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Kellylee Evans Named December “Best Vocalist Of The
Month” With Her Song “Hooked”
By Dale Kawashima
Kellylee Evans, an excellent, soul/jazz singer &
songwriter based in Toronto, ON, Canada, has won the December SingerUniverse
“Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of her song
“Hooked”. This song is one of 11 cuts included on her debut CD Fight Or
Flight, which she released independently in Canada in May (2006) and in the
U.S. in August.
Kellylee Evans
“Hooked” is an elegant, jazz/R&B midtempo song, which
combines the sensual soul style of Sadé with the vocal power of a Cassandra
Wilson or Tracy Chapman. Evans wrote this song by herself, and the recording was
expertly produced by Evans with Lonnie Plaxico, who is a noted jazz bassist who
has worked with Cassandra Wilson, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis and others.
Evans was born and raised in Toronto, and she began singing
at an early age. She was influenced by such varied artists as Sarah Vaughan,
Blondie, Sadé and Shania Twain. Evans also plays some guitar and piano. During
high school, Evans sang in Toronto’s Mendelsohn Youth Choir, and she performed
in local talent contests.
For college, Evans attended Carleton University in Ottawa,
where she earned Bachelor degrees in both Legal Studies and English Literature.
She then came close to finishing her studies for a Masters degree, but then two
events occurred which changed her life and goals. “I almost finished my Masters
thesis, but then my mother got sick and passed away,” explained Evans. “I also
had a brush with death due to an allergic reaction to a medication. These
events got me thinking about going for my dreams and pursuing music. [As a result] I left school and
started to make music my career.”
Kellylee Evans
Soon after, Evans knew she was on the right track, when in
September 2004 she won second place in the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz
international competition (which was judged by such prominent figures as Quincy
Jones and Al Jarreau). Evans flew to Washington, DC to perform at the awards
show. In addition, she has recently been nominated by the Canadian Smooth Jazz
Awards for female vocalist of the year, and nominated by the Toronto
Independent Music Awards.
With the release of her album Fight Or Flight (which
is a mixture of R&B soul, jazz, world rhythms, and Caribbean music), Evans
is building a solid reputation as a talented artist to watch. Her album has
sold an impressive 8,000 units, and she has been a featured artist selection in
Barnes & Noble stores throughout the U.S. Also, Evans is touring regularly,
with her husband Raul Li assisting as her tour manager. And now she has gotten a
further boost - she has just signed on with a top booking agency, Feldman &
Associates.
In addition, here are four, talented vocalists/artists who complete our Top Five Vocalists honorees list for this month's competition, with their credits, plus their e-mail and website links:
L. Julius
"Are We Still A Couple." (R&B/pop). Performed by L. Julius of Charlotte, NC. Written by Lloyd Williams.