User:KennyFromSouthPark/sandbox/Katrina Draft

KennyFromSouthPark/sandbox/Katrina Draft

Katrina Woolverton is an American singer and songwriter.

Early life

Woolverton was born in the San Fernando Valley. She began singing when she was 5, and started singing lessons at 9. Her home life was difficult due to acrimony between her parents.

At 11, Woolverton's mother, recognizing the strength of her voice, entered her as a contestant on the television talent competition Star Search. Considered a precursor to American Idol, the series was a hit, and as she won week after week, she became one of the first celebrities in what would later be called reality television. Woolverton won 8 consecutive rounds of the competition, beating Aaliyah in week X, and was named Junior Champion in XXXX. Following her wins -- and the attention her appearance on Star Search brought to her vocal ability - Katrina was pursued by management companies, record labels, and others interested in capitalizing on her talent. Her parent's relationship continued to deteriorate, and after a contract dispute involving her father, Woolverton retreated from music. "It just became really ugly,’ she said in a 2012 interview. "Music had been an escape for me, something that was really fun and something that was my own thing that had nothing to do with what was happening at home, and all of a sudden it was no longer positive." Woolverton's parents divorced within the year.

Education

As Star Search faded, Woolverton continued to sing, and performed in bands with friends. She also sang in the high school choir, and moved from part to part after the choir director realized could sing alto, tenor and soprano parts by ear. Although she'd been writing poetry since childhood, Woolverton began writing songs. Following her high school graduation, she attended San Diego State University, and while she continued to write songs and sing back-up, she planned to pursue a law degree, and as such focused mainly on her studies as an undergraduate. Her mother attended law school while Woolverton studied at San Diego State and received her Juris Doctor as Wolverton received her Bachelor's degree. Wolverton graduated in 1999 with a degree in French and Political Science and returned to LA where she lived in a 1-bedroom apartment with her mother as she prepared for law school.

In XXXX, Wolverton began her JD studies at Southwestern Law University in Los Angeles. Focused on entertainment law, she graduated in 2002 and passed the California State Bar exam. As she studied for a Master's in Entertainment and Media Law, Woolverton interned in the legal department at BMG and at Warner Chappell music; her colleagues, despite working in music, were unaware of her background.

After receiving her master's in 2003, Woolverton sought work in entertainment, but the shifts in landscape of the music industry at the time made it difficult for her to to find employment. She subsequently shifted away from entertainment law, and after she interned for a federal judge, Woolverton worked as a criminal and civil attorney, secretly devoting her off-hours to music.

Musical career

In 2007 a chance meeting with a producer led to Woolverton singing three songs for the soundtrack for the film Triloquist: "Billy Boy," (which she also arranged), "Beautiful Dreamer" and "Demented Dreamer." Following the film's release -- and the subsequent discovery by her friends and co-workers of her aspirations and her past -- Woolverton's then-boyfriend, George, took her to see Cher perform in Las Vegas. Inspired, she hesitated only briefly before she decided to leave her job as a lawyer to focus on music full time. She spent the following year learning to play the guitar, writing, and performing in clubs, and began writing songs with Josh Sklair, a Grammy nominated producer best known for his work with Etta James. In addition to writing more than 50 songs with her, Sklair introduced her to musicians including (X) and (X). In 2009, Woolverton sang at a wedding in Hawaii, and there she met producer Val Garay, who had been involved with records by James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, and Elton John, among others. They started to work together shortly thereafter, and with Bonnie Hayes, wrote the songs for what would be Woolverton's first album, In the Blink of an Eye. The first single from the album, "Shame on Me," was released in January 2011.

Details re: singles, stats, tours.