Elise Testone

Early life Elise Testone was born on July 29, 1983, to LuAnne and Victor Testone, both of Italian ancestry. She grew up in Kinnelon, New Jersey, and got her first job making sandwiches at Taste of Reality, a local deli. At the age of 13, Testone took lessons with New York City vocal coach Judy Hages. After graduating from Kinnelon High School in 2001, Testone attended Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, earning a bachelor's degree in music in 2005. In a November 2008 interview, Testone said she worked at PawPurri for Pets in the mornings. Testone performs solo and with several Charleston groups, including The Freeloaders, James Brown Dance Party, and Slanguage. In October 2011, Testone and her band, The Freeloaders, won the Funk/Soul/R&B Artist of the Year award in the Charleston City Paper’s Music issue. Testone received additional recognition from the Charleston City Paper in 2011, winning the staff pick for Best Tribute for Elise Testone's James Brown Dance Party. Her favorite artists are Bonnie Raitt, Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix. Other musical influences include B.B. King, Tori Amos, Erykah Badu, Jewel and Lauryn Hill. Testone and fellow contestant Jessica Sanchez received an endorsement from The X Factor season 1 finalist Chris Rene.

The following week, in the top eleven round, Testone performed "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and received praise from the judges, with Randy Jackson proclaiming, "America, Elise is back!" Nonetheless, Testone was in the bottom three again. This was not well received by the judges, as Jennifer Lopez explained, "I’m not happy. It's not fair. Great performances should be rewarded. She was one of the best last night." After spending two weeks in the bottom three, Testone was declared "safe" when the voting results were announced. Testone received a second consecutive standing ovation for her performance of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" in the top nine round, which critics considered to be her signature moment of the season. After seeing Testone rehearse before the performance, celebrity mentor Stevie Nicks enthusiastically stated, "If I needed a singer, I'd hire her in a second."

In the top six round, Testone performed Queen's "I Want It All" and The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Bold as Love". Soul Brothers Six N/A Advanced Hollywood Round, Part 3 Second Solo

N/A |Advanced Las Vegas Round Songs from the 1950sGroup Performance "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" Bobby Vee N/A Advanced Final Judgment Final Solo "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" James Brown N/A Advanced Top 25 (12 Women) Personal Choice "One and Only" Adele 12 Advanced Top 13 Whitney Houston "I'm Your Baby Tonight" Whitney Houston 2 Saved Top 11 Year They Were Born "Let's Stay Together" Al Green 4 Bottom 3 Top 10 Billy Joel "Vienna" Billy Joel 5 Safe

Trio "Landslide" / "Edge of Seventeen" / "Don't Stop" with Colton Dixon & Phillip Phillips Fleetwood Mac / Stevie Nicks 3

Solo "Whole Lotta Love" Led Zeppelin 12

Solo "I Want to Know What Love Is" Foreigner 2

Duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"with Phillip Phillips Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty 8

Duet "Somebody That I Used to Know"with Phillip Phillips Gotye feat. Kimbra 3

Solo "You and I" Lady Gaga 10

"No One" Alicia Keys 3

"Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye 10

Queen "I Want It All" Queen 4

Contestant's Choice "Bold as Love" The Jimi Hendrix Experience 10

When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Testone was the female contestant with the lowest number of votes. Between Testone and Jeremy Rosado, the male contestant with the lowest number of votes, the judges decided to eliminate Rosado and save Testone. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Testone was among the Bottom 3, but was declared safe first. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Testone was among the Bottom 3 but declared safe second, as DeAndre Brackensick was eliminated. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Testone was among the Bottom 3 but declared safe second, as Jessica Sanchez received the lowest number of votes and was saved by the judges. Owing to the judges using their one save on Jessica Sanchez, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.

Post-Idol appearances Her journey through American Idol made her realize that rock genre is her forte. While on American Idols LIVE! Tour 2012, Testone intends to write songs for her album that would include elements of rock, blues, jazz, soul, and funk. Following her elimination, Testone appeared on various talk shows, including Good Day L.A., The Today Show, Anderson, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Testone and fellow contestant Colton Dixon performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 27, 2012. Testone also performed on Live! with Kelly on April 30, 2012, with a rendition of Adele's "One and Only".

At the start of 2013, the singer gathered a number of local Charleston musicians to begin recording her debut album. Self-produced and focussing on her own songs, Testone used a varied of genres to express her personal experiences. Testone released her debut album, In This Life on February 11, 2014. In January 2015 she moved to New York, where she works as a vocal coach. In the same year she released the single "Now" while she continues to tour.

Discography

Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales US CAN In This Life Released: February 16, 2014 Label: Red Tambo Records Format: CD, digital download — — — This Is Love Released: April 17, 2019 Label: Red Tambo Records Format: CD, digital download — — —

Singles

As lead artist Year Single Peak chart positions Album US 2014 "I Will Not Break" — In This Life 2015 "Help Me" — "Time" — "Now" —

As featured artist Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album US 2011 "In a Sense" Man on Fire — Chrysalis "A (Post Apocalyptic) Bedtime Story" — 2012 "All for You" Emotive — "Gravity, Pt. 2" Man on Fire — 2015 "Over the Rainbow" Kevin West —

Videography

Music videos Year Video Director 2014 "I Will Not Break" David Keller 2015 "Now" Charlotte Savage