Crystal Taliefero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crystal Taliefero
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Taliefero performing in May 2007
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | January 5, 1963 Bourne, Massachusetts, US |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Associated acts | Billy Joel, Billy Joel Band, John Mellencamp |
Crystal Taliefero-Pratt (born January 5, 1963) is an amazing American musician. She plays many instruments and is also a fantastic singer! Crystal grew up in a musical family. She performed rhythm and blues music with her brother near Chicago.
When she was in college, the famous musician John Mellencamp discovered her. He helped her start a career as a professional musician. Crystal performed with many different artists in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1989, she joined the Billy Joel Band. She has been touring and recording with them ever since!
Contents
Crystal's Early Life
Crystal Taliefero was born in Bourne, Massachusetts. But she spent most of her childhood in Hammond, Indiana. By the time she was 11, she was already performing rhythm and blues music. She played in Hammond and nearby Gary, Indiana. Her family moved to Gary two years later.
She joined her brother Charles in a singing group called Black Mist. Later, they changed the name to Magic Mist. They performed all over the Chicago metropolitan area.
Crystal went to William A. Wirt High School. She was a top athlete there and graduated in 1981. She then studied music at Indiana University. She even made the dean's list for her excellent grades! At the university, Crystal was part of the Indiana University Soul Revue. She was also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Crystal's Music Career
While in college, Crystal played in a band called Kilo. This band included future Saturday Night Live drummer Shawn Pelton. It also had former Tonight Show bassist Robert Hurst and trumpeter Chris Botti. John Mellencamp's drummer, Kenny Aronoff, often played with them too.
In 1986, John Mellencamp heard Kilo perform. He invited Crystal to join his touring band right away. Crystal has said that her time with Mellencamp was like a great training. It "changed the whole course of [her] life." In 1989, Mellencamp took a break from music. He lent Crystal $3000, and she moved to New York City. She wanted to find more music opportunities there.
Just a few months after moving to New York, Crystal got a call. It was from someone who worked with Mellencamp. They asked her to play drums and sing for Billy Joel's new album, Storm Front. She had a great audition and was invited to join the Billy Joel Band. She has been with them ever since! Over time, Crystal became the background vocal arranger for the band. She helped arrange the vocals for Billy Joel's 1993 album, River of Dreams.
In 1991, Crystal toured with the Bee Gees. One show in Europe needed an opening act. They asked if she could perform some of her own songs. So, she formed a special band called Bonzai for that one show. It included Pat Peterson, another backup singer, and the Bee Gees' own band.
In 1992, Crystal took a big role in Bruce Springsteen's huge world tour. This tour had 107 shows and ended in June 1993. The tour brought Crystal a lot of attention from the news. Music critics praised her performances with Springsteen. She also performed with Bruce Springsteen in a 1992 MTV Unplugged TV special.
Crystal has performed with many other famous artists. These include Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Joe Cocker, Tina Arena, Bob Seger, Brooks & Dunn, Richie Sambora, Elton John, Enrique Iglesias, Natalie Merchant, Meat Loaf, and Michael McDonald.
Crystal's Amazing Musical Skills
Crystal Taliefero is known for her incredible singing and percussion skills. Her percussion kit includes many instruments like bongos, cabasa, mark tree, congas, cowbell, güiro, hand percussion, jam block, shaker, tambourine, timbales, triangle, Djembe, and wood block.
But that's not all! Crystal is also very skilled at playing the guitar, keyboards, harmonica, and saxophone. She plays other wind instruments too. She is famous for her energetic and lively performances on stage.
In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine wrote an article about the best people in rock and roll. They called Crystal Taliefero the "Best Secret Weapon." This shows how important and talented she is!
Crystal's Personal Life and Goals
In 1986, Crystal had a health issue while touring with Bob Seger. She had to stay in the hospital for several weeks.
Crystal has a special goal. She wants to create the Taliefero Music Foundation. This foundation will help inspire young people who want to work in live entertainment. To help inspire young musicians, she visited Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana in 2009. This is in her home state.
On April 19, 2011, Crystal received an award from Indiana University. It was the Herman C. Hudson Alumni Award from the African-American Arts Institute. Billy Joel sent a message to congratulate her. He said that some of his songs would not have been written without her inspiration.
Crystal's Work in Film and Books
Crystal Taliefero has also worked on projects for children. She has contributed narration, music, and compositions to many children's videos and audiobooks. She did this through Weston Woods Studios, which is part of Scholastic Corporation.
