Aly and AJ have had an interest for music since they were very young. “I think it started when we were three and five. Just singing in church together and in school plays,” Aly said. That later moved onto just AJ as Aly started to act very early, when AJ was nine years old. The sisters both live in a gated community in Calabasas, California with their parents. Their mother, Carrie Michalka, used to sing in a Christian group called “J.C. Band”, Alyson also had a starring role in Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel alongside Ricky Ullman.

Both girls attended Hillcrest Christian School for a couple years as children and they currently attend Calvary Community Church.

Early years

Aly and AJ have had an interest for music since they were very young. “I think it started when we were three and five. Just singing in church together and in school plays,” Aly said.^[4] That later moved onto just AJ as Aly started to act very early, when AJ was nine years old. The sisters both live in a gated community in Calabasas, California with their parents. Their mother, Carrie Michalka, used to sing in a Christian group called “J.C. Band”, Alyson also had a starring role in Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel alongside Ricky Ullman. Then they got a record deal with hollywood records.

Music

2005-2006: Into the Rush

Aly & AJ’s debut album, Into the Rush, went Platinum as of May 2007. The song “No One” was featured in the Disney motion picture Ice Princess. The song “Do You Believe In Magic”, written and originally recorded by The Lovin’ Spoonful, added a rock edge. This cover was used in the soundtrack of the made-for-TV Disney Channel original movie, Now You See It…, in which Aly held the starring role of Allyson. Also, their cover of Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine” was used in the Walt Disney motion picture Herbie: Fully Loaded. They have been involved in various Walt Disney Records projects, some of which are covers. These include soundtracks and compilations, and are primarily “Rush”. “Rush” has been featured on the Disney Channel Original Movie, Twitches, and on many other soundtracks and compilations from Walt Disney and Hollywood Records.

The “Aly & AJ Concert” took place on July 24, 2005 at the Henry Fonda theater located in Hollywood, California. The aired concert was cut to five songs and interviews (filmed October 15 and October 16, 2005). The concert included songs from Into the Rush. Aly & AJ opened for The Cheetah Girls in December 2005 on the girls’ “Cheetah-licious Christmas Tour”.

The album was re-released in August 2006 with three new songs, including the hit, “Chemicals React”, and two new versions of “Collapsed” and “Something More”. It was released with an all new cover and was the group’s second CD to be released in the UK physically.

2006-2007: Acoustic Hearts of Winter

On September 26, 2006, their album, Acoustic Hearts of Winter, was released. On this album, Aly & AJ perform traditional Christmas songs, including “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night”, as well as original songs, “Greatest Time of Year” and “Not This Year”. In late 2007 Aly and AJ had recorded three more Christmas originals to add to the deluxe edition of the album.

2007-2008: Insomniatic

On May 8, 2007, they released a brief clip of their new single called “Potential Breakup Song”. The full song is currently available for request on Radio Disney, and available for download on iTunes as part of their new album, Insomniatic. The album was released on July 10, 2007. Time magazine named “Potential Breakup Song” one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at #9. Writer Josh Tyrangiel singled out the lyrics in the bridge: “This is the Potential Breakup Song/ Our album needs just one/ Oh baby please”, and praised the authenticity of its having been written by the teenage sisters who sing it.^[5][6]

In December 2007, the news was revealed that Aly & AJ would be replacing the Jonas Brothers as the opening act for the extension of the Hannah Montana Best of Both Worlds Tour from January 11 - January 24. In early January 2008, Aly & AJ performed a cover of KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” on Yahoo!’s Pepsi Smash video site.^[7] The cover is also featured on the Japanese re-release of Insomniatic, recorded at Abbey Road Sessions.

2008-present: Upcoming album

Billboard confirmed the girls are working on a fourth studio album, to be released sometime in 2009,^[8] aside from the films they both are filming (Alyson in Bandslam with Vanessa Hudgens and AJ in The Lovely Bones.). It will have around 14 songs. They mentioned, in an interview on Radio Disney on April 23, 2008, they are going for a rockier sound, and this time, want to sing separately (as in not harmonize their voices), to let fans know who is singing.^[9] On October 7, the yet untitled album had been confirmed to be released in April 2009.^[10]

Personal life

On June 26, 2008, an Ohio man named Rex Mettler was arrested for stalking the duo. The Lancaster man “obtained contact information for the acting and singing duo and made threats online, by phone and handwritten notes” as stated by the police.^[11]

Other occupations

Licensing

Huckleberry Toys released Limited Edition Hello Kitty Aly & AJ dolls to selected Target stores.^[14] Toys R Us is currently selling a line of the dolls which have been available since November 15, 2007. On November 8, 2007, the official biography of the girls was released with behind the scenes information, photos and interviews. On November 20, 2007, The Aly & AJ Adventure game was brought out, for use on the Nintendo DS. In the game, the player plays their assistant, helping them record songs, direct music video etc.

As of June 12, 2008, the duo started releasing their own paperback adventure books, called Aly & AJ’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Mysteries, each part describing Aly & AJ on tour, every book describing a mystery in a different city. The drawings in the books were done by Aly. The first two (First Stop, New York and Mayhem in Miami) were released on June 12, the third installment (Singing in Seattle) on September 2, and the last (Nashville Nights) went to stores on October 4, 2008.

PDP (Performance Designed Products) is also set to release Aly & AJ-designed guitars that are compatible with MTV’s Rock Band and Guitar Hero on November 3, 2008. Aly’s guitar features a heart-and-crossbones print in pink and AJ’s guitar is in the shape of the Aly & AJ heart logo featuring bright pink and purple zebra print. The duo launched the guitars on October 11, 2008 during event at Universal Studios CityWalk in California. Players were given a chance to perform Rock Band on stage using the Girl Guitars. Three finalist teams were then selected and performed for the duo, to afterwards selec the winning team to play Rock Band on stage with them.

Charity work

Aly and AJ are co-chairpersons for the Children’s Advisory Board of the AmberWatch Foundation, and have performed at a benefit concert to raise money for the charity.^[15] The duo also walked a fashion show for the Race to Erase MS show in early May 2008, showing their support.

To See more on the girls go to:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aly_&_AJ

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