Dara Tucker facts for kids

Dara Starr Tucker at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, 2017

Dara Starr Tucker is an American singer, songwriter, and social commentator. She is known for her amazing voice and her ability to write songs.

Dara has released five studio albums. These include All Right Now (2009), Soul Said Yes (2011), The Sun Season (2014), Oklahoma Rain (2017), and Dara Starr Tucker (2023). She also released a live album called Dara Tucker Live in 2013. She was named Jazz Vocalist of the Year at the Nashville Industry Music Awards in both 2016 and 2017. In 2017, her song "Radio" was named Song of the Year. Her album Oklahoma Rain also won Jazz Album of the Year. Dara has performed all over the world with her band since 2009. She has shared the stage with famous musicians like Gregory Porter and Vince Gill.

Dara's Early Life

Dara Starr Tucker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was the third of seven children. Her father, Doyle Tucker, was a music minister and gospel recording artist. Her mother, Lynda Tucker, was also a singer.

Dara started singing harmony with her brothers and sisters when she was just 4 years old. She began playing the piano at age 8. Her family, known as "The Tuckers," traveled across the country singing. They were famous for their beautiful harmonies. Dara's family lived in many different places, including Spokane, Washington, and Detroit, Michigan.

After high school, Dara studied international business and German. She worked in international business for a few years. Then, she moved to Interlaken, Switzerland, to study German and work as an aupair.

Her Musical Journey

Dara began writing songs while living in Switzerland in 2003. In 2004, she moved to Nashville to become a singer-songwriter.

First Albums and Success

Her first album, "All Right Now," came out in 2009. It mostly featured classic American songs. Her second album, "Soul Said Yes" (2011), mixed R&B, jazz, and gospel music. It featured the talented guitarist Charlie Hunter. This album quickly became one of the top 10 R&B albums on Amazon.com. Dara wrote two of the songs on this album herself.

Her third album, "The Sun Season" (2014), was recorded in New York. Dara wrote ten of the twelve songs on this album. It featured many great musicians like Peter Bernstein and Helen Sung. The album reached number 62 on the JazzWeek charts.

Performances and Awards

In 2015, Dara was interviewed on the Tavis Smiley television show. She performed an original song called "Giants" from her album The Sun Season. In 2016, she opened for Gregory Porter in Nashville, TN. Dara often performs at the Nashville Jazz Workshop and Rudy's Jazz Club.

In 2017, Dara won the silver medal at the "American Traditions" vocal competition in Savannah, Georgia. This competition requires singers to perform in nine different music styles. She also won the "Ben Tucker Jazz Award."

Oklahoma Rain and Touring

Dara released her album "Oklahoma Rain" on April 30, 2017. This album tells the story of her journey through love, loss, and healing after losing both her parents in 2014. Two songs from the album, "Moving On" and "Radio," were released as singles. "Radio" became very popular, reaching No. 5 on the UK soul charts. It was also named "Song of the Year" at the 2017 Nashville Industry Music Awards. "Oklahoma Rain" won "Jazz Album of the Year" at the same awards.

In 2018, Dara started touring as a member of the Charlie Hunter Trio. She performed with them across the Midwest and East Coast.

Other Projects

Besides music, Dara is also a documentary filmmaker. She creates a series about musicians in Nashville called "Music City Select." She also writes essays for Huffington Post. In her essays, she shares her personal experiences as a minority and a woman in the entertainment business.

Musical Inspirations

Dara Starr Tucker has been inspired by many great artists. Some of her biggest influences include her parents, Lynda Tucker and Doyle Tucker. She also looks up to Mel Tormé, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Nancy Wilson.

Albums

Studio Albums

• 2009: All Right Now
• 2011: Soul Said Yes
• 2014: The Sun Season
• 2017: Oklahoma Rain
• 2023: Dara Starr Tucker

Live Albums

• 2013: Dara Tucker Live

Awards and Honors

• 2016 Nashville Industry Music Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year (Winner)
• 2016 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Vocal Competition Finalist
• 2017 Nashville Industry Music Awards Song of the Year – Radio (Winner)
• 2017 Nashville Industry Music Awards Jazz Album Of the Year – Oklahoma Rain (Winner)
• 2017 Nashville Industry Music Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year (Winner)
• 2017 American Traditions Ben Tucker Jazz Award
• 2017 American Traditions Vocal Competition Silver Medalist
• 2018 American Traditions Johnny Mercer Award
• 2018 American Traditions Semifinalist