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Bianca Ryan

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Bianca Ryan

Bianca Taylor Ryan[1] (born September 1 1994) is an American singer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who won the début season of NBC's America's Got Talent. The 11-year-old child prodigy repeatedly performed to standing ovations from the audience, and her finals appearance—singing "I Am Changing" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls—prompted show judge (and onetime child prodigy) Brandy to proclaim, "this girl makes me want to go practice."[2]

Biography

Background

Bianca Ryan is the second of four children of Shawn and Janette Ryan, and is part Irish from her father's side of the family and part Japanese from her mother's side.[1] Ryan has an older brother (Shawn), a younger sister (Isabella) and a younger brother (Jagger).[3]

In fall 2006, she will be a sixth grader at School Lane Charter School in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania.[4]

At age eight, Bianca Ryan developed a preference in the rhythm and blues and gospel music genres, and recalls practicing in her family's basement only to hear her father ask, "who is that black woman who just got into my daughter's body?"[1] Neighbor Denise Bauchens told the News Gleaner that she was sweeping her patio one day in 2004, heard Ryan's voice, and "just dropped everything and started to listen."[5]

Ryan counts Yolanda Adams, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Holliday and Patti LaBelle among her favorite singers. Adams was her voice coach for the Talent finals.

Early performances

In 2003, Ryan (then nine years old) persuaded her father to allow her to compete on Star Search, earning 12 stars from the judges to 13 stars for Spensha Baker.[6] Ryan also has appeared on Showtime at the Apollo and The Tom Joyner Show.[7]

She has performed at several notable venues, including Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Financial Field. Since age eight, Ryan has been the regular anthemist for the semi-professional Philadelphia Growl inline hockey team.[8] She also has sung the national anthem for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Eagles professional sports teams.[7]

Ryan appeared in commercials for the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain and the Philadelphia Zoo.[3] She also played "Singing Girl" in the Michael Cuesta-directed feature film Twelve and Holding.[9]

America's Got Talent

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end When Ryan auditioned for America's Got Talent, she chose the Jennifer Holliday Dreamgirls showtune "And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going)," surprising the crowd and the judges with her powerful voice. Brandy gave Bianca a standing ovation and called her "my favorite contestant in this competition." Piers Morgan, critical of Ryan's age-appropriate appearance, told Ryan to change her hair, dress and shoes, "and you will win this tournament. ... You came on this stage, and you blew us away!" David Hasselhoff called her "a star" and called for the audience to "get on your feet for this girl!"[10]

Ryan's first appearance on Talent became one of the most popular videos on YouTube, an online video archive partly owned by NBC.[1]

She sang "Piece of My Heart", barefoot, a la Janis Joplin, at the semifinals, but none of the judges was impressed with Ryan's musical choice; Brandy said, "You were born to do this ... but ... I liked the song selection better the first time," while Hasselhoff felt that style was "not going to get you through (the competition)." Still, she was announced as the viewers' choice that week and moved on into the finale round and a chance at the US$1 million prize.

For her finals song, Ryan returned to Dreamgirls and the Holliday number "I Am Changing". She worked with gospel singer Yolanda Adams, who said there was little she could teach Ryan that she didn't already possess. Following the performance, Morgan praised Ryan for her appearance and song choice, saying "I think you're going to win the competition." Hasselhoff said she reminded him of Liza Minnelli and how she "affects people, and makes them get up and makes them feel things," and told Ryan, "you truly are the best in this competition."

The show's finale results aired on August 17, 2006, during which Ryan was announced as the winner of the first season of the show. The announcement left her in shock (when asked by host Regis Philbin how she felt, Ryan said, "I don't even know!"), brought Hasselhoff to his feet and moved Brandy to tears; Morgan later told NBC 10 (Philadelphia) that "the most talented person won."[11]

On August 24 2006, Ryan announced on her website that she had flown to New York to meet with representatives from a "major record label" and some of the recording industry's top songwriters.[7]

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
2006 Twelve and Holding Singing Girl Released May 19 2006

References

  1. ^ a b c d "bobrivers.com". The Bob Rivers Show: 11-year-old singing sensation Bianca Ryan shows us why she's got talent. Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "tv.com". Colin Mahan, TV.com: Talent shines in finale. Retrieved 20 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "northeasttimes.com". Northeast Times: Bianca hits the high notes for the Eagles. Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "philly.com". Mayfair girl, 11, takes America's Got Talent prize. Retrieved 23 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "newsgleaner.com". News Gleaner - She's a star. Retrieved 24 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "cbs.com". CBS.com: Star Search Junior Singer - Spensha Baker & Bianca Ryan. Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c "biancaryan.com". Bianca Ryan The Official Site (Bio). Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "growlhockey.com". Bianca Ryan - The Beautiful Voice of the Philadelphia Growl. Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "newsday.com". Newsday.com - Television - Reality Check. Retrieved 22 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "nbc10.com". NBC10.com - Philly 11-Year-Old Wows Judges. Retrieved 21 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "nbc10.com". NBC10.com - Bianca and Piers Morgan React to Win. Retrieved 22 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
Preceded by
None
 America's Got Talent winner
Season 1 (Summer 2006) 		Succeeded by
Incumbent, TBA Winter 2007

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