Callie Cardamon
Raised in the Midwest, Callie first attracted major-label attention when she was completing an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and recording songs on the side. At the suggestion of Jovan Mrvos, then A&R at Arista Records, she moved to Nashville to hone her songwriting skills.
Callie was later signed as a singer-songwriter to Sony CBS-New York, but due to the vagaries of the music business, her major-label debut was not released. Instead, she started Primavera Records with Eric Rawson (co-writer/arranger/producer) and released “Time and the Weather,” a CD of all-original material, in 1997. The album, featuring the light-hearted "Spanish Wine" and the mournful "Sometimes I Need a Mother” was well-received by the indie community.
Despite success on indie stations, Callie stopped writing and recording for several years, having grown disenchanted with the business end of making music. During this time, Greg Michaelson, an accomplished vocalist and friend, re-inspired her delight in music and in singing by introducing her to the Great American Songbook. After a long recording hiatus, Callie released “Easy Street” (2010), honoring the great writers and singers of the mid-twentieth century (and featuring her sexy original “Love Jazz”). "Easy Street" received extensive global airplay, with DJs worldwide pronouncing "Love Jazz" a "new" standard.
“The standards are archetypal songs,” Callie says, “and thus they have the power to speak to a broad range of listeners. That’s what interests me. I love inhabiting a song that has been alive for decades. It ensconces me in Time itself in a way no other experience has the power to do. I love that the songs have enchanted listeners for so long. It’s a privilege to sing them.”
For the next several years, Callie recorded under the name C.C. Grace, releasing three more albums of originals and covers, which have gained her a new following of folk-rock fans.
With "Jump for Joy," a 5-song EP released in 2020, Callie returns to jazz.
Callie lives in Pasadena, California.
Tags
"Callie's songs fits her passionate voice like a glove. Love every track. Outstanding singer! Clear diction, seductive arrangements with responsive backing to this smooth and mellow voice."
Rob Scott "Midday Jazz" ... Radio 2 RRR FM 88.5 ... Sydney, Australia
"Jump for Joy" is an absolute joy to listen to. The selection of songs and presentation is so refreshing, and Callie's voice is out of this world. Add to all of this the extraordinary sound recording quality, and you have an incredible musical journey."
Peter Hammond Producer / Presenter ... 2MAXFM ... Narrabri Australia
Tony Bennett
voice / vocalsChris Connor
voice / vocalsElla Fitzgerald
voice / vocalsBillie Holiday
voice / vocalsEtta Jones
voice / vocalsCarmen McRae
voice / vocalsJoni Mitchell
voice / vocalsSarah Vaughan
voice / vocalsDinah Washington
voice / vocalsNancy Wilson
voice / vocalsPhotos
Album Discography
On the Street Where You Live
From: Jump for JoyBy Callie Cardamon
Easy Street
From: Easy StreetBy Callie Cardamon