Nnenna Freelon
Nnenna Freelon | |
---|---|
![]() Freelon in 1998 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Chinyere Nnenna Pierce |
Born | Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. | July 28, 1954
Genres | Jazz, pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Concord, Columbia |
Website | nnenna |
Nnenna Freelon (born July 28, 1954) is an American jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger.
Early life and education
Freelon was born Chinyere Nnenna Pierce to Charles and Frances Pierce in
She suggests that her influences included several "not famous people" as well as Nina Simone and Billy Eckstine, whose records her parents played at home. "It's important to expose your children to a wide musical environment," she says. "I did something that my grandmother told me: 'Bloom where you're planted', 'don't get on a bus and go to New York or L.A., sing where you are'."[2]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Nnenna_Freelon%2C_Clark_Terry.jpg/220px-Nnenna_Freelon%2C_Clark_Terry.jpg)
In 1990, Nnenna Freelon went to the Southern Arts Federation's jazz meeting and met
She has worked with
Babysong workshops
Freelon is the national spokesperson for the National Association of Partners in Education, an organization with over 400,000 school and community partnership programs across the United States, dedicated to arts education.
Personal life
In 1979, she married architect
Awards and honors
- Eubie Blake Award, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute
- Billie Holiday Award, Académie du Jazz
Discography
Year | Title | Genre | Label | Billboard[10] |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Nnenna Freelon | Jazz | Columbia | 11 |
1993 | Heritage | 10 | ||
1994 | Listen | 20 | ||
1996 | Shaking Free | Concord | ||
1998 | Maiden Voyage | 10 | ||
2000 | Soulcall | 13 | ||
2002 | Tales of Wonder | 7 | ||
2003 | Church – Songs of Soul and Inspiration Various Artists – Ooh Child – Nnenna Freelon |
Gospel | Utv Records | 157 |
Live at The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. | Jazz | Concord | ||
2005 | Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday | 13 | ||
2008 | Better Than Anything | |||
2010 | Homefree | |||
2012 | Christmas | Brown Boulevard | ||
2021 | Time Traveler | Origin Records | ||
2023 | AnceStars with Pierce Freelon | Children's music | Blackspace Records |
Grammy history
Nnenna Freelon Grammy Awards History | |||||
Year | Category | Title | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Best Jazz Vocal Performance | Shaking Free | Nominated | ||
1999 | Maiden Voyage | Nominated | |||
2001 | Jazz Vocal Album | Soulcall | Nominated | ||
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal
|
Button Up Your Overcoat | Nominated | |||
2006 | Best Jazz Vocal Album | Blueprint of a Lady – Sketches of Billie Holiday | Nominated | ||
2022 | Time Traveler | Nominated | |||
2024 | Best Children's Album | AnceStars | Pending |
References
- ^ a b "Interview with Nnenna's husband, architect Philip G. Freelon". Baltimore Sun. June 5, 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
- ^ a b "Billy Taylor's Jazz". www.npr.org. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ The Profound, Introspective and Supremely Talented, Nnenna Freelon, (Retrieved August 18, 2007)
- ^ National Association of Partners in Education Archived 2007-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Boston Globe – June 9, 2006, Freelon not afraid to voice individuality, (Retrieved August 18, 2007)
- ^ "Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz: Nnenna Freelon". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
- ^ Blackademics website
- ^ "Faculty Profile – Deen Freelon". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "I Want to Make Joy: Maya Freelon Asante". DareGreatly.com. Cadillac. February 7, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
- ^ Billboard Chart History for Nnenna Freelon