Diane Schuur

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Diane Schuur
Background information
Born	December 10, 1953 (1953-12-10) (age 54)
Origin	Tacoma, Washington, USA
Genre(s)	Jazz, Blues, Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, Pianist
Instrument(s)	Piano
Years active	1979–Present
Label(s)	GRP, Concord
Website	www.DianeSchuur.com

Diane Schuur (b. December 10, 1953 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American jazz singer and pianist. Blinded at birth due to a hospital accident,^[1] the talented and effervescent singer, nicknamed "Deedles," has earned the admiration of many of jazz's greatest musicians. Two-time Grammy winner Diane Schuur is considered one of contemporary jazz's leading vocalists. Schuur has headlined many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall and The White House and has toured the world performing with such greats as Stan Getz, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Selective discography 3 Grammy history 4 Footnotes 5 External links

[edit] Biography

Diane Schuur grew up in suburban Seattle, Washington and was encouraged by both her parents to sing. Her early childhood music heroines were Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington. Schuur had her first "gig" at Tacoma's Holiday Inn at age ten in which she sang country music. Later attending the Washington State School for the Blind where she performed original material and wowed audiences with her playful and distinctive voice. She started performing songs she wrote starting at sixteen. Her "big break" came when Stan Getz became positive about her work on hearing her sing "Amazing Grace" at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival in 1979, returned there again in '88 and '91. In 1982, Getz asked her to join him at a performance at the White House. Nancy Reagan invited her to perform again as a vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1987. Stan Getz later played on Schuur's first three albums, Deedles (1984), Schuur Thing (1985) and Timeless (1988).^[2]

Schuur's debut album, Deedles, was released in 1984, the first of several recordings to showcase her vocal abilities. In 1985, while on tour in the Far East, Schuur met B.B. King when the two of them played a music festival in Tokyo. The fact that they admired each other's work was not surprising--she was a respected jazz singer and pianist, and he was King of the Blues.^[3] Schuur and King eventually made an album together, Heart to Heart released May of 1994, which top the Billboard charts to number one. Twelve of Schuur's albums have reached the Top 10 Jazz Albums on Billboard history charts, including her latest Diane Schuur: Live In London (2006) ^[4] She received her first Grammy for the album Timeless (1986), and the following year received another, for Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra (1987).

Schuur proved her staying power through the 1990s and into the 2000s, first with her 1991 follow up to Talkin' 'Bout You, Pure Schuur, and then with nearly an album a year from then on, including In Tribute (1992), Love Songs (1993), Heart to Heart (1994), Love Walked In (1995), Blues for Schuur (1997), Music Is My Life (1999), Friends for Schuur (2000), and Swingin' for Schuur (2001). Late in 2003, Schuur released Midnight, featuring all-original songs written for the album by pop star Barry Manilow. Manilow also performs alongside Schuur on the album, along with jazz powerhouses Alan Broadbent on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and world class drummers Harvey Mason and Peter Erskine.

Her second live album, Diane Schuur: Live In London, was released in June 2006. It is her first release on the GR2 Classics label and the 20th album of her career. Recorded at the famous Ronnie Scott’s in London, England, this 14-track album epitomizes the passion, humor and power of Schuur’s live performance. Notable songs include, "Easy Living", "Deedles’ Blues", "Speak Low", "Round Midnight", "Love Walked In", "Save Your Love for Me" and "Stormy Monday Blues".

In 2008 she released a new studio collection entitled Some Other Time. Inspired by songs that Schuur heard her mother listening to on the radio when she was a child, she dedicates the album to her mother who passed away some 40 years ago. Critics loved the album, calling it "a must-have collection for all Diane Schuur fans"^[5] and "Diane Schuur at her finest".^[6] The songs include "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "I've Got Beginner's Luck," "The Good Life," "My Favorite Things," "September In The Rain," and a fantastic rendition of "Danny Boy."

[edit] Selective discography

Year	Title	Genre	Label
2008	Some Other Time	Jazz	Concord
2006	Diane Schuur: Live In London	Jazz	GR2 Classics
2005	Schuur Fire	Jazz	Concord
2003	Midnight	Jazz, Pop	Concord
2001	Swingin' For Schuur	Jazz	Concord
2000	Friends for Schuur	Jazz	Concord
1999	Music Is My Life	Jazz	Atlantic / Wea
1997	The Best Of Diane Schuur	Jazz	GRP
1997	Blues for Schuur	Blues, Jazz	GRP
1994	Heart To Heart w/B.B. King	Jazz	GRP
1993	Love Songs	Jazz	GRP
1992	In Tribute	Jazz	GRP
1991	Pure Schuur	Jazz	GRP
1988	A GRP Christmas Collection	Gospel	GRP
1988	Talkin' 'bout You	Jazz	GRP
1987	Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra	Jazz	GRP
1986	Timeless	Jazz	GRP
1984	Deedles	Jazz	Digital Master

[edit] Grammy history

• Career Nominations: 5
• Career Wins: 2^[7]

Diane Schuur Grammy Awards History
Year	Category	Title	Genre	Label	Result
1993	Traditional Pop Performance	Love Songs	Pop	GRP	Nominee
1991	Traditional Pop Performance	Pure Schuur	Pop	GRP	Nominee
1989	Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female	The Christmas Song	Jazz	GRP	Nominee
1987	Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female	Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra	Jazz	GRP	Winner
1986	Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Female	Timeless	Jazz	GRP	Winner

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• Diane Schuur's website
• BBC radio 2
• Starpulse biography
• Interview at Jazz Review