| Ricki-Lee | |
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![]() Ricki-Lee on stage in February 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ricki-Lee Coulter |
| Born | November 10, 1985 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Origin | Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Pop, R&B |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2004–present (Solo) 2006–2007 (Group) |
| Labels | Shock Records (2004–present) Pony Canyon (2007–present) Ministry Of Sound(2007–present) SonyBMG Australia (2006-2007) |
| Associated acts | Young Divas (2006-2007) |
| Website | Official Site |
Ricki-Lee Coulter born November 10, 1985, commonly known as Ricki-Lee, is a New Zealand-born Australian pop/R&B singer, radio presenter and celebrity. She rose to fame in 2004 as a contestant on the second series of Australian Idol and later signed a record deal with Shock Records. Coulter co-hosted Idol during its 2008 and 2009 seasons, and is preparing for the full release of her third studio album, Hear No, See No, Speak No.
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Coulter was born in Auckland, New Zealand on November 10, 1985 and moved with her mother Loretta to Queensland, Australia when she was 3 weeks old.[1] In Queensland, her younger sister Jodie was also born. Ricki-Lee developed a keen passion for playing netball, playing for Queensland and was on the verge of playing for Australia when serious knee injury requiring reconstructive surgery however ended her netball career.[1]
Ricki-Lee auditioned for the second series of Australian Idol. Considered a major contender to win the Australian Idol competition, Ricki-Lee was unexpectedly voted out in 7th place. The judges described her departure as a scandal. [2]
After declining a deal from SonyBMG, Ricki-Lee signed with Australia's biggest Independent Label, Shock Records,[3] and released her first single "Hell No!" in June 2005. The single, written in collaboration with Audius Mtawarira,[4] debuted at #5, spent three weeks in the Top 10 and 3-months in the Top 40.[5] Her second single "Sunshine" also went Top 10, peaking at #8 and spent four months in the Top 40.[5] "Breathe", her third single release, debuted Top 20, peaking at #14.[5] The S-T album Ricki-Lee debuted at #30 and was certified gold[5]
In 2006, Ricki-Lee joined Australian Idol contestents Paulini Curuenavuli, Emily Williams, and Kate DeAraugo, to form Young Divas project.[6] Their first single "This Time I Know It's For Real", a remake of the Donna Summer 1989 song, was a major success, reaching # 2 on the Australian charts,[7] while the self titled album reached # 4.[7] On June 23, 2007, Ricki-Lee officially announced she would be leaving the group[8]. After months of rumours and speculation of infighting, she stated that she was leaving to focus on her solo career, saying "I just couldn't do it all - I really had to get back to doing what I love doing, and that's my solo career." The Young Divas disbanded shortly after.[9]
In August 2007, Ricki-Lee released her first single (from her second album), "Can't Touch It", which debuted at #2 on the ARIA Charts.[5] "Can't Touch It" achieved Platinum Status through ARIA. Ricki-Lee's second solo album, entitled Brand New Day was released on August 11 and went Top 40, achieving gold status.[5] The album was re-released with a bonus second CD - her first S-T album Ricki-Lee, in December 2007. The second single from the Brand New Day album was Love Is All Around. This single debuted at # 5, making it the second highest new entry for the week after Kylie Minogue.[5] "Can't Sing A Different Song" became Ricki's third consecutive Top Ten single from her current album when it debuted into the ARIA Chart at #8 making it her sixth consecutive Top 20 single since she hit the charts in 2005.[5]
On the December 9, 2007 Ricki-Lee announced that she had signed with Japan's biggest independent label Pony Canyon[10] and also signed to the major UK label Ministry Of Sound after a representative of the label heard "Can't Touch It" on the radio and approached her management.[10] Her single "Can't Touch It" was released as “U Wanna Little Of This”, a remix by Hed Kandi of "Can't Touch It", which peaked at #1 on the UK Commercial Club Pop Charts and #2 on the UK Upfront Club Charts in 2008.[11] Ricki-Lee announced in January 2008 her Australian first solo tour, The Brand New Day Tour, kicking off in Queensland on March 6th, 2008 and finishing up in Sydney on March 31st, 2008 in Sydney.[12].
It was announced that Ricki-Lee would be releasing a compilation album of her hit singles, entitled 'Ricki-Lee: The Singles" on November 8 through Shock Records[13]. The first single from the album was "Wiggle It" featuring "Savage" which was co-written by Australian R&B artist Israel Cruz.[14] The single was written in 2006 and was initially meant to be released with her sophomore album Brand New Day.[14] The track features a chorus sample from 90's hit "Wiggle It" by 2 In A Room. "Wiggle It" had a physical release on September 13, 2008 & digital release on September 16, 2008[14] peaking at 11 on the ARIA Charts[15].
Earlier this year, Ricki-Lee was in L.A working on her third studio album set for release in early 2010 [16]. Ricki-Lee was nominated for her first Logie Nomination for her participation as a Co-Host on Australian Idol for the category "Most Popular New Female Talent"[17], but lost out to Jessica Marais from Packed to the Rafters.
Ricki-Lee revealed via Twitter that her upcoming new single will be released July 31st, 2009, and has been revealed to be called "Don't Miss You". It had its debut airplay on Nova100 on July 20 2009. The music video premiered on Ten Network's Video Hits. The song is about her relationship between her and her ex husband, Jamie Babbington, and was a top thirty hit.
The second single from the upcoming album is "Hear No, See No, Speak No" which was released on November 20, 2009, with the album of the same name to be released in early 2010.[18]
In March 2010 Ricki-Lee toured with the Backstreet Boys for the duration of their Australian leg of their World Tour. Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, at the Perth concert on 02 March she debuted her next single Not broken.[19]
| Year | Type | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Urban Music Awards | Best R&B Album (for Ricki-Lee) | Nominated |
| Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | Fave Aussie Artist | Won | |
| Fave Song (for "This Time I Know It's For Real" with Young Divas) | Won | ||
| 2007 | Fave Female Singer | Won | |
| AIR Awards | Best Performing Independent Single/EP (for "Can't Touch It") | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | Fave Aussie | Nominated |
| Fave Singer | Won | ||
| 2009 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Female Talent (for Australian Idol) | Nominated |
On January 14, 2008 Ricki-Lee joined Brisbane radio station B105 FM as part of their breakfast team for 6 weeks to replace dj Camilla Severi, who had given birth.[21]
In December 2008, Ricki Lee was apart of the Summer Breakfast Show on the Today Network alongside Mike Goldman and Brian McFadden[22].
In 2010 Ricki-Lee joined Scott Dooley and Merrick Watts on Nova 969 for the breakfast show.
Coulter has appeared on several television programs including Friday Night Games, Rove, Sunrise, Today and Bert's Family Feud Celebrity Challenge. Coulter was one of the celebrity performers on Celebrity Circus, and performed with Marcia Hines on An Audience With Marcia Hines, a special which aired on Foxtel in 2005.
Ricki-Lee was a mentor on the celebrity singing show It Takes Two on Channel 7.[23] Ricki-Lee mentored former tennis star Scott Draper. On Tuesday 4 March, Coulter and Draper were eliminated from It Takes Two. Both returned for the Grand Final episode on April 22nd, 2008.[24]
These are the songs performed by Ricki-Lee and Scott Draper performed on the show:[25]
Ricki-Lee returned to Australian Idol as a member of the hosting team for the sixth season in 2008, alongside the primary hosts James Mathison and Andrew G.[26] After Mathison vacated his hosting position before the seventh season in 2009, Andrew G was the sole primary host, whilst Ricki-Lee expanded her hosting role.
Coulter married childhood sweetheart, Jamie Babbington in September, 2007.[27] A copy of the wedding invitation was printed in Australian women's magazine Woman's Day. However, after little over a year of marriage, on October 17, 2008 it was announced that Coulter and Babbington had split. This split became the subject of a particularly spiteful song released by Coulter in August 2009, entitled Don't Miss You, which indicated that the split was significantly more acrimonious (from Ricki-Lee's perspective at least) than was originally indicated in press releases of the time.
It is rumoured that she has been dating Neighbours star Brett Tucker.[28]
In 2008, Ricki-Lee was named the ambassador for 'Jeans for Genes Day', a charity fundraising event that benefits research into childhood genetic diseases. Coulter had previously worked with the charity for three years and raised over $100,000.[29]
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