Posted on: Friday, June 4, 2004
Velasquez faithfully testing new paths
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer 
![]()  | 
	
| Christian vocalist Jaci Velasquez is also an actress. In the 2003 film "Chasing Papi," she plays a spoiled New York heiress scorned by a Mexican playboy.
			 Sante D'Orazio • Twentieth Century Fox  | 
	
In town tonight (along with Avalon vocalist Jody McBrayer) for her third O'ahu performance visit, Velasquez will headline a multi-act show certain to show off her varied musical colors.
Here's some stuff you might want to know about her.
 Every one of her English-language Christian albums have hit the Top 5. Velasquez has had four albums at or near the top of the Billboard Contemporary Christian album chart: her debut, "Heavenly Place" (No. 2, 1997), "Jaci Velasquez" (No. 1, 1998), "Crystal Clear" (No. 3, 2000) and "Unspoken" (No. 2, 2003).
| Jaci Velasquez
			
			 With Jody McBrayer of Avalon, Kutmaster Spaz, Kelly Boy DeLima, Nalani Choy, Danny Couch, Rocky Brown, Maila Gibson, Kanoe Gibson, David Katina, Dane Ison 
  | 
	
Gospel Album of the Year for her fourth Spanish-language disc, "Milagro." Velasquez has also won seven career Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for her English and Spanish albums.
 She's a music industry mogul. Sort of. Velasquez launched her own record label, Apostrophe Records, earlier this year and is its CEO.
 She was one of three women cheated on by a notorious Mexican playboy. Well, in the almost universally panned 2003 film "Chasing Papi," anyway. Velasquez played a spoiled heiress who, along with a hot-tempered dancer and bookish attorney also being cheated on by the titular "papi," comically runs from the law when the guy mixes pills and scotch and goes unconscious. Velasquez has a three-film deal with 20th Century Fox.
 She's happily married. Since September, to guitarist/vocalist Darren Potuck of the Christian band a.m. Drive.
• Sen. Orrin Hatch is on her songwriting team. Again, sort of. The conservative Utah senator co-wrote the title track from Velasquez's "Unspoken" CD, and is a serious Christian songwriter and music composer. He even has a Web site dedicated to his many musical accomplishments (www.hatchmusic.com). Enjoy only in moderation.
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.



