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{{Short description|American jazz singer (born 1951)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Laurel Massé
| name = Laurel Massé
| image =
| image =
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Laurel Anne Massé
| birth_name = Laurel Anne Massé
| birth_date = 1954
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|12|29}}
| birth_place = [[Holland, Michigan|Holland]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Holland, Michigan]], U.S.
| genre = [[Vocal jazz]], [[pop music|pop]], [[classical music|classical]], [[vocal music|vocal]]
| genre = [[Vocal jazz]], [[pop music|pop]], [[classical music|classical]], [[vocal music|vocal]]
| occupation = Singer, educator
| occupation = Singer, educator
| instrument = Vocals
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 1972–present
| years_active = 1972–present
| label = [[Pausa Records|Pausa]]
| label = [[Pausa Records|Pausa]]
| associated_acts = [[The Manhattan Transfer]]
| associated_acts = [[The Manhattan Transfer]]
| website = {{URL|www.laurelmasse.com}}
| website = {{URL|www.laurelmasse.com}}
}}
}}


'''Laurel Massé''' is a jazz singer and founding member of the Manhattan Transfer.
'''Laurel Massé''' (born December 29, 1951) is an American jazz singer and former member of [[The Manhattan Transfer]].


==Career==
==Career==
Massé was born in [[Holland, Michigan|Holland]], Michigan, grew up in Westchester County, New York, and lived in Europe during her teens. Early in school, she developed a fondness for classical music, particularly [[Beethoven]], though she also cites the Beatles, [[Pablo Casals]], and her grandfather as influences.<ref name="Sawyers">{{cite web| last1 = Sawyers |first1 = June| title = Laurel Masse: Manhattan Transfers To Solo| url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-06-05/entertainment/8702110548_1_laurel-masse-orphans-beauty| website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|accessdate=24 March 2017| language =en | date=5 June 1987}}</ref> Her grandfather sang with Fred Waring's [[Waring's Pennsylvanians|Pennsylvanians]], and her mother sang opera. Massé started on piano, played cello in her teens, and was her own teacher on guitar during the 1960s. She sang in the choir and belonged to rock bands in high school.<ref name="Yanow">{{cite web|last1=Yanow|first1=Scott|title=Laurel Massé |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/laurel-mass%C3%A9-mn0000138948/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=24 March 2017}}</ref> She was unfamiliar with jazz until the age of twenty.<ref name="Sawyers" />
Massé was born in [[Holland, Michigan]], grew up in [[Westchester County, New York]], and lived in Europe during her teens. Early in school, she developed a fondness for [[classical music]], particularly [[Beethoven]], though she also cites the Beatles, [[Pablo Casals]], and her grandfather as influences.<ref name="Sawyers">{{cite web| last1 = Sawyers |first1 = June| title = Laurel Masse: Manhattan Transfers To Solo| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/06/05/laurel-masse-manhattan-transfers-to-solo/| website=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=24 March 2017| language =en | date=5 June 1987}}</ref> Her grandfather sang with Fred Waring's [[Waring's Pennsylvanians|Pennsylvanians]], and her mother sang opera. Massé started on piano, played cello in her teens, and was her own teacher on guitar during the 1960s. She sang in the choir and belonged to rock bands in high school.<ref name="Yanow">{{cite web|last1=Yanow|first1=Scott|title=Laurel Massé |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/laurel-mass%C3%A9-mn0000138948/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=24 March 2017}}</ref> When she was very young, her parents took her to see [[Count Basie]] as a birthday present, but Massé was otherwise unfamiliar with jazz until the age of 20.<ref name="Sawyers" />


In 1972, Massé was working as a waitress in New York City when she stepped into a taxi driven by [[Tim Hauser]]. Massé and Hauser had the same ambition to be singers. Hauser had formed a vocal group, [[the Manhattan Transfer]], which broke up after recording one album. Some weeks later, one of Hauser's passengers took him to a party where he met [[Janis Siegel]], another aspiring singer. Then he was introduced to [[Alan Paul]], and the quartet was complete.<ref name="Weber">{{cite web | last1 = Weber | first1=Bruce|title=Tim Hauser, the Founder of the Manhattan Transfer, Dies at 72|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/arts/music/tim-hauser-the-founder-of-the-manhattan-transfer-dies-at-72.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=24 March 2017|date=17 October 2014}}</ref> Massé's background in multiple genres fit the Manhattan Transfer's diverse repertoire of jazzy pop, rock, and swing.<ref name="Yanow" />
In 1972, Massé was working as a waitress in [[New York City]] when she stepped into a taxi driven by [[Tim Hauser]]. Massé and Hauser had the same ambition to be singers. Hauser had formed a vocal group, [[the Manhattan Transfer]], which broke up after recording one album. Some weeks later, one of Hauser's passengers took him to a party where he met [[Janis Siegel]], another aspiring singer. Then he was introduced to [[Alan Paul]], and the quartet was complete.<ref name="Weber">{{cite web | last1 = Weber | first1=Bruce|title=Tim Hauser, the Founder of the Manhattan Transfer, Dies at 72|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/arts/music/tim-hauser-the-founder-of-the-manhattan-transfer-dies-at-72.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=24 March 2017|date=17 October 2014}}</ref> Massé's background in multiple genres fit the Manhattan Transfer's repertoire of jazzy pop, rock, and swing.<ref name="Yanow" />


With the Manhattan Transfer Massé toured worldwide, appeared on TV, and sold millions of albums until a car accident in 1978. Unhappy with life in the group, she considered the accident a providential opportunity to start a solo career.<ref name="Accident">{{cite web|last1=Wyatt|first1=Judith|title=For Singer Laurel Masse, Success Was No Accident|url=http://articles.mcall.com/1990-05-04/features/2745631_1_masse-sing-lutheran-services|website=tribunedigital-mcall|accessdate=25 March 2017|language=en|date=4 May 1990}}</ref> In 1981, she moved to Chicago, and with the help of Judy Roberts, a singer and pianist, she returned to singing in clubs. She recorded her first solo album, ''Alone Together'' ([[Pausa Records|Pausa]], 1984), and toured in the U.S. and Canada.<ref name="Chicago">{{cite web|last1=McCormick|first1=Moria|title=Laurel Massé Transfers to Chicago|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ByUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT26&lpg=PT26&dq=%22laurel+masse%22&source=bl&ots=qhMACgVMuF&sig=pOYjGdpwkhFo2aL7GB2UKyODHWU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjz5sHxmvDSAhVH8IMKHQkTBnsQ6AEI-gEwKA#v=onepage&q=%22laurel%20masse%22&f=false|website=Google Books/Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|accessdate=24 March 2017|language=en|date=5 January 1985}}</ref>
With the Manhattan Transfer, Massé toured worldwide, appeared on TV, and sold millions of albums until a car accident in 1979. Unhappy with life in the group, she considered the accident a providential opportunity to start a solo career.<ref name="Accident">{{cite web|last1=Wyatt|first1=Judith|title=For Singer Laurel Masse, Success Was No Accident|url=https://www.mcall.com/1990/05/04/for-singer-laurel-masse-success-was-no-accident/|website=tribunedigital-mcall|access-date=25 March 2017|language=en|date=4 May 1990}}</ref> In 1981, she moved to Chicago, and with the help of [[Judy Roberts]], a singer and pianist, she returned to singing in clubs. She recorded her first solo album, ''Alone Together'' ([[Pausa Records|Pausa]], 1984), and toured in the U.S. and Canada.<ref name="Chicago">{{cite web|last1=McCormick|first1=Moria|title=Laurel Massé Transfers to Chicago|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ByUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22laurel+masse%22&pg=PT26|website=Google Books/Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|accessdate=24 March 2017|language=en|date=5 January 1985}}</ref>


During the 1990s, Massé lived near the [[Adirondack Mountains]] in New York, concentrating on classical and [[Celtic music]].<ref name="Yanow" /> In 1997, she started teaching at the [[Ashokan Center|Ashokan Music and Dance Camp]], and in 2004 at the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She has also taught at Dartmouth College and the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in England.<ref name="Official">{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://laurelmasse.com/biography/|website=laurelmasse.com|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> She has been a soloist and member of the choir of the [[Cathedral of Saint John the Divine]] in New York.<ref name="Official" />
During the 1990s, Massé lived in [[North Creek, New York]] in the [[Adirondack Mountains]], concentrating on classical and [[Celtic music]].<ref name="Yanow" /> In 1997, she started teaching at the [[Ashokan Center|Ashokan Music and Dance Camp]], and in 2004 at the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She has also taught at [[Dartmouth College]] and the [[Royal Academy of Music]] in England.<ref name="Official">{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://laurelmasse.com/biography/|website=laurelmasse.com|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> She has been a soloist and member of the choir of the [[Cathedral of St. John the Divine]] in New York.<ref name="Official" />


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 35: Line 36:
* ''Again'' (Disques Beaupré, 1990)
* ''Again'' (Disques Beaupré, 1990)
* ''Feather & Bone'' (Premonition, 2001)
* ''Feather & Bone'' (Premonition, 2001)
* ''That Old Mercer Magic'', Jalala with [[Janis Siegel]], Lauren Kinhan (Dare, 2009)
* ''That Old Mercer Magic'' with [[Janis Siegel]] and Lauren Kinhan as Jalala (Dare, 2009)
* ''Once in a Million Moons'' with Tex Arnold (2012)<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web|title=Laurel Massé {{!}} Album Discography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/laurel-mass%C3%A9-mn0000138948/discography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref>
* ''Once in a Million Moons'' with Tex Arnold (2012)


'''With [[The Manhattan Transfer]]'''
'''With [[The Manhattan Transfer]]'''
* 1975 ''[[The Manhattan Transfer (album)|The Manhattan Transfer]]''
* ''[[The Manhattan Transfer (album)|The Manhattan Transfer]]'' (1975)
* 1976 ''[[Coming Out (album)|Coming Out]]''
* ''[[Coming Out (album)|Coming Out]]'' (1976)
* 1977 ''[[Pastiche (album)|Pastiche]]''
* ''[[Pastiche (album)|Pastiche]]'' (1977)
* 1978 ''[[The Manhattan Transfer Live]]''
* ''[[The Manhattan Transfer Live]]'' (1978)
* 1979 ''Just a Gigolo'' (soundtrack)


'''With others'''
'''With others'''
* 1973 ''[[Barry Manilow (1973 album)|Barry Manilow]]'', [[Barry Manilow]]
* [[Tim Curry]], ''[[Simplicity (Tim Curry album)|Simplicity]]'' (1981)
* 1974 ''The Second Coming'', Jerry LaCroix
* [[Carol Hall]], ''Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall'', (2008)
* [[Barry Manilow]], ''[[Barry Manilow (1973 album)|Barry Manilow]]'' (1973)
* 1977 ''White Shadows'', [[Tim Moore (singer-songwriter)|Tim Moore]]
* [[Tim Moore (singer-songwriter)|Tim Moore]], ''White Shadows'' (1977)
* 1981 ''[[Simplicity (Tim Curry album)|Simplicity]]'', [[Tim Curry]]
* [[Professor Louie]], ''Flyin' High'' (2002)
* 2001 ''Love's Grand Adventure'', Tad Wise
⚫
* [[Layne Redmond]], ''Invoking the Muse'' (2004)
* 2002 ''Flyin' High'', [[Professor Louie]]
* 2003 ''New Deal'', [[Tony Trischka]]
* [[Tony Trischka]], ''New Deal'' (2003)
⚫
* 2004 ''Invoking the Muse'', [[Layne Redmond]]
* 2008 ''Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall'', [[Carol Hall]]
* 2009 ''Somewhere Else'', Killian Mansfield<ref name="AM credits">{{cite web|title=Laurel Massé Credits |url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/laurel-mass%C3%A9-mn0000138948/credits|website=AllMusic|accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 63: Line 60:
* [http://www.laurelmasse.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.laurelmasse.com/ Official site]


{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Masse, Laurel}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:American female jazz singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:The Manhattan Transfer members]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:Pausa Records artists]]
[[Category:American jazz singers]]
[[Category:American music educators]]
[[Category:American women jazz singers]]
[[Category:American women music educators]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pausa Records artists]]
[[Category:The Manhattan Transfer members]]

Latest revision as of 21:51, 10 October 2024

Laurel Massé
Birth nameLaurel Anne Massé
Born (1951-12-29) December 29, 1951 (age 72)
Holland, Michigan, U.S.
GenresVocal jazz, pop, classical, vocal
Occupation(s)Singer, educator
InstrumentVocals
Years active1972–present
LabelsPausa
Websitewww.laurelmasse.com

Laurel Massé (born December 29, 1951) is an American jazz singer and former member of The Manhattan Transfer.

Career

[edit]

Massé was born in Holland, Michigan, grew up in Westchester County, New York, and lived in Europe during her teens. Early in school, she developed a fondness for classical music, particularly Beethoven, though she also cites the Beatles, Pablo Casals, and her grandfather as influences.[1] Her grandfather sang with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, and her mother sang opera. Massé started on piano, played cello in her teens, and was her own teacher on guitar during the 1960s. She sang in the choir and belonged to rock bands in high school.[2] When she was very young, her parents took her to see Count Basie as a birthday present, but Massé was otherwise unfamiliar with jazz until the age of 20.[1]

In 1972, Massé was working as a waitress in New York City when she stepped into a taxi driven by Tim Hauser. Massé and Hauser had the same ambition to be singers. Hauser had formed a vocal group, the Manhattan Transfer, which broke up after recording one album. Some weeks later, one of Hauser's passengers took him to a party where he met Janis Siegel, another aspiring singer. Then he was introduced to Alan Paul, and the quartet was complete.[3] Massé's background in multiple genres fit the Manhattan Transfer's repertoire of jazzy pop, rock, and swing.[2]

With the Manhattan Transfer, Massé toured worldwide, appeared on TV, and sold millions of albums until a car accident in 1979. Unhappy with life in the group, she considered the accident a providential opportunity to start a solo career.[4] In 1981, she moved to Chicago, and with the help of Judy Roberts, a singer and pianist, she returned to singing in clubs. She recorded her first solo album, Alone Together (Pausa, 1984), and toured in the U.S. and Canada.[5]

During the 1990s, Massé lived in North Creek, New York in the Adirondack Mountains, concentrating on classical and Celtic music.[2] In 1997, she started teaching at the Ashokan Music and Dance Camp, and in 2004 at the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She has also taught at Dartmouth College and the Royal Academy of Music in England.[6] She has been a soloist and member of the choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York.[6]

Awards

[edit]
  • MAC Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004
  • Bistro Best Jazz Vocalist, 2009

Discography

[edit]
  • Alone Together (Pausa, 1984)
  • Easy Living (Pausa, 1986)
  • Again (Disques Beaupré, 1990)
  • Feather & Bone (Premonition, 2001)
  • That Old Mercer Magic with Janis Siegel and Lauren Kinhan as Jalala (Dare, 2009)
  • Once in a Million Moons with Tex Arnold (2012)

With The Manhattan Transfer

With others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Sawyers, June (5 June 1987). "Laurel Masse: Manhattan Transfers To Solo". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. "Laurel Massé". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  3. ^ Weber, Bruce (17 October 2014). "Tim Hauser, the Founder of the Manhattan Transfer, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ^ Wyatt, Judith (4 May 1990). "For Singer Laurel Masse, Success Was No Accident". tribunedigital-mcall. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  5. ^ McCormick, Moria (5 January 1985). "Laurel Massé Transfers to Chicago". Google Books/Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Biography". laurelmasse.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
[edit]
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