Toya Alexis

Toya Alexis (born July 16, 1980) is a Canadian vocalist and actress from Ajax, Ontario.^[1][2]

Toya Alexis
Birth name	LaToya Lesmond
Born	(1980-07-16) July 16, 1980 (age 45)
Origin	Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Soul jazz pop
Occupation(s)	Singer–songwriter, actress
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2001-2006

Career

Alexis won a "Rising Star" contest and sang at the Apollo Theater.^[3][4][2] In 2001 she appeared, as LaToya Lesmond, as a contestant on season one of Popstars on the Global Television Network.^[5] She was a finalist,^[5] and was featured on the debut album of the winners who were named Sugar Jones.^[2] She was a contestant on the first season of Canadian Idol in 2003, reaching sixth place in a controversial decision as she was a judge favourite.^[2][6] "I actually knew I loved to sing before I could talk," Toya Alexis told students at Ridgewood Public School (Mississauga, ON) after her Canadian Idol experience.^[7]

In 2004, Alexis was one of several Hip-Hop artists to co-write "Drop the Chrome," an anti-violence song aimed at youth. Other co-writers were Marcus Kane, Thrust, Maestro, Michie Mee, and Skitz.^[8] Proceeds from the sale of the 3-track CD were split between two youth-focused charities Tropicana Community Services and Youth Assisting Youth.

Debut album

Alexis was subsequently offered a recording contract, and released her first single, the Top 40 hit "Am I Loving?", in 2004.^[9] She also appeared as a guest vocalist on recordings by several other Canadian artists. Her full-length debut album, S.O.B. Story, was released in August on Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex's label, Plasma, who also served as her manager.^[10]

Theatre

In 2005, she was a featured cast member as "Mabel" in the Canstage show Crowns, at the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.^[2][9]

Her other stage credits have included Doo Wop to Motown (Theatre on the Grand),^[5] Once on This Island (Stirling Festival Theatre), Rainbow World (Bathurst Street Theatre), The Good Times Are Killing Me (Royal Alex Theatre) and Dreamgirls, (a co-production between Theatre Aquarius and the Manitoba Theatre Centre).^[2][10][9]

Idol performances

• Top 32 (Group 3) - "I Believe In You and Me" (Whitney Houston)
• Wildcard - "Try It on My Own" (Whitney Houston)
• Top 11 - "If You Asked Me To" (Celine Dion)
• Top 8 - "If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder)
• Top 6 - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)^[11]

Singles history

2002: "I Got U" (with Sugar Jones) (#70, Canadian Singles Chart)

2004: "Am I Loving?" (#36, Canadian Singles Chart)

2005: "Toy Boy" (#17, Canadian Singles Chart)

2006: "Where Did Our Love Go?" (#29, Canadian Singles Chart)

Discography

Albums

Year	Album details	Peak	Certifications (sales threshold)
		CA
2005	S.O.B. Story Released: August 2, 2005 Label: Plasma Format: CD	—	CA sales: 159,000 CRIA: Platinum
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

• "Am I Loving?"
• "Toy Boy"
• "Where Did Our Love Go?"

Videos

Featured on

• Canadian Idol Greatest Moments (2003) (track 11 singing "Try It on My Own")
• Sugar Jones (2001) (featured on "I Got U")