Videos: Vivian Green

Emotional Rollercoaster

Vivian Green is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter and pianist.

Green was born May 22, 1979 in the East Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and took an interest in singing, playing the piano, and songwriting at a very young age. At the age of thirteen, she became a member of a female quintet called Younique. Also, she is a graduate of Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice. Green has credit for writing "Dear God" by Boyz II Men, from their 1997 album Evolution. Green received her big break at the age of nineteen when she became a backup singer for Jill Scott, who took her on an international tour. She signed to Columbia Records in November 2001.

Between her first and second albums, she took a three-year hiatus. During this time she had son Jordan (2003) ), with ex fiance, drummer Erik Tribbett. She continues to live in Philadelphia where she is raising her son as a single parent.

Green released her debut album, A Love Story, in November 2002 in the U.S. and February 2003 in the United Kingdom, featuring the hit "Emotional Rollercoaster". In the meantime, Green made a cameo appearance in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely singing a cover version of Porter's 1930 song "Love for Sale", which made the film's soundtrack album. She also played Brenda Holloway in an episode of the first season of NBC's drama series American Dreams, entitled "The Carpetbaggers" (originally aired on April 6, 2003), performing a rendition of Holloway's 1964 hit "Every Little Bit Hurts".
[edit] Vivian (2004-2006)

In 2005, she appeared on Cyndi Lauper's The Body Acoustic album on the tracks "I'll Be Your River" and "Sisters of Avalon".

During the spring of 2005, three years after the release of her debut album, Green released her second studio album Vivian. It featured the hit lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)". The lead single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave" debuted at #102 on the Hot 100, #24 on the Hot R&B, and #1 on Hot Dance charts. The song also charted #1 on the Hot Adult Airplay.[1] The track known as "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" followed up as the album's second single. The song followed up the previous single "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave"'s success by charting #1 on the Dance charts. The third single, "Cursed", debuted at #102 on the Hot R&B charts.
[edit] 2007-present

In 2007, Green appeared on Guru's album Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future on the track "Fine and Free". While performing at a gig in support of her second album, Green announced that she is currently recording her third full length album on Koch Records. In April 2009, she signed a 3-album deal with E1 Music with the first album under the deal set to be released in Summer 2009.[2] Her third album titled Beautiful was released April 6, 2010.[3] The songs explore the ins and outs of love from a variety of perspectives, from the youthful romanticism of "Somewhere" to the playful insight of "So Good" and "Better Man" to the hard-won intensity of "Masterpiece" and "Beautiful."

In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of Beautiful in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Year Album U.S. U.S. R&B U.S. Indie Sales and certification
2002 A Love Story

1st studio album
Released: November 12, 2002
Formats: CD cassette

51 18 - U.S. Sales: 531,000
RIAA: Gold
2005 Vivian

2nd studio album
Released: March 31, 2005
Formats: CD

18 5 - U.S. Sales: 46,000
RIAA: N/A
2010 Beautiful

3rd studio album
Released: April 6, 2010
Formats: CD

101 26 13 U.S. Sales: 22,061+
RIAA: TBD
[edit] Singles
Year Single Chart positions Album
U.S.

U.S. R&B

U.S. dance
2002 "Emotional Rollercoaster"
39

13

1

A Love Story
2003 "Fanatic"
—

52

7
" What Is Love?"
—

75

—
2005 "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)"
102

24

1

Vivian
" I Like It (But I Don't Need It)"
—

—

1
2006 "Cursed"
—

102

—
2010 "Beautiful"[4]
—

43

—

Beautiful
" Too Intense"
—

—

—
[edit] Award History

Lady of the Soul Train Awards

2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul Single "Emotional Rollercoaster" (nominated)
2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul Album of the Year "A Love Story" (nominated)
2003: Best Solo R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "Emotional Rollercoaster" (nominated)