Catherine Whitney

Last updated
Catherine Whitney
Catherine Whitney.jpg
circa 2006
Background information
BornChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Singer, lyricist
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1990s–present
Website www.catherinewhitney.com

Catherine Jane Whitney (born in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz singer, composer, and lyricist. She was a lyricist for trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. [1]

Whitney learned about music as a child, since her mother, Dorothy Brady, made a living as a vocalist and bandleader in Chicago in the 1950s and '60s. Her stepfather was George E. Lescher, a pianist who played with the Spike Jones Band during World War II and was a longtime Chicago resident. In later years, he led the George Lescher Ballroom Orchestra. [2]

Whitney began her professional jazz singing career in the early 1990s under the mentoring of Von Freeman, a tenor saxophonist in Chicago. [3] Jerry Brown and Gloria Cooper have recorded her work and three songs (in collaboration with Curtis Fuller, Rodgers Grant, and Milton Sealey). [4] In October 2010, New York jazz vocalist Suzanne Pittson recorded a rendition of Freddie Hubbard's song "Our Own" (based on "Gibraltar"), which contained lyrics by Whitney. [5] She has collaborated with Johnny Griffin, Houston Person, Clifford Jordan, Stanley Turrentine, Ray Brown, and Pete Cosey. She is also a Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) affiliated writer. [6]

She has worked with many Chicago musicians, including Von Freeman, [7] John Young, Jodie Christian, John Bany, Richie Cole, Robert Shy, Tommy Muellner, Rusty Jones, Jose Valdes, Arnold Gitard, and Johnie Faren.

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References

  1. "Hubtones Music Co. – LoroMusic.com and Gopam Enterprises". www.gopammusic.com.
  2. Publication: Chicago Sun-Times Date: March 22, 1986 Section: NEWS Edition: FIVE STAR SPORTS FINAL Page: 43
  3. Critic, Howard Reich, Tribune Arts (3 August 1993). "JAZZ HEIRS". chicagotribune.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Publication: Hal Leonard print publication #HHL0074021 "Sing JAZZ! Leadsheets for 76 Jazz Vocals "
  5. Publication: All About Jazz – New York, October 2010, No. 102, p. 21 ( Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine )
  6. Archived 2016-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Publication:Article from Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) Article date:August 28, 1998 Author:Barbara Vitello, 2009 Paddock Publications.