Rachel Alexandra Mercaldo (born March 4, 1977 in Staten Island, New York), better known as Rockell, is an American Freestyle music, Club/Dance, Hi-NRG and Pop singer-songwriter.In the late 1990s, she had major dance hits with the songs "In a Dream," "When I'm Gone," and "Can't We Try" (a duet with Collage and remake of the Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard 1987 hit song).
All of these tracks appeared on her 1998 debut album entitled What Are You Lookin' At?. She released a second album, Instant Pleasure, in 2000. Instant Pleasure included the single "What U Did 2 Me" which reached #101 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2001.
Her best charting success is in Canada, where she is still active performing shows at clubs. Her debut single "I Fell in Love" distributed by the then BMG Canada reached #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart while the follow-up "In a Dream" was at #6.
In 1996, "I Fell In Love" peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1997. It hit the #1 spot on the Canadian Singles Chart singles chart during that year, making it the most successful freestyle dance music single of the decade in Canada.
The single also peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart in the USA.The follow-up to "I Fell In Love," peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1997. It was #6 on the Hot 100 Canadian Singles Chart and solidified Rockell's position on the artist roster of the then BMG Music Canada.
It also peaked at #13 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart."Can't We Try" with Collage peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998. The single peaked at #11 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart."When I'm Gone" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999, but appeared on the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
It also peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.Rockell's lead-off single to her second album Instant Pleasure, "What U Did 2 Me," was her best selling single and it garnered her a music video.
It fared well on Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.She also released "The Dance" (a cover of the Garth Brooks hit) and "Tears," but neither of these singles charted on the Hot 100.
Both singles performed well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts. "The Dance" peaked at #27 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and "Tears" peaked at #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
In 2005, she came back with "L.O.V.E.", produced by DJ Mickey Bono of the Beat Thrillerz. A limited independent release that had a trance remix by Lenny "Linus" Douglas and freestyle remixes by Russ Castella and Randy Taylor-Weber, the original writer/producer of "In a Dream".
It became a modest Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart hit. It also received some dance radio airplay.In spring 2007 Rockell recorded a new single, "Playing My Love." It was released to Dance/Rhythmic format radio in July 2007.
A freestyle remix by Salsation 3 was released in November 2007. A nationwide tour with several dance artists including Joe Zangie was announced as well.In November 2007, Rockell released a new dance single with Canada's Odeon Records, "You Keep Me Hanging On," a remake of the Supremes' original.
In 2009, Rockell released a dance cover of Donna Summer's "On The Radio" with several remixes.
