China Forbes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
China Forbes
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Forbes with Pink Martini in concert, 2006
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 29, 1970 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Labels | Heinz |
| Associated acts | Pink Martini |
China Forbes (born April 29, 1970) is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Pink Martini, which she joined in 1995. In 2022, she received the Ella Fitzgerald award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. This award celebrates amazing jazz singers.
Contents
Life and Music Journey
China Forbes was born and grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her parents are Peggy and Donald Cameron Forbes. Her father had French and Scottish family roots. Her mother is African-American.
China went to Phillips Exeter Academy for high school. Later, she studied visual arts at Harvard University. There, she met Thomas Lauderdale, a talented piano player. They became good friends and often played music together. While at Harvard, she won a special award for her acting skills, called the Jonathan Levy Prize.
After college in 1992, China worked as an actress for several years. She performed in plays in New York City that were called Off-Broadway shows. Then, she started her music career. She formed her own band and recorded a solo album. She sang the song "Ordinary Girl" for the TV show Clueless. She also sang "Que Sera Sera" for the movie In the Cut.
While China was living in Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale asked her to sing with his band, Pink Martini. He had started the band to play at special events. For three years, China traveled from New York to sing with them. In 1998, she moved to Portland to work with Pink Martini full-time. China and Thomas have written many original songs for the band. This includes their famous song "Sympathique (Je ne Veux Pas Travailler)".
Besides her work with Pink Martini, China Forbes has also released her own music. Her solo albums include Love Handle (1995) and '78 (2008). The album '78 features her song "Hey Eugene" in its first version. She also sang a duet called "How Long Will It Last?" with Michael Feinstein on his album The Sinatra Project. She recorded two songs in French with Georges Moustaki for his album Solitaire.
China Forbes has some famous relatives too. She is a cousin of John Kerry, who used to be a very important government official in the U.S. She is also a cousin of Ed Droste, an indie-rock musician from the band Grizzly Bear. Her sister, Maya Forbes, is a writer and director for movies.
Music Albums
Here are some of the albums China Forbes has released:
Solo Albums
- Love Handle (1995)
- '78 (2008)
- The Road (2024)
With Pink Martini
- Sympathique (1997)
- Hang on Little Tomato (2004)
- Hey Eugene! (2007)
- Splendor in the Grass (2009)
- Joy to the World (2010)
- Get Happy (2013)
- Je Dis Oui! (2013)
Singing with Other Artists
- 2003 Cruising Attitude, with Dimitri from Paris
- 2008 Solitaire, with Georges Moustaki
- 2008 The Sinatra Project, with Michael Feinstein
See also
In Spanish: China Forbes para niños
