Brettina

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Brettina
Brettina, headband and Nanette Lepore.jpeg
Brettina modeling photo, July 2009, wearing a headband and a Nanette Lepore top
Background information
Birth name Brettina Lorena Robinson
Born December 8
Origin Nassau, the Bahamas
Genres Jazz, Smooth jazz
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, actress, print model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2010–present
Labels Floating Bridge Media (independent)
Website www.Brettina.com

Brettina (born December 8, 1976)[1] is a Bahamian jazz singer-songwriter, model, and SAG actress, who lives in metropolitan Los Angeles.

Early life

Brettina was born in Nassau, the Bahamas. She moved to Chicago with her family while she was a toddler when her mother, gospel-singer/actress Leona Coakley Spring, began acting on the popular stage plays "The Crucible," and "The Other Cinderella."[2] Brettina moved back to the Bahamas during her school years. Rising from humble beginnings, her mother instilled in her the value of hard work and a strong sense of cultural pride.

Brettina began singing at age four, under the influence of her mother, as well as Theo and Kirk Coakley of the popular 1970 Funk/Soul group T-Connection.

While attending C.I. Gibson School in the Bahamas she was awarded the title "Miss C.I. Gibson", which made her eligible for Miss Bahamas Talented Teen.[3] Brettina won the title "Miss Bahamas Talented Teen",[4] and earned a university scholarship. She attended the University of Washington.[3][4]

Musical style and career

Brettina cites as her main influences Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn,[4][5] Shirley Bassey,[6] Sade, Adele, and LIRA.[1] She sings jazz, and describes her style as "organic".[4][5]

She draws from personal experience in her songwriting. For example, she cites her poor childhood as the inspiration for her song "Poor Old Times",[3] her fondness for chai as the inspiration for "Chai",[7] and childhood memories as the inspiration for covering the Belafonte-Burgess song "Island in the Sun".[8]

In addition to her jazz career, she has worked as a print model and an actress in national advertisements. As a singer, she has performed mainly in the Seattle and Los Angeles areas.[1][4][9]

She has performed in public on several occasions, for example:

  • CD release party (publicity appearance, but not a performance) [10]
  • Supermodel of the Bahamas show, with Bahamian R&B singer Julien [11]
  • Kirkland Performance Center "New Face of Jazz" concert November, 2010 [9]
  • "Up Close & Unplugged" concert January 26, 2011 [1][12]
  • Her talent agency announced a "New Face of Jazz World Tour".[13]
  • Caribbean Heritage Organization featured artist June 2013
  • Scheduled to appear at 20/50 Music Is Life Festival 2014, in Nassau Bahamas, may 8[14]

Awards

  • Brettina won the title Miss C.I. Gibson, which made her eligible for Miss Talented Teen Bahamas.
  • Brettina won the Hal Jackson Miss Talented Teen Bahamas and was awarded a scholarship.[1]

Critical Acclaim

Brettina has been praised by a variety of critics, for example:

Philanthropy

Brettina supports several charitable causes, most visibly a donation in support of C.I. Gibson School, which she attended.[7] She also supports All Saints Camp, a shelter for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, with her mother.[3]

Discography

Studio albums: Brettina (2010), Taste (forthcoming)

Brettina CD cover; portrait taken in the Bahamas, January 7, 2010
  • Brettina (2010) [15]
    • "Paradise"
    • "Bahamian Girl"
    • "The Bug"
    • "Serafina"
    • "Poor Old Times"
    • "Chai"
    • "My Time to Shine"
    • "Pardon the Storm"
    • "Island in the Sun"
    • "One"
    • "Serafina" (bonus track with strings)
  • Taste (announced for release 2013)[1]

Music videos

  • "Bahamian Girl"[16]
  • "Bahamian Girl" (planned re-shoot)[17]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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