Irene Kral

Irene Kral (January 18, 1932 – August 15, 1978), was a jazz singer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and died due to breast cancer in Encino, California.

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Biography

Irene's older brother, Roy Kral, was a successful musician when Irene started singing professionally as a teenager. She sung with bands on tours led by Woody Herman and Chubby Jackson, former Herman bass player.

Irene joined Maynard Ferguson's band in the late 1950s and sang with groups led by Stan Kenton and Shelly Manne.

Irene then started a solo career until her death at 46 years of age. She was a ballad singer who stated that Carmen McRae was one of her inspirations.

Irene was made more famous posthumously when Clint Eastwood used her recordings in his 1995 movie, "The Bridges of Madison County".

Discography

*"Boy with Lots of Brass" - EmArcy (1957)
*"The Band and I" - (1958)
*"Detour Ahead" - United Artists (1958)
*"Steveireneo" - United Artists (1959)
*"Better Than Anything" - DRG (1963)
*"Guitar from Ipanema" - Capitol (1964)
*"Wonderful Life" - Mainstream (1965)
*"Where Is Love?" - (1974)
*"Live in Tokyo" - (1976)
*"Kral Space" - (1977)
*"Gentle Rain" - Choice (1977)
*"The Buddy Collette Quintet with Irene Kral" - Studiowest/VSOP (1997)
*"Live" Culture Press - (1998)
*"Where Is Love?" - Choice/Koch (1999)
*"You Are There?" - Audiophile (1999)
*"Just For Now" - Jazzed Media (2004)

External links

* [http://www.danacountryman.com/irene/directory/kral_directory.html Irene Kral's Website]
* [http://www.danacountryman.com/irene/bio/bio.html Irene Kral's bio]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bdifyxqu5ldte Irene Kral's bio at All Music]
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=2211 Irene Kral's bio at All About Jazz]
* [http://www.coolsingers.com/singers/irene-kral.html Irene Kral's bio at Cool Singers]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,116421,00.html Irene Kral's album picture]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,228814,00.html Irene Kral's album picture]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,2803739,00.html Irene Kral's album picture]
* [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,116425,00.html Irene Kral's album picture]