Rachael Yamagata, a husky-voiced singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, was born on September 23, 1977, in Arlington, Virginia.
Her father, a Japanese-American attorney and Harvard graduate, works in Washington, D.C., while her mother, a German-Italian artist and painter, is based in New York City.
Rachael has a twin brother named Benji and a half-brother, Josh Ruben, who is an actor and director. Her parents divorced when she was just two years old.
She graduated from the Holton-Arms School for Girls in Bethesda, Maryland, and attended both Vassar and Northwestern University.
Before pursuing a solo career, Yamagata was a vocalist for the Chicago-based funk-fusion band Bumpus for six years. In 2001, she left the group to focus on her solo work.
Yamagata released her self-titled debut EP in October 2002, followed by her first full-length album, "Happenstance," in June 2004 on the RCA label.
As a gifted musician, Yamagata is known for her mature and thoughtful lyrics, which she delivers with equal skill and conviction in both poignant ballads and dynamic rock tunes.
Her songs have been featured on numerous TV shows, including "Grey's Anatomy," "30 Rock," "ER," "Men in Trees," "How I Met Your Mother," "One Tree Hill," "The O.C.," and "Smallville," as well as the soundtracks for several films, such as "In Her Shoes," "Prime," "Monster-in-Law," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Hotel for Dogs," and "Trust the Man."
Yamagata has also co-written a song, "Ladies' Choice," for Mandy Moore and has toured with Moore. She has collaborated with various artists, including Jason Mraz, Rhett Miller, Ryan Adams, and Dan Wilson.
Rachael has toured extensively in America, England, and Japan and released her second album, "Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart," on October 7, 2008, on the Warner Bros. Records label.
