Nnenna Freelon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nnenna Freelon
Background information
Born	(1954-07-28) July 28, 1954 (age 71) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Concord, Columbia, Origin Records

Nnenna Freelon, born on July 28, 1954, is a talented American jazz singer. She also writes, produces, and arranges music. She is known for her amazing voice and her work in jazz music.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Nnenna Freelon was born Chinyere Nnenna Pierce in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She grew up there with her brother Melvin and sister Debbie. From a young age, Nnenna loved to sing. She often sang in her community and at her church. She once said that she started singing in church, just like many other singers.

Nnenna went to Simmons College in Boston. She earned a degree in health care administration. For a while, she worked at a hospital in Durham, North Carolina. Nnenna shares that her musical inspirations included her parents' favorite artists, like Nina Simone and Billy Eckstine. She believes it's important for parents to share many kinds of music with their children. She also followed her grandmother's advice: "Bloom where you're planted." This meant she should sing where she was, instead of moving to big cities like New York or Los Angeles.

Her Journey in Music

Nnenna Freelon with jazz legend Clark Terry in 2006

A big moment in Nnenna's career happened in 1990. She met Ellis Marsalis, a famous jazz musician and teacher. At that time, Nnenna had been singing for seven years. Ellis Marsalis wanted to help new artists. He asked Nnenna for her music and information. Two years later, she signed with Columbia Records.

Nnenna released her first CD, Nnenna Freelon, in 1992. She was in her late 30s when she made her debut album. After a few years, she signed with Concord Records in 1996.

Working with Other Artists

Nnenna Freelon has performed with many famous musicians. Some of these include Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, and Clark Terry. She has also sung at well-known places like Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Babysong Workshops

Nnenna Freelon is a spokesperson for the National Association of Partners in Education. This group helps connect schools and communities across the United States. They focus on arts education for young people.

Nnenna also uses her musical talents to help others. In 1990, she started her "Babysong" workshops at Duke University Medical Center. These workshops teach new mothers and healthcare workers how important the human voice is for healing and caring. She teaches parents that singing to their children can help with brain development.

Her Family Life

In 1979, Nnenna married architect Philip Freelon. They raised three children: Deen, Maya, and Pierce. Nnenna decided to become a professional jazz singer after her children were older.

Her son, Pierce Freelon, is a hip hop artist and a professor. He also started a website called Blackademics, where he has interviewed many important people. Her son Deen Freelon is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He studies how social media and politics are connected. Her daughter, Maya Freelon Asante, is a visual artist.

Awards and Special Honors

Nnenna Freelon has received several awards for her music.

• Eubie Blake Award from the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute
• Billie Holiday Award from the Académie du Jazz

Her Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Nnenna Freelon has released:

Grammy Award Nominations

Nnenna Freelon has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, which are very important music awards.

See also

In Spanish: Nnenna Freelon para niños