Elizabeth Wolfgramm

Elizabeth Wolfgramm (born August 19, 1972, in Salt Lake City) is an American singer and a former member of the family group The Jets, composed of siblings: Eddie, Eugene, Elizabeth, Haini, Kathi, Leroy, Moana, and Rudy Wolfgramm. Some of her later work has appeared under her married name, Elizabeth Atuaia.

Biography

Early career

Wolfgramm was only 11 years old when her family band, The Jets, was signed to MCA Records. Frequently serving as the lead singer of the group, she is widely considered the face of "The Jets" and quickly became a fan favorite. She recorded their hit song "You Got It All" when she was only 12 years old. The song hit number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts and #3 on the Pop Charts. She remained in the group throughout four albums during the latter half of the 1980s, featuring as the lead vocalist on, in addition to "You Got It All," such major hit songs as "Crush on You," "Cross My Broken Heart," and "Make It Real."

Post-Jets

Wolfgramm left the group in the early 1990s to pursue other projects. In 1990, she recorded the song entitled "Yourself Myself" featured in Tatsuro Song from L.A. (1990), Universal Music. Later, alongside sister Moana, she wrote a few songs for the compilation Return with Honor: 1995 EFY (Especially for Youth) released by Embryo Records. That same year, she teamed up with Marie Osmond's husband, Record Producer Brian Blosil to record a solo album through Treble V, though the album was never released. She reunited with Moana in 1997 to record the song "Do" (also featuring younger sister Jennifer) featured in the Be a Builder songbook and companion CD (Vol. 3) Sticks & Stones for the Utah Prevention/Dimension (PK-12) Prevention Program.

In 2002, she recorded the song "Faithful" featured on Love Is a Journey: Reflections on Marriage (2002) released by Shadow Mountain. In 2006, she, along with her sisters Kathi, Moana, Jennifer and Hinalei, released a gospel-themed album entitled My Sisters.

Her rendition of "Never a Better Hero" has also been recorded on CD for distribution.[1]

Personal life

She married Hawaii-born, Samoan football star Mark Atuaia. His parents were from Samoa and named him after an American Mormon missionary they knew. He was raised in Hawaii where he made the record of the top high school football rusher.[2] He then played football at Brigham Young University (BYU) as well as serving a mission in the Arizona Tucson Mission. After completing his time at BYU, he considered professional football options. About this time Elizabeth, who he was then dating, developed breast cancer so he decided to remain close to her. After her recovery, they were married in the Laie Hawaii Temple. Mark did not complete his degree at BYU, but in 2004 completed a degree in political science at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. In the fall of 2005, he began study as a law student at the J. Reuben Clark Law School of BYU.

The couple has 6 children: daughters Anessa, Alema, and Abi; and sons Tai, Teanekuma and Ropati. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Breast cancer survivor

Elizabeth was only 22 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994. She eventually had her breast removed and has been in remission since. She was told by doctors at the time she would not be able to bear children, yet has now borne six healthy children.

Notes

  • - Updated biography and image
  • Interview and image
  • IMDB biography
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