Bleu trained in dancing,[11][12] eventually becoming one of the first students at the prestigious Debbie Allen Dance Academy. He then attended as a theater major, this time following in the footsteps of his mother, who attended New York City's famed High School of Performing Arts.[13] Like his father, he appeared in television commercials, starting at the age two, for products such as Life cereal, Bounty, Hasbro, and Nabisco.[14][15] It was at that time he also discovered his love for dance when he began taking jazz and ballet classes, usually being the only boy in the class. By the age of four he was a model with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York.[16] He appeared in print ads for stores such as Macy's,[17]Gap (clothing retailer), Target (magazine), and Toys R Us, and fashion spreads in Child, Parent, and American Baby magazines, as well as having his image on toys and game packaging.[18] At age six Corbin appeared in his first professional theater production off Broadway, The Town Hall, Broadway's landmark concert venue. This three-concert series, created, written an hosted by Scott Siegel, took place over one weekend and included A Tribute to David Merrick. Corbin Bleu played an abandoned homeless mute in the play "Tiny Tim is Dead".
The first song he ever recorded professionally was titled "Circles" or "Circles In My Mind' for his then TV show Flight 29 Down. When executives from several record companies heard the song, they became eager to sign him to a contract. Bleu signed a deal with Hollywood Records, a Disney owned label. His debut album,[1][32]Another Side, was released in May 2007. The album debuted at #36 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts, selling
On "Another Side", he wrote/co-wrote five of the album's twelve songs.[38] He also wrote two more songs that appear as bonus tracks on the European version. One of those tracks was titled "Shake It Off", an ode to the musician Prince.
2008–09: Speed of Light
In a recent interview[39] with Billboard, Bleu stated that he has begun working on his follow-up album. Bleu told Billboard, "There will be a lot of differences with the second album. First of all, it's just more personal. I'm involved in every aspect of the writing. As far as the direction of the music, it's very different.[40] I wanted this album to have something that was a little bit of rock, a little bit of R&B and a little bit of pop." Producer Eric Hudson is attached to the majority of the project, along with songwriter/lyricist Claude Kelly. Bleu performed unreleased tracks like "Close", "Whatever It Takes", and "Champion" on a summer concert tour with singer/actor Justin Stein. The tracks are set to be in the album.[1][41]Speed of Light was due out on March 10, 2009 via Hollywood Records. The album failed to debut on[42]Billboard Top 200 album charts. According to sources, the album sold less than 4,000 in its first week, despite promotion from[43]MySpace.com. The album spawned singles "Celebrate You" and "Moments That Matter," which was released with a music video.[44]
Personal life
Bleu with fans in December 6, 2006
In the summer of 2003, he performed in a student-written stage play, Baby Blues. Along with this stage performance, The Thrill of Art and Victorian's Closet was performed, written by Jamie Isaac Conde and Lucas Barron.
He appeared in an episode of the Broadway cast of Spring Awakening's YouTube series. The episode was titled "Notesey", and Writer and performer of "Moments That Matter", Free Style 2008 Soundtrack, and Minutemen Soundtrack, Various Artists Song: "Run it back again",[45] and "Word Of Promise: The Next Geneoration" Audio Bible Voice of Peter.
He wears a lot of the clothing by designers Don Ed Hardy and Dolce & Gabbana. He also wears clothes from the label Penguin and loves sneakers by Nike.
The first song he ever recorded professionally was titled "Circles" or "Circles In My Mind" for his then TV show "Flight 29 Down"[46]. When executives from several record companies heard the song, they became eager to sign him to a contract. He later signed with Hollywood Records and has since released two albums, Another Side in (2007)[47] and Speed of Light in (2009).[48]
He is a frequent volunteer worker, volunteering for charities such as "Starlight Children's Foundation",[49] "The Make-A-Wish foundation" and "St Jude's children's research hospital", and Served Thanksgiving's dinner and Christmas Eve lunch at the Los Angeles homeless shelter in 2008 with Debby Ryan.[50]
He appeared in the music video for the song "Don't Be Shy", the debut single from the band Small Change, Commercial for Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades, Album: Speed Of Light, Hollywood Records. Released March 10th, 2009,[51] and in 2008 Modelled for OP Ocean Pacific clothing line, Was signed as a child Model with The Ford Modeling Agency at the age of four, Is a dedicated fan of the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball team.
^http://blog.timesunion.com/reviews/251/251/ THE NEXTFEST Featuring Aly & AJ, Drake Bell, Corbin Bleu and Bianca Ryan, SPAC, ... Saratoga Performing Arts Center said that Radio Disney divas Aly and AJ were headlining the Nextfest tour, which featured Nickelodeon network star Drake Bell ... plenty chatty with fans, prompting them to clap, cheer and sing along
^http://www.bmyspace.com/corbinbleu MySpace Music profile for Corbin Bleu. Download Corbin Bleu Pop / R&B / music singles, watch music videos, listen to free streaming mp3s, & read Corbin Bleu
^www.disneydreaming.com/2009/08/10/corbin-bleu-attends-the-2009-teen-choice-awards/ Corbin Bleu showed up looking very spiffy to last nights pre-recorded Teen Choice Awards show. Corbin was nominated for the award Choice
Dee Scott. Corbin Bleu: Up Close. 1230 Avenue of the Americans, New York, NY 10020: Pocket Books, (2006. ISBN 978-1-4165-4114-1) .
West Betsy. Corbin Bleu To The Limit. Penguin young readers group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.: Penguin Group, (2007. ISBN 978-0-8431-2685-3) .
Mary Boone. Corbin Bleu. Mitchell Lane Publishers, P.O. Box 196 Hockessin, Delaware 19707.: Mitchell Lane, (2007/2008. ISBN 978-1-58415-674-1) .
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corbin Bleu.
