Colbie Caillat

Colbie Marie Caillat, born on May 28, 1985, in Malibu, California, is an American singer-songwriter. She grew up in Newbury Park, California, in a family with strong ties to the music industry; her father, Ken Caillat, is a renowned record producer who co-produced Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" and "Tusk" albums. Caillat's interest in music sparked at age 11, inspired by Lauryn Hill's performance in "Sister Act 2". She began taking vocal lessons and started playing the acoustic guitar at 19, which led to her writing her first song.

Career Beginnings and "Coco"

Caillat first gained prominence through the social networking site MySpace, where she became the number one unsigned artist in her genre. This online success attracted the attention of record labels, and she signed with Universal Republic Records. Her debut album, "Coco," was released in July 2007. The album featured the hit single "Bubbly," which became a massive international success. "Coco" debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to sell over two million copies in the United States, achieving double platinum status. Other singles from the album included "Realize" and "The Little Things".

"Breakthrough" and Further Success

Her second studio album, "Breakthrough," was released in August 2009 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album included the successful single "Fallin' for You". For her work on this album, Caillat received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. She also won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky," and another for her contributions to Taylor Swift's "Fearless" as a featured artist.

Subsequent Albums and Musical Style

Caillat has released several other albums, including "All of You" (2011), the Christmas album "Christmas in the Sand" (2012), and "Gypsy Heart" (2014). The single "Try" from "Gypsy Heart" gained significant attention for its message of self-acceptance. In 2018, she co-founded the country music group Gone West. More recently, she has embraced the country genre with her solo album "Along The Way". Her music is often described as acoustic pop and folk-pop, characterized by a laid-back, optimistic, and mellow sound.

Songwriting and Collaborations

Caillat is known for her collaborative songwriting approach, frequently working with artists like Jason Reeves and Mikal Blue. She has also co-written songs for other artists, including Hilary Duff. Over her career, she has collaborated with a range of musicians, including Jason Mraz and Sheryl Crow.