Born & Raised:
Born circa 1973 in New York. Raised in New York City's Greenwich Village area.
Early Life:
Amel's mother, Brenda Dixon Gottschild, was a dance critic and professor. Larrieux was raised in a very artistic environment and was surrounded by talented and inspirational artists. Many of her influences are drawn from R&B, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and gospel with flashes of Middle Eastern, West African, and Indian ethnic styles. In 1991, through a mutual friend, Larrieux met producer-songwriter Bryce Wilson (best known for the 1980s hip-hop act Mantronix) and they formed the duo Groove Theory.
The Groove Theory Years:
When they first met, both Larrieux and Wilson were dissatisfied with their musical careers: Larrieux was being overlooked because her voice didn't have the sheer overpowering capabilities of a Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, and Wilson was looking for a chance to expand his production work. As Groove Theory, they were best known for the 1995 hits "Tell Me", "Keep Tryin'" and "Baby Luv", off their self-titled debut album. Larrieux left the group for a solo career in 1999.
Solo Career:
In 2000, Amel released her debut solo LP, Infinite Possibilities, which she co-wrote and co-produced with her husband, Laru Larrieux. In 2000, she released her second solo LP, Bravebird. Then in 2002, Amel teamed with Canadian crooner Glenn Lewis to record "What's Come Over Me?" for the Barbershop movie soundtrack. They reunited a year later for a version of "Where Is the Love," which appeared on Stanley Clarke's 1, 2, to the Bass album - a performance that earned them a Grammy nomination.
Currently:
In April 2006, Amel's third album, Morning was released on her own independent Bliss Life label, featuring the single "Weary." Larrieux currently resides in New York City with her husband, Laru, and daughters Sanji and Sky.
The Last Word:
"It’s always been just about making a song that sticks in someone’s head and touches someone’s heart. That’s my goal." -- Amel Larrieux, 2006.
