Biography #1

Amanda a.k.a. "A.J." began studying acting at the age of 9 and booked her first national commercial on her very first audition. She has been working ever since, and has Guest Starred on CBS, FOX, HBO, ABC, WB and NBC. She is best known for her role as "Shannon," on the CBS drama, "The Guardian." Prior to becoming an actress, she had a very successful modeling career, appearing in several National ads, which included magazines, store posters and other merchandising for Disney, Mattel, Playmates Toys, Zutopia, and American Girl to name just a few. Amanda is an accomplished musician, singer and published songwriter. She has been playing the piano for 7 years, but writes most of her songs on the guitar. Her songs are very "Guitar Driven." She and her older sister, Alyson a.k.a. "Aly" are currently recording their first "Aly & A.J." CD, that will soon be released in the mainstream market. Amanda's hobbies are dance, cooking, horseback riding, mountain biking, reading and hanging out with her 2 dogs. Her best friend is her sister Alyson, who is also an actress and can be seen playing the role of "Keely" on Disney Channel's "Phil of the Future.

Courtesy of: tvtome.com


Biography #2

Aly & A.J. grew up singing and developed a strong passion for music at very young ages. They both began playing the piano at 6 years old, but compose most of their songs on their guitars.

"We were always performing," Aly (15) recalls of their childhood. "We would make little homemade tickets and hand them out. We called the shows 'Aly & A.J. Rock the House.'" Of course, those days of make-believe are long over. Today, Aly co-stars in the hit Disney Channel series "Phil of the Future." A.J. has guest-starred in many other major network shows. Now, with their debut Hollywood Records CD in progress, the sisters are about to rock the house for real.

Aly & AJ's first two singles are already making major headway. Their remake of "Do You Believe in Magic" is the signature track from the original Disney Channel movie "Now You See It," and has already become the #1 most requested song on Radio Disney. Remaking the 1965 Lovin' Spoonful hit for their premiere single may seem an unusual choice. But Aly & A.J like to surprise people. "We really appreciated the song," says A.J. (13). "It has a lot of passion and soul. We were told (songwriter) John Sebastian heard our version and just loved it."

Aly & AJ's follow up single "No One" is featured in the upcoming movie "Ice Princess" which will be in theaters March 18. "No One" plays in the opening scene of "Ice Princess" during the introductory credits. "Ice Princess" stars Kim Cattrall, Joan Cusack and Michelle Trachtenberg.

The energy and spirit the sisters bring to both singles are sure to color the entire album, now due in the summer of 2005. Aly and A.J. are working with a variety of producers, including some of the music industry's biggest . " We've learned a lot from all of them ," says Aly of the producers. "Some things we like...some things we don't like. It's all a part of the process. It's important that we have our own voice and that our emotions are a part of all of our music. This is why we're working with different producers, so we can experience different ideas."

The first single may be a classic cover, but the sisters have written all of the songs on their CD. And though they may be young teens, when it comes to writing songs, they aim high. "Simple entertainment is shallow," says A.J. "Kids relate better to deep music. We come from a really genuine place."

Aly and A.J.'s song "I Am One of Them" tackles the tough subject of child kidnappings. They want to bring awareness by encouraging kids to look out for one another and use precautions and safety measures to empower them. A.J. contributed a track called "Protecting Me," a song featured in a "Phil of the Future" episode, which addresses the vulnerable nature of being a kid today. Says Aly: "We want to let kids know they have the power to protect themselves and one another." Aly and A.J. have also written songs that address the issues of relationships, heartaches and staying true to yourself and celebrating your own uniqueness.

Bottom line, both Aly & A.J. are fun-loving teens who just happen to be enormously talented. Born in Los Angeles, Alyson Michalka whose nickname is Aly and Amanda Joy Michalka whose nickname is A.J. moved with their parents to Seattle in the early 1990's. Their parents made sure the sisters were exposed to a variety of music, from Beethoven to the Beatles to Seal. They began singing when they were very young, mostly to entertain family and friends. But that changed when Aly first heard of a strange new concept: acting class. "I ran and got my mom," recalls Aly, "and said, 'Mom, I beg you.' Both A.J. and I banded together and we got into it, even though our mom and dad were a little reluctant."

That led to acting and modeling gigs, a career that heated up once the family relocated back to Southern California. Aly landed the part of Keely Teslow on Disney Channel's "Phil of the Future," a plum role which allowed Aly to sing as well as act.

A.J. immediately began landing great roles on such shows as "Six Feet Under," "Oliver Beene" and "Birds of Prey. She also won recurring roles, one as Dabney Coleman's foster daughter on the CBS drama "The Guardian," the other as Ashley B. in the hit soap "General Hospital."

For those who wonder if Aly & A.J. ever get to be kids, the two have some advice: "Chill out." Says Aly, "We love playing with our dogs Saint and Bandit, or hanging out in our rooms listening to music, writing together or playing guitar. Education is an important part of our lives. But if we get our work done, we have time to have fun." Adds A.J., "We definitely have our moments when we want our own space. But there's this awesome energy with us. There's never a dull a moment."

Once the new album comes out, there may never be a free moment for Aly & A.J. But the sisters say they're ready for the rocket ride to come. Says A.J., "We're nonconformists who want to have a big impact on the kids who hear us." Adds sister Aly, "Our music comes from our heart, our soul, our experience. It's not just about boys and having the perfect day. It's got life in it. We're here to be a voice."