Amber Fleury: One to watch!
Introduction:
Amber Fleury is a seasoned vocalist and performer who began her
singing career at the tender age of 5 years. Since that time, she has
accomplished a great deal in the music industry including recording,
appearing on national television shows, performing all across Canada at
various functions including corporate events, weddings and summer
festivals.
Most recently in 2005, Amber was a Top 10 Finalist on Canadian
Idol. Since then, she has recorded an album with fellow Idol
finalists, Casey LeBlanc and Ashley Leitao as "Braided". Their album
"Casey, Ashley and Amber" was released in 2006, all songs co-written
and produced by Canadian Idol's own Mark Lalama. Since the album was
released, the girls have gone their separate ways, however Amber
continues to pursue her solo career in Calgary, Alberta, the place she
now calls home.
She is currently in the process of putting her own band together
and aspires to start gigging in and around Alberta in January of 2010.
She is also writing new material with songwriter/musician Daniel James Bertrand, originally from Montreal.
Quotes from various music industry professionals throughout the course of her career:
"A 16 year old with great vocal maturity. She sounds accomplished and confident way beyond her years" - The Record
"A refreshing, new, gutsy, no nonsense creative performer paving
her future with a vocal personality that will last for many years" - Walt Grealis (RPM)
"Amber Dawn Fleury steps into country music big leagues" - L. Delaney (Canadian Country Music Magazine)
"What a fabulous find! Gutsy, smoky vocals ripe with emotion!" - Country Wave
"She tugs at your heartstrings and stirs your emotions... When
Amber Dawn Fleury belts out a song, it's easy to forget she's only 15." Jim Morris - Winnipeg Free Press
"Fleury's heart-wrenching rendition of the song for unrequited
love, "I Can't Make You Love Me," made all four judges fall in love
with the 26-year-old's emotional performance, for which they granted a
rare standing ovation." Web journalist - Canadian Idol
"The fact is, we could do this show for another 100 years…You
sing better than anybody that's ever come anywhere near this show by
any stretch of my imagination". "It's total heartbreak listening to
you sing… I mean, it's unbelievable!" Zack Werner - Canadian Idol judge
"My whole body was vibrating during that performance… Amber,
we've been saying it all along. You're the best singer in the
competition… You may be, without a doubt, the best singer that we've
ever had on this show". Jake Gold - Canadian Idol judge
A Review of “Braided,” Made Up of Former ‘Canadian Idol’ Contestants
by Ed Hampton -- 09/12/2006
Review of Amber Fleury's solos on the album:
"Long Way Home" (written by Mark and Paul Lalama and Kim Kay)
When listening to this wistful ballad, it reminds me why I
thought Amber would win the whole thing early last season. Her voice is
mature, unmistakable, and easily identifiable. Her rich tone and
controlled vibrato are on display and one wonders why she didn’t get
discovered before Idol. I would love to hear a whole CD with Amber and
think I will some day. Another beautiful cut.
"Secret Heart" (written by Mark Lalama)
The last song on the CD has Amber closing the show with another
great piece by Mr. Piano himself, Mark Lalama. This is also Amber’s
finest. This ballad shows off every aspect of Amber’s voice and the
song itself has a melody with unexpected but beautiful turns. But
Amber’s vocal richness and tone are the real highlights. Again, I say
it’s a wonder she even got to Idol before being signed.
She's an achiever:
At 5, she entered her first radio talent competition;
At 10, she was invited to appear on the nationally televised "The Tommy Hunter Show";
At 14, she entered and won the CFCW Canadian Country Star Search in Edmonton, Alberta
At 15, she had her first album, single and video released, "Lila's Child";
At 17, she had released a new single and video from a brand new album, "Ain't No Cure For Love";
At 18, she had co-written and demoed songs to be shopped to major record labels;
At 20, she won a songwriters' bursary for a song she co-wrote
with Sony BMG recording artist and fellow Roblinite, Tara Lyn Hart;
At 21, she appeared in a musical entitled "The Bridge" at
Winnipeg's Walker Theatre (written and produced by Winnipeg's Danny
Schur);
At 22, she and her sister Erin began fronting their own band "Amberin";
At 26, she auditioned and later became a Top 10 Finalist on Canada's premiere reality music show, Canadian Idol;
At 27, she recorded an album with fellow Canadian Idol finalists,
Casey LeBlanc and Ashley Leitao (better known collectively as
"Braided") produced by Idol's own pianist Mark Lalama;
Now 30 years of age, Amber is working on taking her music to another level fronting her own band in Calgary, Alberta.
Television Performances:
The Tommy Hunter Show – age 10
"Entertainment Saskatchewan" with Ronnie Prophet and Glory Anne Carriere – age 11
"Big Sky Country" with Ray St. Germain – age 12
Shamrock Showcase
The Country Beat
Outlaws and Heroes
Lions Telethon
Children's Miracle Telethon
Variety Club Telethon
Teddy Awards
Top 8 Finalist on "Canadian Idol" – Season 3
Canada AM - "Braided" - 2007
Country Festivals:
Dauphin's Countryfest' (Main Stage)
Big Valley Jamboree (Main Stage) - Craven, Saskatchewan – age 12
Call of the Elk Jamboree (Main Stage) – Swan River, Manitoba
Lee Park Professional Rodeo - Frobisher, Saskatchewan (opened for "Farmer's Daughter")
Awards/Competitions:
1990 - Champion - Orange Crush Talent Search for Kids (13 and under category)
1990 - Champion - Manitoba Showcase of Talent - Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
1991 - Runner Up - GX94 Star Search - Yorkton, Saskatchewan
1993 - Champion - CFCW Canadian Country Star Search – Edmonton,
Alberta (prize included a $50,000 recording contract with Royalty
Records and the production of a music video)
1996 - Runner Up in the YTV Youth Achievement Awards
Nominated for "Female Vocalist of the Year" - MCMA Awards
Special Appearances:
North American Indigenous Games - Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Appeared in a video documentary called "Parle Moi" ("Talk to Me")
(Royal Commission on Aboriginal People) aimed to inspire and educate
troubled teens across Canada– provided one of two English vocals to a
song sung in 4 different languages (English – Amber Fleury/Murray Head;
French – Katee; Inuktitut – Charlie Panigoniak; Cree – Lawrence Martin)
World Curling Championships - Brandon, Manitoba
Canada Winter Games - Grande Prairie, Alberta
National Anthems - Winnipeg Jets v. San Jose Sharks
Opening Act for Donna and LeRoy Anderson of "The Tommy Hunter Show"
Louis Riel Commemoration - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Opened for Canada's "The Wilkinsons" - Thompson, Manitoba
Band Experience:
"Amberin" with sister Erin Fleury
"Running on Empty" with sister Erin Fleury
Recordings and Music Videos:
"Say it Again" – 5 song mini-album – age 12
"Lila's Child" (Royalty Records – Edmonton, Alberta) - age 13
Radio releases – "Just Getting Used to Your Love" ; "Lila's
Child" – peaked at #18 on the Top 60 Canadian Country Music
Charts/music video played in medium rotation on CMT; "Just a Matter of
Time"
"Ain't No Cure For Love" (Royalty Records – Edmonton, Alberta) – age 16
"I'll Wait For You" music video
"High Notes" - (Sony BMG Canada) Canadian Idol compilation CD 2005 - Cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me"
"Casey, Ashley and Amber" – Braided – age 27 (produced by Mark Lalama)