Happy birthday to singer and songwriter extraordinaire Rachelle Ferrell, born May 21, 1961. The six-octave vocalist has spent the last three-plus decades as one of the most respected artists in both the jazz and soul arenas.
Born in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Ferrell grew up in a musical family and began playing piano at the age of six. She attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied composition and arrangement. After graduation, she began performing in various jazz clubs and soon caught the attention of some of the industry’s top musicians.
Ferrell’s career began as a background singer for Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle and others, and her prowess won for her a recording contract with Capitol Records.
It was her second album, the 1991 self-titled Rachelle Ferrell, that was her breakthrough, hitting both the R&B and Pop album charts. Three years later, a reissue of her debut album, called First Instrument, hit the Jazz top five.
Throughout her career, Ferrell has collaborated with a diverse range of musicians, including George Duke, Marcus Miller, and Will Downing. She has also shared the stage with legends such as Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Al Jarreau. And though it has been two decades since she released a new album, Ferrell continues to be one of the most referenced musical artists of her generation.
