Melanie Thornton

(born May 13, 1967, Charleston, South Carolina, USA - died November 24, 2001, near Bassersdorf, Switzerland).

From 1994 until 1999 Melanie Thornton was the lead singer of the group La Bouche, before pursuing a solo career in 2000.

On November 24, 2001 she gave a concert in Leipzig and then boarded the Crossair 3597 Flight from Berlin to Zurich. However, near the Bassersdorf, about four kilometers before reaching the airport, the plane crashed into the mountains. Thornton was among the 24 of 28 passengers and five staff that lost their lives. She was promoting her final single "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" and her debut solo album "Ready To Fly".

One year after Melanie's tragic death, Kayo Shekoni took the place of Natascha Wright with Lane McCray to release the song "In Your Life" in 2002 featuring vocals of Melanie Thornton in Europe and the USA as a tribute to her.

Her song "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" still climbs the charts during Christmas season every year.