Nnenna Freelon has been hailed internationally as "the greatest female
vocalist to come along in three decades." Winner of the Billie Holiday Award from the prestigious Academie du Jazz in France and the Eubie Blake Award closer to home, she's also been nominated twice for Grammy Awards.
Surprisingly, after graduating from Simmons College, Nnenna raised three children
and had a career in health services in Durham, N.C., before really starting
her vocal career. Drawn to Jazz by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, as
well as such vocal groups as the Chi-Lites and the Spinners, she sang
occasional club gigs while pursuing a career in health care.
In 1990, at the Southern Arts Federation Jazz Forum in Atlanta, she met pianist,
educator and Jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis. Along with Jazzmobile's David
Bailey, Marsalis championed the young singer's blossoming career, which led
to her signing to Columbia. Soon, Nnenna was touring as the opening act
for Ray Charles and Al Jarreau. One of the most refreshingly original
voices in Jazz, Nnenna Freelon now tours with her own group and records for
Concord Records.
