Kevin Mahogany

Kevin Mahogany

Jazz singer Kevin Mahogany at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Jazz Fest on March 4, 2007
Born (1958-07-30) July 30, 1958
Kansas City, Missouri

Kevin Mahogany (born July 30, 1958,[1] in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American jazz vocalist who became prominent in the 1990s. He is known for his scat singing,[2] and his singing style has been compared with jazz singers Joe Williams[3] and Johnny Hartman.[4]

Early years

Kevin Mahogany began his study of music as a child with piano and later learned to play the clarinet and baritone saxophone, performing with jazz bands and teaching music while still in high school. "When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household" says Mahogany. "In fact piano lessons were a grade school staple for the whole family."[5] Mahogany attended Baker University, where he performed with both instrumental and vocal ensembles and formed a vocal jazz group. In 1981, Mahogany received his BFA in Music and English Drama.

Performing

After graduation, he returned to Kansas City where he attracted a local following in the 1980s performing with his groups, "The Apollos" and "Mahogany." In 1991, he was featured on a CD by Frank Mantooth.[6]

His first CD release as a solo artist was Double Rainbow in 1993. This was followed by the self-titled album Kevin Mahogany, which won him his first critical acclaim in the media, prompting Newsweek to call Mahogany "the standout jazz vocalist of his generation."[7]

Mahogany appeared in Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City, playing a character said to be based on Kansas City singer Big Joe Turner.[8]

Kevin Mahogany lists his vocal influences as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Al Jarreau and Eddie Jefferson.[9] As a jazz educator, Mahogany has taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Miami.[10]

Discography

With Enja Records:

With Warner Bros.:

With Telarc:

With Jazz Empress

Under his own label, Mahogany Music:

With Elvin Jones

References

External links

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