Malea McGuinness Biography

Malea McGuinness is a female singer-songwriter, musician and actress, best known for her role in Broadway's The King and I as Tuptim, alongside Lou Diamond Phillips.

Early life

A direct descendant of Hwang Jin-i (1520"1560), Malea McGuinness was born in Ft. Hood, Texas to a Korean mother and an Irish father who served in the armed forces as a Green Beret. Her father, Richard J. McGuinness, retired in early 2001, but returned to the army after the September 11 attacks, and deployed to Iraq, where he stayed until 2010. At age two, McGuinness moved to Korea to live with relatives until age five. Upon her return to the States, she and her younger sister went to live with her grandfather (first class private in the USMC) and step grandmother (from her father's side) in Long Island, New York. During her childhood, McGuinness attended several music programs including: Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts; Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio; and the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. She continued her musical training at the Manhattan School of Music, where she majored in Vocal Performance (classical & opera), and landed a featured role in the Broadway revival of The King and I. McGuinness continued working in the acting industry doing commercial work until she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career. McGuinness learned to play guitar as she attended songwriter circle events. She began performing live making a name for herself in the local club circuit, while also bartending nights.

Career

In 2008, McGuinness recorded her debut album True Believer with producer Scott Hackwith (Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, The Ramones), which she released independently. The first single, "Deeper", hit #16 on influential Radio Tip Sheet Friday Morning Quarterback's AC40 chart. The follow-up (and first video) "Sweet Light" was most added, climbing to #3, with both in rotation on Sirius XM Satellite and Triple A stations across the country. McGuinness released her second studio album, Close As Air in April 2010 which was produced by Jamie Candiloro (Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow) and Michael Patterson (Jennifer Lopez, Beck). The first single, "Spinning", was played on National AAA Radio and the video debut on MTV. "Time Will Show", another song found on Close As Air, was the winner of the SongwriterUniverse "Best Song Of The Month" Contest in October 2010, as well as SingerUniverse "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Competition for January (2010), for her song "Memories." Sweet, McGuinness' third release was released on September 27, 2011. Produced by Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco), the album includes the title track "Sweet", co-written with Nathan Meckel, and "Always Something (To Believe In)", co-written with Gary Burr. In 2012, Malea began working with Mark Needham (Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, The Killers) on her 4th studio album, "Prism", to be released on September 17, 2013.

Sharing the Stage

While performing several tours at Summerfest Music Festival in Milwaukee (of which she is the first Asian American to lead her own band in the 40-year history of Summerfest), McGuinness shared the bill with: Shawn Colvin, and Toad The Wet Sprocket, Train, The Counting Crows, John Waite, B.B. King, Bon Jovi, John Mayer and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. McGuinness has also toured with Kenny Loggins, and teamed up with Canadian folk-rockers, The Crash Test Dummies, for a special performance in Redondo Beach. Other artists McGuinness has opened for: Liz Phair, Gin Blossoms, Michelle Branch, Parachute, Counting Crows, Kenny Loggins, Vertical Horizon, Lukas Rossi, Augustana, Gavin DeGraw, Ambrosia, Marc Ford, Donovan, Tyrone Wells, Terri Nunn, Roger Clyne and the Peace Makers, Rusted Root, Boy Hits Car, Todd Rundgren, Ed Burns and The Blue Jackets, Green River Ordinance, Willie Porter.

Philanthropy

McGuinness has been associated with several charities, both as a volunteer and donor. She helps to raise money for animal charities & foundations through her live performances in communities she performs in. McGuinness, a devoted activist for animal rights, has worked in direct partnership with humane societies and animal shelters across the nation to raise funds and awareness for rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Malea's 2012 Tour was "Save A life, Adopt A Pet." Most recently, she collaborated with her local animal rescue, The Amanda Foundation, to put on the 'Paws For Patterns' Fundraiser. Attendees include: Cesar Millan ("The Dog Whisperer"), Bill Maher and Pauley Perrette (NCIS), Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory), Kristen Bauer (True Blood) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Glee). She also serves as a guest blogger on PetLvr.com. Other notable philanthropic works include donations of all her merchandise profits earned to a pair of local organizations: The Milwaukee Art Museum and the Wisconsin Humane Society. McGuinness also participated in The Avon Foundation's 'Drink Pink Night', a breast cancer charity concert. In April 2012, Malea's "Save A Life, Adopt A Pet Tour" lived up to its name in Tuba City, AZ, when Malea rescued a one-year old Australian Shepard/Red Heeler mix and aptly named him "TC", who can be seen in the video for "Miss Moonlight" on Malea.tv. Malea was featured in the "Good Works" column of May 2012's Billboard Magazine.

Discography

True Believer (2007) ASIN: B000PHN9CO

1. Dreamer
2. Love Me Don't Forsake Me
3. True Believer
4. Brave in Your Arms
5. Deeper
6. Too Beautiful to Stay
7. I Never Cry
8. Spinning
9. Sweet Light
10. No Man's Land
11. Where Does Love Go
12. In and Out of Blue
13. Waves
14. Ave Maria

Close As Air (2010) ASIN: B003C9SRDI

1. Spinning
2. Time Will Show
3. Close As Air
4. Moving On
5. Tonight
6. Stars
7. Birthday Song
8. Falling
9. No More
10. Memories

Sweet (September 2011) ASIN: B005Q2Y83C

1. Always Something (To Believe In)
2. In the Next Life
3. Stars
4. Miss Moonlight
5. Sweet
6. True Believer
7. Jesus Was A Crossmaker
8. The Phoenix
9. Looking For Love
10. Girl In The Mirror
11. Midnight Rider

Prism (2013) ASIN: B00ETQDLCK

1. Satellite
2. Running In The Desert
3. Light After Darkness
4. Reason To Survive
5. Follow The Thunder
6. I Rise
7. Rainbow Girl
8. Shadow Dancing
9. Stand Down
10. Give