Sasha Allen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sasha Allen
Harlem, New York
, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Years active1997–present

Sasha Sierra Allen (born June 4, 1982) is an American singer and actress. Born and raised in

Harlem, New York, she began her career in the music industry as a backing vocalist for Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Leona Lewis, and Usher. In January 2016, she joined the Rolling Stones touring band. In May 2020, she joined The Pussycat Dolls
touring band.

Allen portrayed Dionne in the 2009 Broadway revival of

The Voice
.

Life and career

Early life

Allen's maternal Bermudian grandmother was one of the first people of African descent to attend

.

At the age of 14, she starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind.[2] While still in high school, she was featured in commercial and print work, including advertisements in TIME magazine for AT&T.[citation needed]

At 17 she was signed to

LA Reid was president.[3] Her album, unfortunately, never came together. Allen says regarding her failed record contracts, “I got caught up in one of those crossroads moments in the record business [...] It was heartbreaking, because singing is what comes most naturally to me.”[3]
This caused Sasha to pursue other avenues of performing, such as acting.

2000s

She was cast in the cult film Camp (2003) starring as "Dee."[4] Allen was spotlighted on VH1's Born to Diva, a pre-American Idol talent reality TV show highlighting her talent.[5]

She has performed on world tours and

Fantasia, and Clint Black
.

Allen Joe's Pub at the Public Theater in NYC, 2011.

Allen's music showcases her love for rock, soul and

R&B. Her first single, "Let's Fly Away", was released on July 4, 2008, and the follow-up, a cover of Joan Osborne's "One Of Us", was released in September 2008. The remix for "Let's Fly Away", produced by Rob Lewis and TrakFire Productions climbed the dance charts.[clarification needed
]

2012–present, The Voice and afterwards

Returning to reality TV, Allen was selected as a participant for the fourth US season of

pressed their button for Sasha, and she opted to join team Shakira. Allen would be the final remaining member of Team Shakira, and the first stolen contestant on The Voice to advance to the semifinals.

Between September 2014 and July 2015, Allen toured the US as "Leading Player" in a revival of the Broadway musical Pippin.[7]

Allen joined

América Latina Olé Tour 2016 as a backing vocalist, filling the role handled by Lisa Fischer since 1989 as Fischer had prior touring commitments.[8] The role included duetting with Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter".[9]

Her songs Oh! Darling peaked # 29 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs, Ain't No Way # 17, Next To Me # 39, and I Will Always Love You # 39.[10]

The Voice performances and results

  – Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes
Stage Song Original Artist Date Order Result
Blind Audition "Not Ready to Make Nice"
The Dixie Chicks
April 8, 2013 5.6 All four chairs turned
Joined Team Adam
Battle Rounds "Try" (vs. Amber Carrington) Pink April 15, 2013 7.1 Defeated
Stolen by Shakira
Knockout Rounds "At Last" (vs. Shawna P.) Etta James April 29, 2013 11.8 Saved by Coach
Live Playoffs "Oh! Darling" The Beatles May 7, 2013 15.8 Saved by Public Vote
Live Top 12 "
Alone
"
Heart May 13, 2013 17.6 Saved by Public Vote
Live Top 10 "Next To Me"
Emeli Sande
May 20, 2013 20.5 Saved by Public Vote
Live Top 8 "Without You"
Usher
May 27, 2013 22.4 Saved by Public Vote
Live Top 6 "Ain't No Way" Aretha Franklin June 3, 2013 25.4 Saved by Public Vote
"Before He Cheats" Carrie Underwood 25.12
Live Top 5 (Semifinals) "I Will Always Love You" Dolly Parton June 10, 2013 27.2 Eliminated
"Bad Girls" Donna Summer 27.7

References

  1. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Gans, Andrew (August 21, 2009). "DIVA TALK: Chatting with Hair's Sasha Allen Plus News of Buckley, Chenoweth, Luker". Playbill. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Happy Hair Hippie Sasha Allen Balances a Busy Life". Broadway.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Sasha Allen". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Born to Diva series, VH1
  6. ^ Daniels, Karu F. (November 3, 2019). "Sasha Allen tells Daily News about her 'life-changing' role in revival of Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls'". nydailynews.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Lisa (June 25, 2014). "'Pippin' national touring cast revealed: Sasha Allen as Leading Player". DenverPost.com. The Denver Post. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  8. ^ "The Rolling Stones Give Cubans What They Need, A Two-Hour Free Concert". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Dewey, Richard L. (March 26, 2016). "Rolling Stones Thrill Huge Crowd at Historic Havana Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs positions". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2016.

External links