Amanda Lynn Harvey (born January 2, 1988) is an American jazz and pop singer and songwriter. Profoundly deaf following an illness at the age of eighteen, she was a contestant on the 12th season of America's Got Talent, where she performed original songs during the competition.
Early life and education Harvey was born in Cincinnati, before moving to St. Cloud, Florida. She had hearing problems, and underwent several surgeries as a child to try to correct them."Mandy Harvey", JazzTimes, 2009, accessed September 15, 2017 Her family moved to Colorado when she was a young child. She sang throughout her childhood, and her talent was recognized at Longmont High School, where she graduated in 2006."Winners of the VSA International Young Soloists Competition: 2011 Award Recipients" , www.kennedy-center.org, accessed September 15, 2017 Harvey gradually lost her hearing, as a result of the connective tissue disease Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She lost her hearing completely when she was eighteen, while she was majoring in vocal music education at Colorado State University. As a result, she left the university.
Music career After fully losing her hearing in 2007, Harvey became depressed and quit music. However, with the aid of visual tuners, she learned how to find the correct pitches when singing.Moniuszko, Sara M. "Watch this deaf singer win Simon Cowell's heart on America's Got Talent", USA Today, June 7, 2017 In 2008, she met jazz pianist Mark Sloniker, at Jay's Bistro in Fort Collins, Colorado (where she began performing regularly). She later performed at Dazzle Jazz Lounge in Denver,"Mandy Harvey" , NoBarriersUSA.com, accessed September 15, 2017 and recorded three studio jazz albums.Shea, Christopher D. "Mandy Harvey, Deaf Singer, Finds an Audience. And Leaves It Weeping." The New York Times, June 8, 2017, accessed September 15, 2017 JazzTimes wrote of her 2009 debut album, Smile, claiming: "The vocals are rich and captivating". Her second album, After You've Gone, was released in 2010. In 2011, Mandy won VSA's International Young Soloist Award. She later returned to perform at the Kennedy Center. Her third album, All of Me, followed in 2014. Her fourth album, Nice to Meet You, was released in 2019. Her fifth album, Paper Cuts, arrived in 2022.
America's Got Talent In 2017, Harvey appeared on America's Got Talent during season 12, where she took fourth place. She was given the Golden Buzzer by Simon Cowell,Boedeker, Hal. "America's Got Talent: Mandy Harvey makes finals", Orlando Sentinel, September 13, 2017 after performing an original song with her ukulele, during the competition.Armstrong, Megan. "Angelica Hale, Kechi and Mandy Harvey Shine in America's Got Talent Semifinal", Billboard, September 13, 2017Calvario, Liz. "America's Got Talent: Deaf Singer Mandy Harvey Gets Compared to Adele in Flawless, Emotional Performance", ETOnline.com, September 12, 2017
During the same year, Harvey published a memoir with co-author Mark Atteberry, titled Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World Without Sound.Harvey, Mandy and Mark Atteberry. Sensing the Rhythm: Finding My Voice in a World Without Sound, Howard Books (2017). In a November 2017 interview for the BBC, Harvey described how she was accused of promoting oralism when she first took to the stage, and had received death threats from within the deaf community for promoting a "hearing" activity.
In July 2022, Cowell ranked his favorite Top 15 Golden Buzzer moments in AGT history during season 17, in which Harvey placed 5th.
Personal life Harvey is an ambassador for the nonprofit organization No Barriers, which helps disabled people overcome obstacles.
In May 2022, Harvey announced her pregnancy, something she and her husband initially kept a secret (due to uncertainties surrounding her EDS). In June 2022, Harvey and her husband became parents of a boy named Louis.
Discography Smile (2009) After You've Gone (2010) All of Me (2014) Nice to Meet You (2019) Paper Cuts (2022)
References
External links Mandy Harvey's Website NBC video profile, 2015 BBC video profile, 2017 Facebook