Mindi Abair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mindi Abair
Abair performing in St. Helena, California in August 2021.
Background information
Born	(1969-05-23) May 23, 1969 (age 56) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Rock, soul, pop, Contemporary jazz, smooth jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, bandleader, author
Instruments	Vocals, saxophone, keyboards
Years active	1991–present
Labels	GRP, Verve, Artistry, Peak, Heads Up, Concord

Mindi Abair (pronounced AY-bair; born on May 23, 1969) is a talented American musician. She is known for playing the saxophone and singing. Mindi is also a composer and an author.

Throughout her career, Mindi has had many hit songs. Ten of her songs reached number one on radio charts. She also had two albums that topped the Billboard Jazz charts. Four more of her albums reached the top five on the Contemporary Jazz Charts. Mindi was also the main saxophonist for American Idol in 2011 and 2012. She even performed with the famous rock band Aerosmith.

Early Life and Music

Mindi Abair grew up loving music. In high school, she was the drum major for her marching band. This meant she led the band during performances. She was also chosen as the best alto saxophone player in Florida for the All-State Jazz Band.

After high school, Mindi went to the University of North Florida on a scholarship. She later moved to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, she studied saxophone with famous teachers. Mindi graduated with honors in 1991. She even started her first band while still in college.

Mindi's Music Career

Early Performances and Albums

After college in 1991, Mindi moved to Los Angeles, California. She started playing her music in clubs and coffee shops. She even played her saxophone on the street! A jazz keyboardist named Bobby Lyle noticed her talent. He hired her to play on his CD and tour with him.

Over the next ten years, Mindi toured with many artists. She played saxophone, sang, and played keyboards for stars like Adam Sandler and the Backstreet Boys. She even helped put together Mandy Moore's first band.

Mindi released her first solo album, Always and Never the Same, on her own. It was a pop music album with her singing. She played in rock clubs to share her new music.

In 2003, Mindi signed with Verve Records. She released It Just Happens That Way, which became a top 10 jazz album. Her Christmas song "I Can't Wait for Christmas" became a hit in some areas.

Chart-Topping Success

Mindi continued to release successful albums. Come As You Are came out in 2004 and also reached the top 10. In 2006, her album Life Less Ordinary hit number one on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. It stayed popular for many weeks. Her songs "True Blue" and "Bloom" also reached number one on radio charts.

In 2008, Mindi released Stars, which was a big hit. Her song "Smile" reached number one on jazz radio. Her album In Hi-Fi Stereo came out in 2010. It included the number one hit song "Be Beautiful."

Mindi also worked with other famous musicians. Her album Summer Horns with Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, and Richard Elliot was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. In 2014, she released Wild Heart. This album featured artists like Gregg Allman and Joe Perry. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard Jazz chart. Wild Heart was nominated for a Grammy in 2015.

Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers

In 2015, Mindi started a new band called Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers. The band includes Mindi on saxophone and vocals, Randy Jacobs on guitar, and other talented musicians. They released a live album that year. In 2017, they released their first studio album, The EastWest Sessions. This album featured blues and rock songs and reached number three on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.

Mindi and Randy Jacobs wrote a song called "Pretty Good for a Girl." This song inspired Mindi to create a website, PrettyGoodForAGirl.net. The website celebrates amazing women and aims to change the phrase "pretty good for a girl" into something positive and empowering.

In 2018, the band released a blues rock holiday album. It was called All I Got For Christmas Is The Blues. It reached number seven on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. In 2019, their album No Good Deed debuted at number three on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.

Radio and TV Appearances

From 2007 to 2015, Mindi hosted her own national radio show. It was called "Chill With Mindi Abair." The show played relaxing "chill out" music.

Mindi also appeared on American Idol in 2011 and 2012. She played saxophone with many contestants. Steven Tyler from Aerosmith was so impressed that he invited her to join Aerosmith's world tour in 2012. She played sax and sang backup vocals for them.

She also played with the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman several times. Mindi has also been on The Tavis Smiley Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Other Activities

Helping the Music Community

Mindi is also involved with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This organization is famous for the Grammy Awards. From 2009 to 2012, she was a Governor on the board for the Los Angeles Chapter. In 2013, she was elected as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter. She also served as a National Trustee for the Recording Academy from 2015 to 2017.

Mindi Abair's Music

Albums

Singles

Other Music Projects

Guest Appearances

Mindi Abair has played on many other artists' albums. Here are some of them:

Soundtrack Appearances

• License to Wed – "Every Time" (2007) track 9

Compilation Album Appearances

Mindi's music has also been featured on many compilation albums. These albums collect songs from different artists.

See also

In Spanish: Mindi Abair para niños