changamiré the jazz singer
United States of America DCRaised on the music of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Dinah Washington, Changamiré began singing at jam sessions and receiving vocal instruction around the Washington, D.C. area. Glenn Turner (Gil Scott Heron) was her first vocal coach, and she later studied with the late vocalist and Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival founder, Ronnie Wells, and late Howard Theatre bandleader and saxophonist, Charlie Hampton.
In 2001, she self-released her critically acclaimed debut album, Only Human, which featured a 14-piece string section. AllAboutJazz.com said, “It's difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it's the comfort and familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well.”
In 2005, Changamiré founded Sonnig Records, an entertainment and music production and publishing company, to provide the local and global community with exceptional music and musician advocacy. Since 2007, she has performed across the world, accompanied by a world class ensemble: Count Basie alum, Lincoln Ross, on trombone and leads as Music Director; the brilliant Clifton Brockington on piano; bluesy BT Richardson on bass; drummer to the stars, Steve Walker; and the incomparable Donvonte McCoy on trumpet.
Her second album, Love, released in 2014, and she is currently planning a Billie Holiday tribute album. Under her company’s service, Sonnig Entertainment, she selects accomplished musicians of various genres for special event performances.
Changamiré is the recipient of awards from United States Artists, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Department of Small & Local Business Development. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Washington, DC and the Women’s Committee of Washington Performing Arts and Co-Founder of The New Jazz Listener, a weekly jazz advocacy program that serves a virtual community of over 10k members.
Changamiré is an art and fashion enthusiast, the latter for which she has curated her lifestyle collection, Robinette Kimberley.