Octahvia
Encyclopedia
Octahvia, is a female singer from New York City
. While she would later have several hits as a featured vocalist for other artists, she is perhaps best known under her own name for the 1986 R&B/dance
hit, "2 the Limit."
when she received significant recognition for her performance as Doris Winter in the off-Broadway musical, Mama, I Want to Sing!
(for which a film version
is scheduled for release in 2010
). During this time, she was discovered by budding hip hop
singer-songwriter
/producer
Kenny Beck, who had recently written the song "2 the Limit" (which was originally titled "It's Over Now"). Beck invited Lambertis to record this song, and after being courted by several record labels, she ultimately signed with Pow Wow Records. Her version of "2 the Limit," released simply under the name Octavia became a minor hit on the R&B chart in 1986.
The following year, she released another Beck-penned single on the Pow Wow label titled "Cutey," but it failed to make an impression on the charts.
Hot Dance Club Play
chart: as part of the S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
alongside Michelle Visage
and Cindy Mizelle when they recorded "It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day" in 1993 and as the featured vocalist on José Nunez
's 1998 hit "In My Life" (and the number nine follow up "Hold On" in 1999).
She also provided vocals to "Big Love," a number-one U.S. dance hit for Pete Heller
, in 1999.
While she has continued to record and release singles under her own name throughout her career, as of 2010, she has yet to release a full-length solo album.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While she would later have several hits as a featured vocalist for other artists, she is perhaps best known under her own name for the 1986 R&B/dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
hit, "2 the Limit."
Early career
Born Octavia Lambertis, Octavia first rose to prominence in the mid-1980s1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
when she received significant recognition for her performance as Doris Winter in the off-Broadway musical, Mama, I Want to Sing!
Mama, I Want to Sing! (musical)
Mama I Want To Sing! is a 1983 black musical based on the life and times of singer Doris Troy.-Production:As a tribute to many of the African-American stars' rise to fame in the 1960 and 1970s, Vy Higginsen based her musical on the life of her sister Doris Troy...
(for which a film version
Mama, I Want to Sing!
Mama, I Want to Sing! is an upcoming American musical film written and directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, produced by Vision Films and CodeBlack Entertainment, and distributed by 20th Century Fox's Fox Faith division...
is scheduled for release in 2010
2010 in film
The year 2010 saw many new films released worldwide. 2010 saw a dramatic increase and prominence in the use of 3D-technology in filmmaking and film releases after the success of Avatar in the format, with releases such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Jackass 3D, all animated films and...
). During this time, she was discovered by budding hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
/producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Kenny Beck, who had recently written the song "2 the Limit" (which was originally titled "It's Over Now"). Beck invited Lambertis to record this song, and after being courted by several record labels, she ultimately signed with Pow Wow Records. Her version of "2 the Limit," released simply under the name Octavia became a minor hit on the R&B chart in 1986.
The following year, she released another Beck-penned single on the Pow Wow label titled "Cutey," but it failed to make an impression on the charts.
Subsequent career
She would go on to score a pair of number-ones on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart: as part of the S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.
The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. was an American 1990s R&B and dance music group, assembled by Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C&C Music Factory. The group featured lead vocals by Michelle Visage, who was formerly a member of another Clivilles & Cole group, Seduction...
alongside Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage
Michelle Visage is a singer and TV/radio host.-Career:Michelle was discovered in 1989 when she was asked to join Seduction, an R&B and dance vocal trio assembled by Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C&C Music Factory fame...
and Cindy Mizelle when they recorded "It's Gonna Be A Lovely Day" in 1993 and as the featured vocalist on José Nunez
José Nunez
José Nunez is an American electronica and house music producer. In 1998, he appeared in the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart twice, first hitting #1 with "In My Life." It peaked at #56 in the UK Singles Chart in September that year. The follow-up "Hold On" peaked at #9 US Dance later...
's 1998 hit "In My Life" (and the number nine follow up "Hold On" in 1999).
She also provided vocals to "Big Love," a number-one U.S. dance hit for Pete Heller
Pete Heller
Pete Heller is an English electronic and house music producer. He is recognised in the dance community for his solo work, and his remixes with frequent collaborator Terry Farley. As a duo they have released popular tunes under the names Heller & Farley Project , Fire Island plus The Look and Feel...
, in 1999.
While she has continued to record and release singles under her own name throughout her career, as of 2010, she has yet to release a full-length solo album.
Personal life
Octavia also has two daughters by the name of Alexa (the eldest) and the youngest, Alana.See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart