Rachelle Ferrell

Infobox musical artist


Name = Rachelle Ferrell
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Born = 1961
Origin = flagicon|USA Berwyn, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died =
Genre = Jazz, Pop, R&B, Gospel, Classical
Label = Blue Note, Capitol
Years_active = 1974 – Present
URL =

Rachelle Ferrell (b. 1961, Berwyn, Pennsylvania) is an American singer and musician. Although she has had some success in the mainstream R&B, pop, gospel, and classical music scene, she is most noted for her talents as a contemporary jazz singer.

Biography

Rachelle Ferrell began singing at the age of six, which contributed to the "development of her startling six-and-change octave range." [cite web|url=http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16077836&|title=Rachelle Ferrell on MSN Music] Her range also includes the ability to reach the whistle register, as stated in an editorial review [cite web|author=Himes, Geoffrey|title=Rachelle Ferrell|url=http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Ferrell/dp/B000002UW7|publisher=Amazon.com] in which she references her whistle note in "It only took a minute" as "Minnie Riperton-like wailing". She received classical training on violin at an early age and by the time she was a teen, she was able to play the piano at a professional level. She enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston where she honed her musical abilities in arrangement, singing and songwriting.

From 1975-90, Ferrell sang backup for Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and George Duke. Ferrell's debut, "First Instrument", was released in 1990 in Japan, five years prior to its U.S. release. Recorded with bassist Tyrone Brown, pianist Eddie Green and drummer Doug Nally, an all-star cast of accompanists also leave their mark on her record. They include trumpeter Terence Blanchard, pianists Gil Goldstein and Michel Petrucciani, bassists Kenny Davis and Stanley Clarke, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and keyboardist Pete Levin. Her unique take on now-standards like Sam Cooke's "You Send Me," Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love," and Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine," captured the hearts and souls of the Japanese jazz buying public. [ [http://www.jazzreview.com/preview/concert-3670.html Rachelle Ferrell at Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club] ]

Discography

Trivia

In 1999, Rachelle appeared at the "Lady of Soul Awards" to pay tribute to Natalie Cole singing "I've Got Love On My Mind." The audience gave Rachelle a standing ovation. The jazz singer later commented that she was surprised at the reaction, "I came out with no make up, with wild hair . . . and the people went crazy! It was such a blessing to have people respond that way after being away for [such] a long time . . ." [ [http://www.soulmusic.com/SoulMusicArchives/augustnews.htm Soul Music August News] ]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.rachelleferrell.com Rachelle Ferrell] Official Website
* [http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/ferrell-rachelle-biography enotes.com: Ferrell, Rachelle Biography: Contemporary Musician]
*
* [http://www.wlatalent.com/roster/rachelle_ferrell/artistprofile.htm Rachelle Ferrell] at [http://www.wlatalent.com Wenig-LaMonica Associates]