Taylor Dayne Pop singer, dancer and actress Date of Birth: 07.03.1962 Country: USA

1. Taylor Dayne: Early Life and Career
2. "Tell It to My Heart" and International Success
3. Platinum Success and Return to Music
4. Acting Career and Other Endeavors
5. Sales and Accolades
6. Recent Projects and Legacy

Taylor Dayne: Early Life and Career

Born Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962, in Baldwin, New York, Taylor Dayne is an American pop vocalist, dancer, and actress. She rose to prominence in the late 1980s and continued to dominate the pop charts throughout the 1990s. The singer's first seven singles became Top Ten hits in the United States, with Dayne topping the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart three times. Overall, Dayne has achieved 17 Top Ten hits on the Billboard charts, including a number-one dance hit with "Beautiful" in May 2008.

After graduating high school, Dayne pursued a career in music, performing with rock bands such as Felony and Next. However, neither band achieved significant success. Embarking on a solo career after graduating from college, Taylor released her debut dance single, "I'm the One You Want," in 1985. She soon signed with Arista Records, and her song "Tell It to My Heart" became a breakthrough Top Ten dance-pop hit in 1988.

"Tell It to My Heart" and International Success

"Tell It to My Heart" became a global smash, reaching the Top 5 in several major markets and topping the charts in countries such as Germany. The song had a significant impact on the freestyle genre and was labeled Hi-NRG (high-energy) in Europe, a fast-paced, techno-influenced variant of disco music. It was followed by a string of hits for Taylor, including "Prove Your Love," "I'll Always Love You," "Don't Rush Me," "With Every Beat of My Heart," "Love Will Lead You Back," "I'll Be Your Shelter," "Heart of Stone," "Send Me a Lover," "Naked Without You," and "Whatever You Want." In the United States, Taylor achieved three gold singles with "Tell It to My Heart," "I'll Always Love You," and "Love Will Lead You Back."

"I'll Always Love You" marked a departure from Dayne's earlier work, featuring a more ballad-like approach. The hit crossed over to the adult contemporary chart in 1988, paving the way for future uptempo dance tracks such as "Don't Rush Me" and "With Every Beat of My Heart." Both songs were embraced by AC radio a decade after Taylor's previous hits had failed to gain airplay on the format.

Platinum Success and Return to Music

In 1990, Taylor's song "Love Will Lead You Back," written by Diane Warren, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Adult Contemporary chart. The song captured the complexities of navigating a relationship breakup and expressed hope that the connection would endure and love would find a way. Dayne was featured in a VH1 documentary series called "Remaking," which chronicled her return to music after taking a break to start a family, having given birth to twins Levi and Astaria. "Remaking" also premiered Taylor's latest single, "Right Now," a collaboration with songwriter and producer Rodney Jerkins.

Acting Career and Other Endeavors

In addition to her music career, Taylor Dayne has appeared on Broadway, starring alongside Elton John in the musical drama "Aida" in 2001. She also landed roles in the independent film "Adventures in Paradise" (1997) as Samantha, the action thriller "Killing Point" (1997) as Serena, and the comedy "Jesus the Driver" (2004) as herself. Dayne appeared in Warren Beatty's remake of the romantic comedy "Love Affair" (1994) and had a recurring role on the television series "Rude Awakening." She was cast as Dan Connor's mistress in a sitcom, but the show was canceled before her episodes aired.

Dayne has also starred in television series such as "Nightman" and its spin-off film (as Carla Day), "China Beach" (as Elena Finn), and "Rescue Me" (as Shirley). She has taken on roles in films such as "Joshua Tree" and "Beautiful Loser," and in 2009, she appeared in the thriller "I Am Bad" as Beth, a sexy entrepreneur chef.

Sales and Accolades

While exact figures vary, Taylor Dayne has sold an estimated 10-25 million albums and millions of singles worldwide. She released her fifth album in February 2008 to critical acclaim. "Satisfied" became Taylor's first new studio album after an eight-year hiatus. Dayne had previously released albums such as "Tell It to My Heart," "Can't Fight Fate," "Soul Dancing," and "Naked Without You." The new album, produced by Ricky Knowles and Greg Alexander, featured new material and several modern versions of her favorite songs.

Recent Projects and Legacy

On December 11, Taylor released the lead single from "Satisfied," titled "Beautiful." The song was written by Taylor Dayne and Hitesh Zion. The single was promoted with performances on radio stations, including New York's WKTU, and on television shows such as NBC's "Today," E!'s "Chelsea Lately," and VH1. A music video was also released for the track, which featured covers of songs by Tony Duran, Justin Timberlake, and Jennifer Lopez.

Currently, the singer is in the studio remastering her hits for a new album that will feature two new tracks, slated for release later in 2008. Taylor Dayne remains a beloved pop favorite both in the United States and abroad.