Rockell
Encyclopedia
Rachel Alexandra Mercaldo (born March 4, 1977 in Staten Island
, New York
), better known as Rockell, is an American Freestyle music
, Club/Dance
, Hi-NRG
and Pop
singer-songwriter
.
and remake of the Dan Hill
and Vonda Shepard
1987 hit song). All of these tracks appeared on her 1998 debut album entitled What Are You Lookin' At?
. She released a second album, Instant Pleasure, in 2000. Instant Pleasure included the single "What U Did 2 Me" which reached #101 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 2001. Her best charting success is in Canada, where she is still active performing shows at clubs. Her debut single "I Fell in Love" distributed by the then BMG
Canada reached #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart
while the follow-up "In a Dream" was at #6.
in early 1997. It hit the #1 spot on the Canadian Singles Chart
singles chart during that year, making it the most successful freestyle dance music single of the decade in Canada
. The single also peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart in the USA.
The follow-up to "I Fell In Love," peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100
in late 1997. It was #6 on the Hot 100 Canadian Singles Chart
and solidified Rockell's position on the artist roster of the then BMG Music Canada
. It also peaked at #13 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart.
"Can't We Try" with Collage
peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1998. The single peaked at #11 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart.
"When I'm Gone" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1999, but appeared on the Hot Dance Airplay
and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It also peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart.
Rockell's lead-off single to her second album Instant Pleasure, "What U Did 2 Me," was her best selling single and it garnered her a music video. It fared well on Hot Dance Airplay
and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
She also released "The Dance" (a cover of the Garth Brooks
hit) and "Tears," but neither of these singles charted on the Hot 100. Both singles performed well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay
charts. "The Dance" peaked at #27 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart and "Tears" peaked at #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart.
and Randy Taylor-Weber, the original writer/producer of "In a Dream". It became a modest Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart hit. It also received some dance radio airplay.
In spring 2007 Rockell recorded a new single, "Playing My Love." It was released to Dance/Rhythmic format radio in July 2007. A freestyle remix by Salsation 3 was released in November 2007. A nationwide tour with several dance artists including Joe Zangie was announced as well.
In November 2007, Rockell released a new dance single with Canada's Odeon Records, "You Keep Me Hanging On," a remake of the Supremes
' original.
In 2009, Rockell released a dance cover of Donna Summer's "On The Radio" with several remixes.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
), better known as Rockell, is an American Freestyle music
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
, Club/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...
, Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...
and Pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
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...
.
Music career
In the late 1990s, she had major dance hits with the songs "In a Dream," "When I'm Gone," and "Can't We Try" (a duet with CollageCollage (singer)
Collage is an American freestyle group, featuring vocalist Anthony Monteleone and producer/songwriter Adam Marano, who also ran the Viper Records label for which Collage recorded...
and remake of the Dan Hill
Dan Hill
Daniel Grafton "Dan" Hill IV is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major hits with his songs, "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Shepard.-Early life and career:...
and Vonda Shepard
Vonda Shepard
Vonda Shepard is an American pop/rock singer. She appeared as a regular in the television show Ally McBeal from seasons 1-5 in which she played a resident performer at the bar where the show's characters drank after work. She plays piano, guitar, and bass.-Biography:Vonda Shepard was born in New...
1987 hit song). All of these tracks appeared on her 1998 debut album entitled What Are You Lookin' At?
What Are You Lookin' At?
What Are You Lookin' At? was Rockell's debut album, released on Robbins Entertainment on April 28, 1998. It includes the hit singles, "I Fell in Love", "In a Dream", "Can't We Try" , and "When I'm Gone."-Track listing:...
. She released a second album, Instant Pleasure, in 2000. Instant Pleasure included the single "What U Did 2 Me" which reached #101 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in 2001. Her best charting success is in Canada, where she is still active performing shows at clubs. Her debut single "I Fell in Love" distributed by the then BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
Canada reached #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
while the follow-up "In a Dream" was at #6.
Chart success
In 1996, "I Fell In Love" peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in early 1997. It hit the #1 spot on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
singles chart during that year, making it the most successful freestyle dance music single of the decade in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The single also peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart in the USA.
The follow-up to "I Fell In Love," peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in late 1997. It was #6 on the Hot 100 Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
and solidified Rockell's position on the artist roster of the then BMG Music Canada
BMG Music Canada
BMG Music Canada was the Canadian division of BMG, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Previously working for Henri Dès albums, it acquired the Lanoraie, Quebec-based Interdisc Distribution Inc...
. It also peaked at #13 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart.
"Can't We Try" with Collage
Collage (singer)
Collage is an American freestyle group, featuring vocalist Anthony Monteleone and producer/songwriter Adam Marano, who also ran the Viper Records label for which Collage recorded...
peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1998. The single peaked at #11 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart.
"When I'm Gone" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1999, but appeared on the Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It also peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart.
Rockell's lead-off single to her second album Instant Pleasure, "What U Did 2 Me," was her best selling single and it garnered her a music video. It fared well on Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
She also released "The Dance" (a cover of the Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
hit) and "Tears," but neither of these singles charted on the Hot 100. Both singles performed well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
charts. "The Dance" peaked at #27 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart and "Tears" peaked at #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart.
Recent times
In 2005, she came back with "L.O.V.E.", produced by DJ Mickey Bono. A limited independent release that had a trance remix by Lenny "Linus" Douglas and freestyle remixes by Russ CastellaRuss Castella
Russ Castella is an American record producer. He has found success in many genres of music, particularly dance, pop, and R&B...
and Randy Taylor-Weber, the original writer/producer of "In a Dream". It became a modest Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart hit. It also received some dance radio airplay.
In spring 2007 Rockell recorded a new single, "Playing My Love." It was released to Dance/Rhythmic format radio in July 2007. A freestyle remix by Salsation 3 was released in November 2007. A nationwide tour with several dance artists including Joe Zangie was announced as well.
In November 2007, Rockell released a new dance single with Canada's Odeon Records, "You Keep Me Hanging On," a remake of the Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
' original.
In 2009, Rockell released a dance cover of Donna Summer's "On The Radio" with several remixes.
Cover Songs
- In a Dream - Originally sung by Emotion In Motion in 1989, and then by Jossette in 1996
- Dreamboy/Dreamgirl - Originally sung by FreestyleFreestyle musicFreestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
Legends Cynthia and Johnny OJohnny OJohnny O is a freestyle music singer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. He also, arguably with Stevie B, is known as The King of Freestyle. He has released eight albums, most of which were underground hits...
in 1989 - Can't We Try - Originally sung by Dan HillDan HillDaniel Grafton "Dan" Hill IV is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major hits with his songs, "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Shepard.-Early life and career:...
and Vonda ShepardVonda ShepardVonda Shepard is an American pop/rock singer. She appeared as a regular in the television show Ally McBeal from seasons 1-5 in which she played a resident performer at the bar where the show's characters drank after work. She plays piano, guitar, and bass.-Biography:Vonda Shepard was born in New...
in 1987 - Keep Me Hanging On - Originally sung by Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
and The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco... - When I'm Gone - Originally sung by Albert HammondAlbert HammondAlbert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
- Show Me the Way - Originally sung by Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
- We Just Disagree - Originally sung by Dave MasonDave MasonDavid Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
Studio albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1998 | What Are You Lookin' At? What Are You Lookin' At? What Are You Lookin' At? was Rockell's debut album, released on Robbins Entertainment on April 28, 1998. It includes the hit singles, "I Fell in Love", "In a Dream", "Can't We Try" , and "When I'm Gone."-Track listing:...
|
| 2000 | Instant Pleasure
|