Miss Dominique

Dominique Michalon was born in Sarcelles, France in 1979. Her parents involved her with gospel choirs as a young girl, both for musical satisfaction and in hopes of instilling traditional values in their daughter. The family moved to Martinique when Dominique was 12, at which time she switched stylistic gears, having discovered the music of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Falling in love with jazz, she began performing locally in the area's beachfront bars. Having displayed unusual talent in her younger years, Dominique returned to France, this time to complete her high school education in Paris. While studying there she gained valuable experience in musical theater and opera. With years of formal training under her belt, Dominique found fertile creative soil in New Orleans. She began performing under the name Beth Sheba, forming her own group and touring with gospel/soul legends Ray Charles and Manu Dibango. As Dominique's career picked up steam, she was invited to audition for the TV show Nouvelle Star, a French version of the internationally successful Idol franchise. Under the stage name Miss Dominique, she astonished audiences all over the French speaking world, making it to the program's final round. Though not triumphant (arguably due to her home island of Martinique not being eligible to vote) Dominique was signed to Sony/BMG's Vogue label. Her debut disc Une Femme Battante landed in the Top 20 on French charts.
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