Rare Silk

Last updated
Rare Silk
Origin Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Genres Vocal jazz, swing
Years active1979–1988
Labels Polydor, Palo Alto
Past members
  • Gaile Gillaspie
  • MaryLynn Gillaspie
  • Marguerite Juenemann
  • Todd Buffa
  • Barbara Reeves
  • Jamie Broumas

Rare Silk was an American vocal jazz group that was active during the 1980s.

MaryLynn Gillaspie and her sister, Gaile, grew up in southern California. [1] Their father played trumpet, and from an early age they heard big band music and Ella Fitzgerald. [1] In 1978, they were working as waitresses in Boulder, Colorado, with Gaile also singing at a local club. [1] After they met another singer, Marguerite Juenemann, they formed Rare Silk. [1] They sang on a local radio station and in clubs, sometimes dressed like the Andrews Sisters. [1]

In 1980, they were the opening act for Benny Goodman at the 1980 Playboy Jazz Festival. [2] They recorded their first album, New Weave, in 1983. [1] This album was nominated for two Grammy Awards. [3] It was followed by American Eyes, which was released in 1985, and Black and Blue, in 1986. [1]

Juenemann left the group and was replaced by Barbara Reeves and then by Jamie Broumas. [2] The band broke up in 1988. [1] [2]

Discography

Studio albums
Live albums

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dickson, Ellie (26 August 2015). "Gillaspie jazzes up Main Street in Louisville". Colorado Hometown Weekly. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "Rare Silk". AllMusic . Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. "Rare Silk". Grammy.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-22.