Bio.
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Kendra Ross is a gifted singer and performer who has built an impressive career on playing to her strengths in an effort to stand out from the crowd. With her uniquely rich contralto vocal styling and impressive songwriting talent, she is an artist in high demand. A proud Pittsburgh native who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, she launched her professional career as theater singer/actress starring in a National Tour of the Broadway smash hit, “Smokey Joe’s Café” along with Rita Coolidge and Gary “U.S.” Bonds. Kendra has since gone on to become an accomplished solo artist appearing at legendary venues such as Blue Note and Highline Ballroom both in New York City, Arena Theater in Houston, Jazz Cafe in London, and BB King’s Bar & Grill in Los Angeles. She has opened for many world-renowned artists such as Babyface, Isaac Hayes, Ryan Shaw, and Lalah Hathaway. She was also one of a handful of Soul artists invited to showcase at the 2009 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX.
Kendra is a sought after session vocalist having lent her talents to several major label recordings including, “Ironside” from Quincy Jones’ 2010 release Q: Soul Bossa Nostra as well as “Won’t You Stay” (which she co-wrote) and the Kanye West-produced hit “Get By” both from acclaimed hip-hop recording artist Talib Kweli’s gold-selling album, Quality. Her songwriting skills are also featured on Kweli’s 2nd solo LP, The Beautiful Struggle on a track featuring Faith Evans called “We Know.” Kendra is currently featured as a vocalist and writer on Talib’s latest effort, Gutter Rainbows.
Kendra, who sites Sarah Vaughan, Phyllis Hyman, Donnie Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, Mary J. Blige, and British psychedelic rock-soul artist Lewis Taylor as some of her greatest musical influences, has been celebrating the release of her debut album titled, New Voice. The critically acclaimed project, co-produced with longtime collaborator/music director/guitarist Christian Ver Halen, is comprised of all original compositions. In addition to appearances by hip hop luminary Talib Kweli and soul sensation Eric Roberson, many of the best touring and session musicians on the music scene today are featured on the album, including Teodross Avery (Amy Winehouse), Maurice Brown (Wynton Marsalis), Lonnie Plaxico (Cassandra Wilson), Chris Rob (John Legend), Daniel Sadownick (Steely Dan), and Skoota Warner (Santana).
Kweli wrote of the gifted recording artist in the liner notes of Quality: “Kendra’s talented, beautiful, and one of a kind.” Time Out New York has hailed Kendra as “an underground soul singer with a mellifluously fluid voice” and BBC’s Radio 1Xtra declared her to be “…the divine Kendra Ross.” In 2007, Kendra was voted “New Artist of the Year” by thousands of readers of Soultracks.com.
Fully aware of the iconic legacy associated with her last name by a triple threat performer whom she has admired since childhood, Kendra is set to garner her own respect and attention. Get ready to be introduced to or reacquainted with the “new” Ms. Ross who is currently recording her highly anticipated sophomore album for a late 2011 release.
Watch Kendra Ross performing live at http://www.youtube.com/lolaschildmusic
