Jacquelyn Davette "Jaci"Velasquez (/ˈdʒæki/; born October 15, 1979) is an American actress andcontemporary Christian andLatin pop singer and songwriter, performing in both English and Spanish.
Jaci Velasquez | |
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![]() Velasquez performing at the White House in 2002 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez |
Born | (1979-10-15)October 15, 1979 (age 45) Houston,Texas, U.S. |
Genres | Contemporary Christian,pop,Latin pop |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1990–present |
Labels |
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Website | jacivelasquez |
Velasquez has sold almost three million albums in the US,[1] recorded three Platinum and three Gold albums, and recorded 16 singles that hit No. 1 plus six more that entered the top 10.[2] She received a Latin Billboard Music Award in 2002 for her albumMi Corazón, eightDove Awards, including Best New Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year,[2] as well as three Grammy nominations, and an American Music Award nomination in the category of "Favorite Latin Artist" in 2002.[3]
From 2010 to 2016, Velasquez co-hosted “The Family-Friendly Morning Show”, a syndicated morning radio program with Doug Griffin.
Biography
editEarly life and early music career
editVelasquez was born inHouston and is of Mexican, Spanish, Arab, Scottish, French, and Jewish descent.[4][5][6] She grew up in an evangelical church where her parents were both singers and pastors. Although she has described herself as a "non-denominational"Christian, she later said in an interview withMorris Cerullo, "you're talking to anAssemblies of God's girl".[citation needed]
At the age of 9, she began traveling with her father, who by that time was a full-time singing evangelist. She began by singing backup and then later sang solo, releasing three independent records between 1988 and 1992:My Favorite Songs,Help Me, andKeep the Fire Burning. It was while on the road that she was discovered by a representative ofMyrrh Records.
Breakthrough music career
edit16-year-old Velasquez released her breakthrough albumHeavenly Place on May 13, 1996; five of its songs became No. 1 hits. The album was later certified platinum. She was distinguished as the fastest selling solo debut recording artist in her genre and the first solo artist in Christian music history to reach gold status with a debut album. Since then she released seven more English-language albums, two of which were certified Gold. Five Latin albums garnishing amazing success withLlegar A Ti going double-platinum andMi Corazón going platinum. She produced sixteen No. 1 Christian radio hits and six other top-10 singles, and has won nineDove awards, including New Artist of the Year and two Female Vocalist of the Year wins. Velasquez has also done ad campaigns forPepsi,Target,Doritos, John Freida's Frizz-Ease hair products, andHelzberg Diamonds.[3]
In 1998, she signed toSony Discos for a four-album deal and was introduced toRudy Pérez, who produced her first Spanish-language crossover albumLlegar a Ti which topped theBillboard Hot Latin Tracks chart, the first Christian track to top that chart of its kind. This album enabled her to achieve crossover success by building a fan base among Hispanics. Her first single, "Llegar a Ti," topped the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and became the first Christian song to top that chart. She received aLatin Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song.
In 2001, she released her second Spanish-language album,Mi Corazón. The album's lead single, "Como Se Cura Una Herida," topped theBillboard Hot Latin Tracks and became one of the biggest singles of the year, receiving multiple award nominations and wins. The album received aGrammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. "Como Se Cura Una Herida" charted at No. 1 simultaneously with the song "Adore" at No. 1 on the CCM (Inspirational) chart giving Velasquez two simultaneous No. 1s in two different markets.[7]
Her Latin music credits includes fiveSpanish-language releases, two No. 1 LatinBillboard Singles, two Platinum albums, a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for New Artist of the Year, twoBillboard Latin Music Awards, and fourDove Awards for Spanish Language Album of the Year. In September 2008, she was chosen by the State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs as one of the 15 Prominent Hispanic-Americans in the Arts in America.[8]
In August 2011, Velasquez signed with a new label,Inpop Records, and her album,Diamond, was released on February 7, 2012.[9] She released her first Spanish-language lullaby album,Buenas Noches Mi Sol, in 2012 withFisher-Price.[10] She released a new project on March 31, 2017, throughIntegrity Music, consisting of an English-language album,Trust, and the Spanish-language version,Confío.[11][12] At the 48thDove Awards,Confío won Spanish Language Album of the Year[13]
Acting career
editVelasquez made her acting debut in the 2003 filmChasing Papi, which also featuredSofia Vergara,Roselyn Sanchez, andEduardo Verastegui, as well asNicole Scherzinger in a cameo role. It was released nationwide in the U.S. in April 2003. The movie reached No. 11 at the box office grossing $6 million worldwide. Velasquez also starred in the Christian filmsThe Encounter andJerusalem Countdown, both released in 2011.[14]
In November 2010, Velasquez began co-hosting theFamily Friendly Morning Show with Doug Griffin after being a guest host for several months.[2] The show aired on over 100 U.S. radio stations for four hours each weekday morning.[2] In 2016, she played the drama teacher Mrs. Diaz inI'm Not Ashamed, a 2016 biographical drama film which is based on the journals ofRachel Joy Scott.[15]
Personal life
editVelasquez married Darren Potuck, of the band AutoVaughn, on August 16, 2003. They were divorced in 2005.[16]
On December 17, 2006, she married Nic Gonzales in a private ceremony inAustin, Texas. Gonzales is a member ofSalvador, aChristian group with whom she had been touring.[17] Their first son Zealand was born in 2007 and their second son Soren in 2009.[18]
Velasquez and her husband were featured in an episode of the home remodeling reality TV showRenovation Realities which aired December 6, 2014, on theDIY Network.[19]
Jaci is avegan.
Discography
edit- My Favorite Songs (1988)
- Help Me (1992)
- Keep the Fire Burning (1994)
- Heavenly Place (1996)
- Jaci Velasquez (1998)
- Llegar A Ti (1999)
- Crystal Clear (2000)
- Mi Corazón (2001)
- Christmas/Navidad (2001)
- Unspoken (2003)
- Milagro (2003)
- Beauty Has Grace (2005)
- Love Out Loud (2008)
- Diamond (2012)
- Buenas Noches Mi Sol (2012)
- Trust/Confío (2017)
Filmography
edit- 2003:Chasing Papi
- 2004:Doc (one episode)
- 2003:Los Reyes Magos (The 3 Wise Men)
- 2011:The Encounter
- 2011:Jerusalem Countdown
- 2014:Rumors of Wars
- 2015:VeggieTales: Noah's Ark
- 2016:I'm Not Ashamed
- 2017:A Question of Faith
- 2020:Cover Me
- 2020:Acquitted by Faith
Bibliography
edit- 1996:A Heavenly Place (over 10,000 units sold)
- 2003:Los Evangelios Toman Vida: The Gospels Come to Life
- 2012:Coffee and Concealer
Awards
editLatin Grammy Award Nominations
- 2000 Best Female Pop Vocal PerformanceLlegar A Ti
- 2004 Best Female Pop Vocal AlbumMilagro.
- 2017 Best Christian AlbumConfío.
Dove Awards[20]
- 1997 New Artist of the Year
- 1998 Song of the Year, "On My Knees"
- 1999 Female Vocalist of the Year
- 2000 Special Event Album of the Year, "Streams"
- 2000 Spanish-language Album of the Year, "Llegar a Ti"
- 2000 Female Vocalist of the Year
- 2002 Spanish-Language Album of the Year "Mi Corazon"
- 2003 Spanish-Language Album of the Year "Navidad"
- 2017 Spanish-Language Album of the Year "Confio"
American Music Awards Nominations
- 2002 Favorite Latin Artist
Billboard Latin Music Awards
- 2002 Female Pop Album: "Mi Corazon
Premio Lo Nuestro
- 2000 for New Artist of the Year
Premios Arpa
- 2018 Best Female Vocal Album of the Year "Confio"
References
edit- ^"Ask Billboard".Billboard. April 11, 2008. RetrievedDecember 30, 2011.
- ^abcd"Jaci Velasquez Announced As New Co-host of The Family Friendly Morning Show with Doug Griffin". Today's Christian Music/CCM Magazine. Archived fromthe original on March 30, 2012. RetrievedOctober 14, 2011.
- ^ab"Jaci Velasquez - Biography". Archived fromthe original on December 20, 2014.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez: Chasing Papi star with a blazing trail of album hits – Main Cover – Cover Story". Findarticles.com. Archived fromthe original on April 3, 2013. RetrievedFebruary 14, 2012.
- ^Jaci Velasquez Biography in Last.fm
- ^Jaci Velasquez Biography in Deezer.com
- ^"Jaci Velasquez No. 1 on Both English, Latin Charts - Christian Activities".www.christianactivities.com. RetrievedJune 6, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Photo Gallery". America.gov. June 30, 2008. Archived fromthe original on May 23, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2011.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez signs to Inpop Records". Christian Today. August 22, 2011. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2011.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez - Buenas Noches mi Sol". RetrievedMarch 28, 2017.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez To Release First New Album in Five Years". The Christian Beat. January 23, 2017. RetrievedMarch 28, 2017.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez releases the album Trust". GospelPrime. March 31, 2017. Archived fromthe original on April 1, 2017. RetrievedMarch 31, 2017.
- ^"2017 Winners - The 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards".doveawards.com. Archived fromthe original on October 20, 2017. RetrievedOctober 19, 2017.
- ^"About Jaci Velasquez". Today's Christian Music/CCM Magazine. June 16, 2023.
- ^Faith, Reel (September 29, 2017)."Jaci Velasquez on 'A Question of Faith,' Christian Entertainment".Reel Faith. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2019.
- ^"Jaci Velasquez Divorced". Christianitytoday.com. August 16, 2003. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2011.
- ^"Austin Wedding for Jaci Velasquez, Nic Gonzalez". Lovetripper.com. December 17, 2006. Archived fromthe original on February 14, 2012. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2011.
- ^"Jaci Velásquez and Nic Gonzáles Welcome Son Soren Arthur – Moms & Babies – Moms & Babies - People.com". Celebritybabies.people.com. March 2, 2009. Archived fromthe original on January 18, 2013. RetrievedDecember 4, 2012.
- ^"THE VELASQUEZ JOB Episode DRVD-1309H". DIYNetwork.com. Archived fromthe original on December 4, 2014. RetrievedJanuary 29, 2015.
- ^"Past Winners - The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards".doveawards.com. RetrievedJune 6, 2018.