Rachelle Ferrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachelle Ferrell
Ferrell in a performance on June 6, 2011
Background information
Birth name	Rachelle Stephanie Ferrell
Born	(1961-05-21) May 21, 1961 (age 64) Berwyn, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop rock jazz fusion neo soul pop classical
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer pianist
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Capitol Blue Note

Rachelle Ferrell (born May 21, 1961) is an American singer and musician. She is well-known for her amazing talent as a contemporary jazz singer. She is praised for her strong voice, wide vocal range, and ability to improvise with her voice. She can even sing in a very high "whistle" voice! Rachelle has also had success in R&B, pop, gospel, and classical music.

Early life and musical journey

Rachelle Ferrell started singing when she was just six years old. She also learned to play the violin and piano from a young age. By the time she was a teenager, she was already performing as a professional musician. She began playing the violin at 13. In her mid-teens, she started performing as a pianist and singer. After studying at the Berklee College of Music, she taught music for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Her musical career

Starting as a backup singer (1975–1988)

From 1975 to 1990, Rachelle Ferrell sang backup for famous artists like Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, and Vanessa Williams. In 1988, she also toured as a backup singer for Phyllis Hyman. That same year, she sang backup on Miles Jaye's song "Desiree."

First albums and tours (1989–1997)

In 1989, Rachelle Ferrell signed her own recording deal with Capitol Records. Her first album, First Instrument, was released in Japan in 1990. This album featured her own versions of classic jazz standards.

In September 1992, she released her second album, Rachelle Ferrell. This album included popular songs like "Til You Come Back to Me" and "Welcome to My Love." The album was very successful and earned a gold-status award. In 1992, she also appeared on George Duke's album Snapshot. In 1993, Rachelle Ferrell started her own concert tour and performed at several jazz festivals. Her album First Instrument was released in the USA in 1995.

From 1995 to 1997, Ferrell toured with the George Duke Band. They even released a concert film called Live at Montreux. This film showed their performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1997. She also sang backup on George Duke's albums Illusions (1995) and Is Love Enough? (1997).

New music and chart success (2000–2002)

In August 2000, Rachelle Ferrell released her third album, Individuality (Can I Be Me?). This album was a big hit! It reached number 1 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart. It sold over 160,000 copies. Two songs from the album, "I Forgive You" and "Satisfied," were also very popular. In 2001, Ferrell went on tour to support this album. In April 2002, she released a live album called Live in Montreux 91–97.

Recent activities (2006–present)

In 2006, Rachelle Ferrell released a song called "Wounds in the Way." This song was part of the Madea's Family Reunion movie soundtrack. In 2008, she appeared on George Duke's album Dukey Treats. In 2014, Ferrell performed at the Capital Jazz Festival. In 2018, she performed at a special tribute to Phyllis Hyman at the Capital Jazz Festival. Rachelle Ferrell has also shared that she is working on a new album called The Art and Soul of Rachelle Ferrell.

Her amazing vocal ability

Rachelle Ferrell has an incredible vocal range of six octaves. This means she can sing very low notes and extremely high notes. She can even sing and make clear sounds in the whistle register. This is a very high vocal technique. Her highest notes in the song "It Only Took A Minute" (from 1992) have been compared to the high singing of Minnie Riperton.

Discography

Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Rachelle Ferrell para niños