Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American ja… Read Full Bio ↴Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American jazz singer, known more for her live performances than her albums. Alongside her peers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson she is considered one of the most important female jazz singers of our time. She lives in Denver (Colorado/USA)

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)

I'm Okay
Dianne Reeves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Winters of my life
They've been around so long
It's been so cold inside
But then again I know

I'm all right
I'm okay
Many roads, many wrong turns

No matter where I went
My past was always there
Used to think all the troubles were meant for me
Lots and lots of times
When life was hitting harder
I never had the strength to stop and say
I'm all right
I'm okay
Many times, many lovers
Who never got the chance to love the way I love them
Ran away after taking a part of me
Many nights, many tears
Many dreams, many fears
But I came to the end with a smile

'Cause I'm all right
I'm okay
The rains may fall
The winds may blow my hopes away
But in time I know I can always say
I'm all right

I'm all right
I'm okay

Overall Meaning

In Dianne Reeves's song "I'm Okay," the lyrics speak to a person who has faced hardships throughout their life. The winters of their life have been long and cold, but despite this, they declare that they are alright and okay. They have been down many roads and taken many wrong turns, and despite their troubled past, they have come to accept that they are okay.

Throughout their life, this person has faced troubles that they once thought were only meant for them. They have experienced difficult relationships and have always had lingering issues from their past following them. Many times, they felt like they didn't have the strength to face the challenges, but they've still managed to come out with a smile, knowing that they're alright and okay.

The song encourages listeners to remember that no matter what challenges they face in life, they're not alone. Everyone has their own struggles, but it doesn't mean that they're not okay. In the end, the person singing the song has come to understand that they're able to overcome any obstacle thrown their way and that they're ultimately okay.

Line by Line Meaning

Winters of my life
The difficult times in my life

They've been around so long
They seem to never end

It's been so cold inside
I feel emotionally numb

But then again I know
Despite all that, I know things will be okay

I'm all right
I am capable of handling everything

I'm okay
I am at peace with myself

Many roads, many wrong turns
I have made a lot of mistakes in life

No matter where I went
Wherever I went, my past followed me

My past was always there
My past mistakes and experiences have always been with me

Used to think all the troubles were meant for me
I used to think that everything bad only happened to me and no one else

Lots and lots of times
This has happened to me many times before