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Take Five With Quinn Lemley

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Meet Quinn Lemley: Sultry Lounge Diva Quinn Lemley brings film star glamour, enchanting audiences with standards inspired by the sirens of the '40s, '50s and '60s.

Quinn Lemley has appeared at major theatres and clubs around the US and Europe, most recently she returned to packed houses at B.B. King's Blues Club in NYC, Times Square; Ruth Eckert Hall, Clearwater, FL (three runs - 35 shows sold out at The Half Note in Athens, Greece), followed by 15 sold-out shows at The Joslyn Theatre, Palm Desert, CA.

Additional engagements include The Annenberg, Palm Springs, CA plus New York City's Algonquin, The Firebird, Town Hall, Symphony Space, Shelly's, Tavern on The Green; The Rainbow Room; LA's Spazzio, The Knitting Factory and Gardenia including international tours of Switzerland and mainland China, where she performed in stadiums. Quinn is excited to be touring this year in Performing Arts Centers around the country!

An actress, as well as vocalist, Quinn has brought her critically acclaimed performance to these venues, with rave reviews, sold-out crowds while leaving a taste of the glamour from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Quinn's New York stage credits include Israel Horovitz's Barking Sharks; Off-Broadway workshops of Rita; Hollywood Goddess and a Turkish tour of David Ives' Universal Language.

Quinn has recorded 5 CDs: Sirens, Songs of the Silver Screen, Cocktails With a Twist, Dance or Die - The Heat Is On! and Live! At The Half Note available at http://www.quinnlemley.com and http://www.myspace.com/QuinnLemleyCAMA.

Quinn has received rave reviews and has appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah and Geraldo.

Representation: Century Artists Management Agency, LLC http://www.centuryartists.com Contact: Paul E. Horton 212.245.5600 [email protected]

Instrument: vocals.

Teachers and/or influences? I have been influenced by the girl band singers of the '40s, '50s and '60s like Julie London, Peggy Lee and Eartha Kitt. I've been so fortunate to study with extraordinary teachers in New York: Marianne Challis and Shirley Callaway (mother to Ann Hampton and Liz Callaway). I started studying voice at 12 privately then went to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, went to La Conservatoire National de Bordeaux in France studying with the legendary Christianne Castelli before attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I think I was born singing! My parents played jazz, broadway and classical for me when I was in the womb! I knew I wanted to be a performer when I was five, playing a "Far Out Sexy Woman from a foreign land in White Cloud and the Seven Dwarfs! It all started in those arts programs for kids!

Your sound and approach to music: I am driven by the lyrics of a piece. Each song is a story. I tap into different aspects of my life to go deep within myself to tell the story, to communicate. Who I am singing to, why I'm telling the story, the mood influences the arrangement. A lot of times I will find a song and have an idea of how I want to shape the piece, but I compile recordings of other artists who have covered the song to see if I can be inspired. The piece then takes its own form through the creative process.

Your teaching approach: I like to use a lot of Q & A, PowerPoint and examples through stories. I like to know what my students are thinking, what they are working on and to work through blocks, pushing to go deeper. I create a safe and supportive environment to risk and follow dreams.

Your dream band: I have it!

Anecdote from the road: I was at The Half Note in Athens and I change my gowns during the show, I didn't have a dresser on this date. We had a packed house. I was entering on "C'est Si Bon, the stage was a thrust stage so people were on three sides, I came out and started singing and my saxophonist, Marcus McDonald, stopped playing and ran over to me and zipped my dress up. The Greek Audiences yelled, "Why Marcus, Why? Nobody saw anything except my band - but the enthusiastic Greek audience loved it! I kept on singing and we got a huge applause.

Anecdote: Always make sure your dress is zipped! And know that your band will always cover your back! They are the best!

Favorite venue: B.B. King's Blues Club in New York! This is our second time. The sound is incredible. The staff is so supportive and talented on every level. I am looking forward to playing Performing Arts Centers around the country, 500-2000 seats!

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Robbie Williams, Live at Prince Albert Hall.

It is such a great tribute to the Rat Pack. Perfectly Produced! So much fun.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? I take audiences on a journey. I'm emotional, theatrical and my greatest desire is to be connected.

Did you know... I'm from Columbus, Indiana originally and lived in Bordeaux France when I was 16!

How you use the internet to help your career? I use my website, http://www.quinnlemley.com, as a tool to view my video clips, listen to music and direct fans and bookers to my site.

My manager Paul Horton at Century Artists has an amazing site at http://www.centuryartists.com.

We also use links to YouTube, iTunes and a lot of our online promotions are through an enflyer company.

CDs you are listening to now: Robbie Williams, Live at Royal Albert Hall; Diana Krall, The Look Of Love; Pink Martini. Sympatique; Frank Sinatra, The Best Of Frank Sinatra.

Desert Island picks: Robbie Williams, Live at Royal Albert Hall; Diana Krall, The Look Of Love; Pink Martini. Sympatique; Frank Sinatra, The Best Of Frank Sinatra.

How would you describe the state of jazz today? Eclectic and global. Great for bridging cultures together.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing? To use the musical influences that you experience by incorporating them in your work

What is in the near future? I'm launching a huge tour around the US kicking off at B.B. King's on February 22, 2007 with the Tedd Firth big band. It's The Heat is On, a tribute to Rita Hayworth using the great standards of that era. We then travel to Performing Arts Centers around the US.

By Day: I lecture on the creative process and work on my shows.

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