July 20: Singer Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick - better known as Vitamin C – is 41-years-old today.

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Vitamin C was born Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, on July 20, 1972. During high school she danced professionally in several TV ads, and also starred in her high school musical. She later attended and graduated from New York University in 1991.

Vitamin C was the lead singer of the alternative rock band Eve's Plum, named after The Brady Bunch actress Eve Plumb. She formed the band with Michael Kotch in 1991, whom she met while studying at New York University and later married. The group got a record deal with Epic Records in 1992, releasing two albums and second singles between 1993 and 1995 before being dropped by their label. The band continued to perform together until 1998.

As a solo artist Vitamin C signed an album deal with Elektra Records in 1998. Her debut solo album, Vitamin C, peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 29 and was certified both Gold and Platinum by the RIAA. The album's first single, "Smile" climbed to number 18 on the Hot 100. Her second single,"Me, Myself & I," failed to chart. However, the third single "Graduation (Friends Forever)" peaked at #12 on the Top 40 Mainstream Chart and #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is still hugely popular at graduations.


Her cover version of the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" was used as a brand image theme by the American television network The WB during the 1999-2000 television season.


Vitamin C took advantage of the marketing opportunities available to a pop star, licensing everything from her own doll featuring her orange hair, a microphone and platform shoes, and a shade of lipstick by Tommy Hilfiger also matching her hair.

In late 2000, Vitamin C released "The Itch," the first single from her second album More, which only reached number 45 on the Hot 100 in the U.S., but 6 in Australia. After her second single failed to chart, she was dropped from Elektra Records.

Vitamin C signed with V2 Records in 2001 and began recording her third album over the course of 2002 and 2003. The album has never been released. The first single "Last Nite," was a cover version of the hit song by The Strokes and was released in July 2003.

In 2006, she assembled a Radio Disney-aimed group of four young teenagers named The Truth Squad. Their album was released on April 3, 2007 and failed to spark much interest.

In 2007 she also assembled and produced the girl group the Stunners. The group was signed to Columbia Records and later Universal Republic Records. In the span of four years they released an EP, two singles - one featuring hip-hop recording artists the New Boyz, and four music videos. The group split in early 2011.

Over the last three years, Vitamin C has been recording two new albums while trying to attract a new record label. In 1988, Vitamin C made her screen debut under her real name "Colleen Fitzpatrick" in the John Waters feature film Hairspray as Amber Von Tussle. She continues to appear in movies and on TV shows.

On March 21, 2012, Nickelodeon named Vitamin C as VP of Music.

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