Quiana Lynell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quiana Lynell
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Performing at the New Orleans French Quarter Fest 2024
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 16, 1981 Tyler, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, funk, R&B, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, song writer |
| Instruments | Singing |
| Labels | Concord Records |
Quiana Lynell, born on April 16, 1981, is an amazing American singer, songwriter, and arranger. She is known for her powerful voice in blues and jazz music.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Quiana Lynell was born in Tyler, Texas. She grew up in a family that loved gospel music. This meant she heard a lot of gospel songs from a very young age. When she was in high school, she was part of the all-state choir, which shows how talented she was even then!
Education and Learning
After high school, Quiana moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to continue her education. She received a scholarship to attend Louisiana State University. There, she earned a special degree in Vocal Performance. This means she studied how to sing and perform professionally.
Music Career
Starting as a Singer
Quiana Lynell first started her singing journey as a classical singer. She was a member of the choir at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge. Later, she met Janelle Brown, who was the lead singer of a zydeco band called 2 Da T. This meeting helped Quiana explore new types of music, like zydeco and R&B.
Learning from the Best
Quiana has been lucky to learn from some very famous artists. These mentors include Aaron Neville, Germaine Bazzle, and Wendell Brunious. They helped her grow as a musician and understand different styles of music.
Winning Awards and Recording
In 2017, Quiana won a big award called the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. This was a huge achievement! Because she won, she got a special contract to record her music with Concord Records. This helped her share her music with even more people.
Performing Live
Quiana Lynell has performed with many well-known musicians. Some of these include Nona Hendryx, Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, and Patti Austin. She also performs regularly in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. She has been a featured artist at the famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival many times.
In 2017, she performed a special concert with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This concert celebrated the 100th birthday of the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. In 2018, Quiana was a featured artist at the R&B Festival in Brooklyn, New York.
Releasing Music
Quiana has released her own music too. In 2016, she released an EP (which is like a mini-album) called Loving Me. She also released a single song called Baton Rouge. She has also been a featured singer on other artists' albums.
Teaching and Community Work
Quiana Lynell also loves to teach. She created an educational program called "Made in America: Lyrically Speaking." This program teaches students about jazz, blues, and other American music styles from a singer's point of view. She has used this program in schools across the United States.
She also started a running club called Musicians Run in Baton Rouge. This club encourages local musicians to stay active by running.
Quiana has worked as a band director in elementary and middle schools. Since 2016, she has been a private vocal teacher. She also teaches as a professor at Loyola University in New Orleans.
Discography
- 2018: Live at the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Munck Music)
- 2019: A Little Love (Concord Jazz)
- 2022: Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Munck Music)
Awards and Recognition
- 2017: Winner of Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition
- 2017: Nominee for Best Emerging Artist, Best of the Beat Awards
Personal Life
Quiana Lynell lives in Baton Rouge and has two children.
