Dianne came from a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke is a well known piano and keyboard player and producer.
Dianne and her sister Sharon were raised by their grandmother in Denver, Colorado. As a child Dianne took piano lessons and sang at every opportunity. When she was 11 years old her interest in music was enhanced by an inspiring teacher who thought that music was the best way to bring students together. Dianne discovered a love of music and that she wanted to be a singer.
Her uncle, Charles Burell, a bass player with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, introduced her to the music of jazz singers, from Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday. She was especially impressed by Sarah Vaughan.
1974
At the age of sixteen she was singing at the George Washington Highschool in Denver, in a highschool bigband. That same year the band played at a music festival (Convention of the National Association of Jazz Educators). Her Band won first place and it was there she met the trumpeter Clark Terry, who after discovering her became her mentor.
1975
A year later she began studying music at the University of Denver, before she moving in 1976 to Los Angeles. In L.A. her interest in Latin-American music grew, and she began experimenting with different kinds of vocal music and finally decided to pursue a career as a singer. She met Eduardo del Barrio, and she toured with his group "Caldera" and sang in Billy Child's jazz band "Night Flights". Later she tour with Sergio Mendes.
From 1983 until 1986 she toured with Harry Belafonte as a lead singer. This period saw her first experiences with world music. In 1987 she became the first vocalist to sign with Blue Note records. She moved back to Denver from Los Angeles in 1992. She sang at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
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Grammy Awards
She has currently won 3 Grammy Awards for "Best Jazz Vocal Performance" for her albums
2001 In the Moment
2002 The Calling
2003 A Little Moonlight
2006 Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)
She is the only singer to have won this Grammy in three consecutive years.
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Discography
1977 - Welcome to My Love
1987 - Better Days
1988 - I Remember
1990 - Never Too Far
1991 - Dianne Reeves (same as Better Days)
1993 - Art & Survival
1994 - Quiet After the Storm
1996 - The Grand Encounter
1996 - Palo Alto Sessions
1997 - That Day
1997 - New Morning (live)
1999 - Bridges... produced by George Duke.
2000 - In The Moment (live)
2001 - The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan
2002 - Best of Dianne Reeves
2003 - A Little Moonlight
2004 - Christmas Time is Here
2005 - Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)
Carol Of The Bells
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home
Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home
Ding, dong, ding, dong
The song "Carol Of The Bells" by Dianne Reeves is an ode to the festive season of Christmas, with its merry bells ringing in the background. The lyrics describe the atmosphere of joy and cheer that permeates the air during this time of the year, as people come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The bells, with their sweet and joyful ring, seem to be inviting everyone to forget their worries and cares, and instead fully immerse themselves in the merriment of the season.
The song also talks about how the bells are a unifying force that bring people from all walks of life together. Young and old, meek and bold, everyone seems to be in high spirits as they celebrate Christmas. The bells ring out over hills and dales, their sound filling the air with good cheer and spreading the message of the season. The song ends on a note of boundless joy and hope, as the bells continue to ring out their joyful tone, spreading the message of peace and goodwill to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark! how the bells
Listen! Hear the sound of the bells
Sweet silver bells
The bells have a sweet sound and are made of silver
All seem to say, "Throw cares away."
The sound of the bells suggests that people should forget their worries and enjoy the Christmas season
Christmas is here
The holiday season has arrived
Bringing good cheer
It is a time when people are happy and in good spirits
To young and old
Everyone, regardless of age, can enjoy the holiday season
Meek and the bold
People who are shy or brave can both enjoy the festive atmosphere
Ding, dong, ding, dong
The sound the bells make
That is their song
The bells create music through their ringing
With joyful ring
The sound of the bells is happy and festive
All caroling
The bells are singing a joyful tune
One seems to hear
People can hear the bells wherever they are
Words of good cheer
The message the bells convey is one of happiness and joy
From ev'rywhere
The sound of the bells can be heard from all around
Filling the air
The sound of the bells is everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere
Oh how they pound,
The bells ring loudly and continuously
Raising the sound,
The bells become even louder
O'er hill and dale,
The sound of the bells echoes across the landscape
Telling their tale,
The ringing bells communicate their message of joy and happiness
Gaily they ring
The sound of the bells is lively and cheerful
While people sing
As the bells ring, people are also singing holiday songs
Songs of good cheer
The music and singing create a festive atmosphere filled with joy and happiness
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Wishing everyone a joyful and happy Christmas
On, on they send
The bells continue to ring and spread their happy message
On without end
The joyous sound of the bells never stops
Their joyful tone
The sound of the bells is always upbeat and happy
To ev'ry home
The sound of the bells reaches every household and spreads the holiday cheer
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS FARREN, DEANA KAY CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind