June 8: singer-songwriter Kristine W - AKA Kristine Weitz - is 49 years-old today.

Growing up in Tri-Cities, Washington, her grandmother—a pianist, classical violinist and guitarist—exposed her to Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae.

Kristine’s mother raised a family of five on her own by singing jazz and standards in local clubs. By age nine, Kristine was singing with her mother. Soon, she was competing in local beauty pageants and some years later, it was her rendition of “Summer- time” that won her the talent competition at the Miss America Pageant.

It could be argued that Kristine Weitz's entertainment career began won she won a non-finalist talent award at the 1982 Miss America pageant when she represented the state of Washington. It didn't hurt her career that she was also the preliminary swimsuit winner.

She spent several years performing in Las Vegas lounges before her recording career took off.  "Kristine W and the Sting," her band in the late 80's and into the 90's, performed at the Silver Slipper Casino, at The Mint Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton and Studio 54 at the MGM Grand.

She was signed to RCA Records in the U.S. and she began work on an a record album. Her second single, "One More Try," was issued two years later. The song not only hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, it also crossed over to pop radio, reaching #78 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

When her album, Land Of The Living was released, Kristine W held a free concert at the Virgin Megastore in New York City. The title track from the album, also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

From her next album, Stronger, which came out in 2000, once again the title track, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The second single, "Lovin' You" also reached #1 on the Club Play chart.

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The album, Fly Again was released in October 2003, and again, the lead single, gave her yet another #1 Club Play single. The second single, "Save My Soul" also reached #1 on the Club Play chart, and marked Kristine W's return to radio, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart.

The third single, "The Wonder Of It All," gave Kristine the all-time record for the longest string of consecutive #1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play hits in the history of the chart. It also reached #21 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart.

The fourth single, "I'll Be Your Light" interrupted Kristine's streak of consecutive #1's, peaking at only #2 on the Club Play chart. However, few artists have had all of their singles become Top 20 or better. The song was another radio crossover hit for her, reaching #17 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart, making it her highest charting single on that chart to date, and her first appearance on that chart's Top 20. The CD single was released as an enhanced CD with DJ mixing software to enabling fans to create their own remixes.

Kristine's third studio album, Fly Again peaked at #12 on the Top Electronic Albums chart, her first album to register on a Billboard albums chart. Likewise, her single "Walk Away," gained popularity on Rhythmic format radio stations and ultimately charted at #1 on the Club Play chart and at #7 on the Dance Airplay chart, providing Kristine her tenth number-one dance single.

In 2004, she surpassed Madonna and Janet Jackson’s record of seven #1 songs in a row. The next year, Kristine W broke her own record with the release of “Wonder of It All," her ninth consecutive #1. Having a total of fifteen songs reach the number one position, tied her with Mariah Carey for third-most # 1 songs.

Billboard announced Kristine W was named one of the Dance/ Club Play Artists of the Decade 2000 - 2009, coming in at number 3 behind Madonna at number one and Beyoncé at number two.

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So far, Kristine W She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website. She has achieved 16 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the U.S. She now holds the world’s record for most consecutive #1 Billboard Club Hits.

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