Rachelle Ferrell

Rachelle Ferrell
Ferrell in a performance on June 6, 2011
Background information
Born	(1964-05-21) 21 May 1964 (age 48) Berwyn, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Jazz fusion, R&B, pop, Pop rock, classical
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1974 - current
Labels	Blue Note, Capitol
Website	Rachelle Ferrell.com

Rachelle Ferrell (b. May 21, 1964, Berwyn, Pennsylvania) is an American vocalist and musician.[1] Although she has had some success in the mainstream R&B, pop, gospel, and classical music scene, she is noted for her talents as a contemporary jazz singer.

Biography

Rachelle Ferrell began singing at age six, and developed a six octave range by adulthood.[2] Her range also includes the ability to sing in the whistle register.[3] Ferrell describes her highest notes in "It only took a minute" as "Minnie Riperton-like wailing". She received classical training in violin and the piano at an early age and was performing professionally on both instruments and as a vocalist as a teenager. After enrolling in the Berklee College of Music, and graduating a year later, having learned arrangement and developing her abilities in singing and songwriting, she secured a position teaching music for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts alongside Dizzy Gillespie.[1]

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 US release. Recorded with bassist Tyrone Brown, pianist Eddie Green and drummer Doug Nally, several famed jazz accompanists also recorded on her album. 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 take on standards like Sam Cooke's "You Send Me", Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine", gained her a substantial Japanese jazz audience.[4]

Discography

• 1990: First Instrument
• 1990: Somethin' Else
• 1992: Rachelle Ferrell
• 2000: Individuality (Can I Be Me?)
• 2002: Live at Montreux 91-97 [Live]

Tours

• Welcome to my Love Tour (1992)

Footnotes

1. ^ a b Skelly, Richard (2012). "Rachelle Ferrell : Biography". Microsoft. Retrieved 4 May 2012. 
2. ^ "Rachelle Ferrell on MSN Music". 
3. ^ Himes, Geoffrey. "Rachelle Ferrell". Amazon.com. 
4. ^ Rachelle Ferrell at Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club

External links

• Rachelle Ferrell Official Website
• enotes.com: Ferrell, Rachelle Biography: Contemporary Musician
• Rachelle Ferrell at Allmusic
• Rachelle Ferrell at Wenig-LaMonica Associates