About Me
In Loving Memory of Melanie Janene Thornton May 13, 1967 November 24, 2001
" I know we don't have any guarantee that we're gonna live tomorrow, that's why I live every day as it was my last " - Melanie
in her last interview
Melanie Thornton
was an american Soul, RnB and Gospel singer who fronted the Eurodance group La Bouche, who formed hits such as "Be My Lover" and "Sweet Dreams" in the mid-1990s. She forged a moderately successful solo career in Germany before her untimely death in November 2001. Her hits include "Love How You Love Me", "Wonderful Dream", "Memories" and "Heartbeat".
Personal Life
Melanie was born in Charleston, South Carolina and began studying voice from the age of six, as well as learning to play the piano and the clarinet. Growing up her mother would listen to Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, and many Motown music artists. Melanie would mimic the female vocalists she saw on television or heard on radio. Later on she financed her college studies with appearances in talent shows and smaller band concerts. She frequented a club called The Peacock Lounge, getting up and doing jam sessions when the live band invited people up to sing. She had long dreamed of a career in music and in February 1992 Melanie went to Germany. Her sister lived there with her U.S. Army husband. His uncle, Bob Chisolm, a singer and piano player, encouraged Melanie to give the German nightclub circuit a try. She had been singing in a Macon, Ga., band, Danger Zone, pulling down $50 on a good night. However Bob Chisolm told her that on a bad night in Germany she would make $150. She tried it and soon found work in studios recording demos. It was her recording of the song "Sweet Dreams" that caught the attention of producer Frank Farian, the mastermind of the infamous '80s duo Milli Vanilli. Farian took Melanie under his wing, teaming her with rapper Lane McCray in the duo La Bouche, which is French for "The Mouth". After the first few notes Melanie sang, the two men decided she would be the right fit as female vocalist for their long dreamed of project, "La Bouche" . Melanie left La Bouche in February 2000 to be replaced by Natascha Wright while Lane remained a part of the project. She signed a record deal with Sony / Epic Records. Her first solo single was released in November 2000, titled "Love How You Love Me", a ballad (the CD-maxi includes a few dance remixes). The follow-up single was entitled "Heartbeat". On May 7, 2001. Melanie released her first solo album entitled "Ready To Fly" under the label X-Cell Records (distributed by Sony / Epic Records). She continued to do club appearances in the United States under the billing "Melanie Thornton, formerly of La Bouche".
Death and Aftermath
On November 24, 2001, the night Melanie died in a plane crash of the Crossair Flight 3597 near Bassersdorf by Zurich in Switzerland. This was just 2 days before her new single and album was going to be released. She gave her final performance in Leipzig and then drove to Berlin where she took the ill-fated plane to Zurich for radio and TV appearances (among others, the broadcast "Die Bar" on TV3, which was cancelled) to promote her new single "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" and her album "Ready To Fly" (New Edition). "Wonderful Dream" was a Christmas ballad recorded for a German Coca-Cola TV commercial. It has also been used in Christmas Coca-Cola TV commercials in the UK. On November 25, 2002 the single "In Your Life" was released to commemorate the first anniversary of her death. Included is an "In Memory" dedication from Lane McCray and Sony BMG / X-Cell Records
Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464, USA
Trivia
Melanie Thornton had double citizenship in America and Germany at the time of her passing. Towards the end of her life she lived most often in Germany. Melanie has been a very religious woman and that before her performances she would, as many spiritual musical artists do, say a small prayer with her background singers backstage. During her final interview which may have eerily foreshadowed her tragic death, she is quoted as saying "I know we don't have any guarantee that we're gonna Live tomorrow.
That's why I Live Everyday as it was my last !"
Discography
SinglesLove How You Love Me (November 2000)
Heartbeat (April 2001)
Makin' Oooh Oooh (September 2001)
Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) (November 26, 2001) re-released November 2005, 2006, 2007)
In Your Life (November 2002)Albums
Ready To Fly (May 7, 2001) re-released (New Edition) 2005, 2006, 2007CompilationsBest of La Bouche feat. Melanie Thornton (May 2002)Memories - Her Most Beautiful Ballads (December 2003)
Best Of La Bouche (March 2007)
Band and Projects
Danger Zone, Schnapka, Groovin' Affairs, Le Click,
Dj Bobo,
Men Behind,
Orange Blue,
100%,
No Mercy,
Comic,
Joy-Lab,
Hystery,
Loop, La Bouche
Albums Sweet Dreams (Germany, 1995) ; Sweet Dreams (North America, 1996) ; All Mixed Up (1996) ; A Moment Of Love (Germany, 1997) ; SOS (North America, 1998) ; The Best of La Bouche (2002) Singles
1994 Sweet Dreams ; 1994 Sweet Dreams (Euro Mixes) ; 1995 Sweet Dreams UK ; 1995 Be My Lover ; 1995 Be My Lover (Euro Mixes) ; 1995 Fallin' In Love/Sweet Dreams ; 1995 Fallin' In Love ; 1995 I Love To Love ; 1996 Sweet Dreams US ; 1996 Fallin' In Love ; 1996 Forget Me Nots ; 1996 Bolingo (Love Is In The Air) ; 1996 Megamix ; 1997 You Won't Forget Me ; 1998 You Won't Forget Me US; 1998 A Moment Of Love ; 1999 S.O.S. ; 2000 All I Want ; 2002 In Your Life ; 2003 In Your Life US
Awards
La Bouche was the winner of the Echo Award 1996 in the category for the most poplular Dance Single 1995. Award in the category "Best Dance of the year 1996" International Awards: 3 x Platinum ; 10 x Gold German Awards: 1x Platinum ; 2 x Gold
" I really hope that my life can encourage other people, no matter what their dream is, to at least go for it, go after it, because nothing will make you happier than doing what you really love doing ! " - Melanie Thornton
