Carolyn Leonhart is a jazz singer who was exposed to music from a very early age. She was born in a family of musicians and so she decided to follow suit.
Her father is a jazz bassist known as Jay Leonhart while her mother, Donna Leonhart was a vocalist. Carolyn Leonhart was always attending her father’s gigs and she watched him performed with famous singers like Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, and a few others.
Her music style is said to be highly influenced by that of her father as well as other singers like Donald Fagen and Wayne Shorter.
Carolyn Leonhart’s Biography
Carolyn Leonhart was born on July 10, 1971, in New York City to Jay Leonhart and Donna Leonhart.
She attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City. She also obtained a degree in Comparative Religion.
Leonhart also studied contemporary commercial music vocal pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. She got a job as an assistant professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Age
The singer is currently 53 years old.
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Husband
Carolyn Leonhart and Wayne Escoffery met in New York Jazz club in 2002. Wayne Escoffery is a London-born saxophonist.
The two started dating shortly after a few months. They tied the knot in Manhattan on 17 January 2004. The marriage ceremony had 85 people in attendance.
The couple has collaborated on many performances and has appeared on several albums together. Their union was blessed with one child before their separation was announced in 2020.
Bands
Carolyn Leonhart started performing in bands while she was at the university. She sang with several bands at the Eastman school of music in Rochester.
She also performed with her own group at the Smoke Jazz Club New York City, Steamers, and The Vic in California. It was almost the same time she released her first album in 2000, ‘Steal the Moon’.
Leonhart joined the other members of the Swiss percussion ensemble later formed Lyn Leon. The pop group released the album glass lounge in 2004. They also toured with Al Jarreau a jazz singer in the same year.
Leonhart was made the lead backup vocalist with Steely Dan where she sang on three world tours and two of his albums. She was with Dan for close to fourteen years.
Aside from being in Lyn Leon, she is also known for her work with another group Wax Poetic. She has also performed with The Dukes of September as the vocalist.
The band was formed in 2010 and it featured Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs. It was active from 2010 to 2012.
Here are 5 Interesting Facts about Carolyn Leonhart
1. Carolyn Leonhart began singing professionally at the age of 8
At the tender age of 8, she started her career as a singer. This was quite easy for her because she was surrounded by music all her life.
She was singing on children’s albums and doing jingles for TV commercials. She also sang and performed for four years in her school’s gospel choir. Leonhart also performed in the TV show ‘It’s Showtime at the Apollo’.
2. She does not see herself as a jazz singer
Carolyn Leonhart often says that she does not consider herself a jazz singer since she has been able to cover a wide range of musical styles. She has been described as having ‘an intimate and soulful voice and broad tonal palette.’
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3. Carolyn Leonhart was named the Best College Jazz Vocalist in her senior year
While she was still in school, she recorded two solos with the Toshiba EMI label. In her senior year, she was named best college jazz vocalist by the downbeat magazine.
She had previously won the Lena Horne High School Jazz Vocalist competition also in her senior year.
4. Her brother Michael Leonhart is the youngest Grammy recipient
Carolyn Leonhart and her brother Michael Leonhart grew up singing and playing standard jazz. Her brother was honored with his first Grammy award for his outstanding high school musician in the US. He was just 17 years old at that time. He is still the youngest Grammy recipient to date.
5. Carolyn Leonhart’s aims at helping vocal students gain an awareness
Leonhart is using her position as a teacher to help vocal students gain an awareness of their instrument, freer vocal function, and learn better in other to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
