freak Hideout |accessdate=2008-06-11 She was originally an independent artist and had released an independent album, Just a Breath , in 2004. Her first studio album on Fervent Records , My Paper Heart (album)|My Paper Heart , was released on July 22, 2008. Her first single, "I'm Letting Go", was released to radio stations in spring of 2008 and has charted on national Christian Contemporary hit radio|CHR charts since then. The song was the 16th most played song of 2008 on Christian radio stations according to R& R magazine. http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/08/Christian_CHR_songs.asp 2008 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs, R& R (magazine)|R& R magazine , Retrieved January 15, 2009 Francesca Battistelli received her first Grammy Award nomination in 2009, for Best Gospel Performance with her single, "Free To Be Me".
Biography
Early life
Battistelli was born on May 18, 1985 in New York City .cite web |url= http://www.mvnu.edu/wnzr/featured.html |title=Featured Artist: Francesca Battistelli |accessdate=2009-05-04 |publisher= WNZR |author=Ashley ErinDead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot She grew up in a musical family with both of her parents involved in musical theatre .cite web |url= http://christianmusic.about.com/b/2008/05/21/introducing-francesca-battistelli.htm |title=Introducing Francesca Battistelli |date=2008-05-21 |publisher= About.com |accessdate=2008-06-11 "There was just something about live theater—especially musical theater—that has always resonated with me" she said. She "knew that she was going to spend her life performing" after seeing a performance of the musical The Secret Garden (musical)|The Secret Garden on Broadway theatre|Broadway at the age of six. "So I thought that was it. I was going to be Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden ."cite web |url= http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist_more/battistelli_francesca/ |title=Francesca Battistelli Biography |publisher=Your Music Zone |accessdate=2008-06-12Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot
When she was 15, however, she became a member of the Orlando, Florida all-girl mainstream pop music|pop group Bella. The group's touring performances included singing and dancing, which were "two things I loved", she said. After the group disbanded, Battistelli picked up the guitar and began writing songs.
Musical career
As an independent artist in 2004, Battistelli released her debut album, Just a Breath . In early 2008, she released the ''I'm Letting Go EP exclusively through iTunes on Fervent Records which contains four songs, including the title track. All four songs were included on her first major label studio album, My Paper Heart (album)|My Paper Heart '', which was released on July 22, 2008.cite web |url= http://www.lightvox.com/francesca-battistelli-im-letting-go-my-paper-heart.html |title=Francesca Battistelli My Paper Heart - Releases July 22nd |date=2008-05-18 |publisher=Word Music Group; Lightvox.com |accessdate=2008-06-11|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080615140604/ http://www.lightvox.com/francesca-battistelli-im-letting-go-my-paper-heart.html|archivedate =2008-06-15 The album was produced by GMA Dove Award|Dove Award -winning producer Ian Eskelin , and was published through Word Distribution.cite web |url= http://www.cmspin.com/newsmanager/anmviewer.asp? a=4951& z=26 |title=Francesca Battistelli Opens Her Heart With July 22rd Release |date=2008-05-15 |publisher=CMSpin.com |accessdate=2008-06-11 Her first radio single, "I'm Letting Go", was released in spring 2008. The song had reached into the top 20 on R& R (magazine)|R& R 's Christian Contemporary hit radio|CHR charts by May 30, 2008.cite web |url= http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/news_more/francesca_battistellis_july_22nd_release_my_paper_heart_already_garnering_m/ |title=Francesca Battistelli's July 22nd Release, My Paper Heart, Already Garnering Major Buzz |publisher=Your Music Zone |date=2008-05-30 |accessdate=2008-06-11Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot In early July 2008, the song reached No. 10 on Christian CHR charts. My Paper Heart debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in July and was in the top 10 Christian albums for 4 weeks.
Battistelli began a period of touring in the U.S. during early 2008, playing solo concerts as well as performing with fellow Fervent Records band Big Daddy Weave . She performed at several Christian music festivals during mid-2008, such as Spirit West Coast in California and Alive Fest.cite web |url= http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/news_more/francesca_battistelli_opens_her_heart_with_july_22nd_release_my_paper_heart/ |title=Francesca Battistelli Opens Her Heart With July 22nd Release, "My Paper Heart" |publisher=Your Music Zone |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-11 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080529172126/ http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/news_more/francesca_battistelli_opens_her_heart_with_july_22nd_release_my_paper_heart/ |archivedate = 2008-05-29 In late 2008, she guested on a tour with Aaron Shust and NewSong .
Her debut single "I'm Letting Go" reached No. 3 on R& R (magazine)| R& R 's Christian Contemporary hit radio|CHR and Adult contemporary|AC charts during mid to late 2008. Her next single, " Free to Be Me ", reached No. 1 on the R& R Christian CHR format in March 2009, and has held the top position for 9 consecutive weeks through the beginning of May.
Battistelli joined TobyMac , Hawk Nelson , Brandon Heath and others on the Winter Jam 2009 tour, the nation's largest annual Christian music tour, which ran from January through March 2009. http://www.jamtour.com On November 23, 2009, Battistelli's song "It's Your Life" was featured on the series finale of Jon & Kate Plus 8 and The Biggest Loser , is realized on the same day the EP of "It's Your Life" on iTunes USA that contains all the singles from that album and a special version of "It's Your Life Dented Fender Session". "It's Your Life Peaked" at Top 200 iTunes USA and join the No. 46 positions and No. 29 on iTunes Canada.
Battistelli toured on Winter Jam again for 2011 and released a second studio album, Hundred More Years , on the first of March. The album was preceded by the release of a single, This Is The Stuff, in early 2011. In July 2011 the second single, Motion of Mercy, was released from the 2011 album, Hundred More Years
"It's Your Life" was in the movie Soul Surfer in early 2011.
Style
Battistelli's music is the mix of several different genre labels. A reviewer once said that "Battistelli's soulful piano-pop sound resembles a blend of her music interests— jazz , rock music|rock , gospel music|gospel and Rhythm and blues|R& B ."cite web |url= http://www.musicremedy.com/f/Francesca_Battistelli/videos/Im_Letting_Go-22601.html |title=Francesca Battistelli I'm Letting Go music video |publisher=Music Remedy |accessdate=2008-06-11 Battistelli stated that when she first began writing music, "I really longed to bring something authentic to the Christian music scene that even non-Christians could listen to."
Francesca's track "Blue Sky" featured on the Hollister Playlist for December 2009.
Personal life
Francesca married Christian band percussionist Matthew Goodwin on August 27, 2009 in Nashville. The couple's son, Matthew Elijah, was born on September 22, 2010.
Discography
Year
Album
Billboard Christian Albums http:/ / www.billboard.com/ #/ artist/ francesca-battistelli/ chart-history/ 845091? f=310& g=Albums (Peak Position)
Billboard 200 (Peak Position)
2004
Just a Breath
-
-
2008
My Paper Heart (album)>My Paper Heart
1
35
2011
Hundred More Years
1
16
Hundred More Years also charted on the Billboard Digital Albums peaking at #21.
Singles
Year
Single
Billboard Christian Songs http:/ / www.billboard.com/ #/ artist/ francesca-battistelli/ chart-history/ 845091? f=355& g=Singles (Peak Position)
Album
2008
''"I'm Letting Go"
3
My Paper Heart (album)
2009
" Free to Be Me>Free To Be Me "
1
''"It's Your Life"
12
2010
"Beautiful, Beautiful"
6
2011
"This Is The Stuff"
3
Hundred More Years
"Motion Of Mercy"
17
"Be Born In Me"
20
non-album track
"I'm Letting Go" – also peaked No. 10 on national Christian Contemporary hit radio|CHR charts, including the top 3 on R& R (magazine)|R& R magazine cite web|url= http://www.weekend22.com/|title=R& R August 2, 2008 Christian CHR chart|date=2008-08-02|publisher= R& R (magazine)|R& R as reported by the Weekend 22 |accessdate=2008-08-03
" Free to Be Me " – also peaked No. 1 on R& R (magazine)|R& R 's Christian contemporary hit radio|CHR format for seven consecutive weeks; US Bubbling Under Hot 100 No. 17 cite web |url= http://www.radioandrecords.com/rrwebsite20/Members/Charts.aspx? ChartId=25 |title=Christian CHR National Airplay |date=2009-04-03 |accessdate=2009-04-06 |work= R& R (magazine)|R& R
"It's Your Life" - also peaked No. 95 US Billboard Hot 100 cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/#/news/jay-z-and-alicia-keys-empire-stays-put-on-1004050478.story/|title = Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' 'Empire' Stays Put on Hot 100|date=2009-12-03|accessdate=2009-12-03|publisher= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard
"Lead Me to the Cross" - iTunes Single
"This Is The Stuff" - also peaked No. 15 US Bubbling Under Hot 100
"Motion of Mercy"
Compilation Contributions
Be Born In Me (Mary) - Music Inspired by the Story ( EMI Christian Music 2011)
Music videos
"I'm Letting Go"
" Free to Be Me
"Beautiful, Beautiful"
"This is the Stuff"
Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Year
Award
Result
2009
Female Vocalist of the Year
nom
Song of the Year ("I'm Letting Go")
nom
Pop/ Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("I'm Letting Go")
nom
My Paper Heart )
nom
2010
Female Vocalist of the Year
won
Song of the Year (" Free to Be Me ")
nom
Songwriter of the Year
nom
Pop/ Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Free to Be Me")
nom
Short Form Music Video of the Year ("Free to Be Me")
won
2011
Female Vocalist of the Year
won
Song of the Year ("Beautiful, Beautiful")
nom
Pop/ Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("This Is The Stuff")
Persondata | NAME = Battistelli, Francesca | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = May 18, 1985 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Battistelli, Francesca Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Christian religion-related songwriters Category:Musicians from New York City Category:University of Central Florida alumni Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:American pianists Category:American Christians
