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)
Never Too Far
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rang the midnight phone.
Can't forget the words you've said,
"I feel so far away from home.
I only want to hold you, I know you want the same.
I only wish that we could make a million miles fade away".
Something in your sadness wants to make me cry.
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why.
Remember those who love you and all the love you've known.
If you can remember you will always be at home.
You're never far away from home.
Can you remember ? You're never far away from home.
'Cause all the ones who love you, are thinking of you there alone, far from home.
Keeping you besides us, never far away from home.
All the best intentions are sometimes put to shame.
There will always be regrets when you are far away, so far away.
If you can remember every face and name,
somehow all the miles will fade and you'll be home again.
You're never far away from home, no.
Can you remember ? You're never far away from home.
'Cause all the one's who love you are thinking of you there all alone, far from home.
Keeping you besides us, never far away from home.
(Never, you're never too far from home) You're never far away from home.
(Never, you're never too far from home) Can you remember ? You're never far away from home.
'Cause all the ones who love you, are thinking of you there alone, far from home.
Keeping you besides us, never, never, never, never far away from home.
(Never, you're never too far from home) Somehow all the miles will fade away
and you'll be home someday.
(Never, you're never too far from home) You're never, never, never too far from home.
You're never, never too far.
The lyrics to Dianne Reeves's song "Never Too Far" are addressing someone who is away from home and feeling separated from loved ones. This person receives a phone call from someone they care about who also wishes to be closer to them. As the lyrics progress, the singer encourages the person to remember that they are not alone, and they are "never far away from home" because of the love and support they have from those who care about them. The song speaks to the difficulties of feeling isolated and disconnected from loved ones while also emphasizing the enduring nature of familial love.
In the first verse, the person on the other end of the phone expresses their desire to be closer to the singer, highlighting the pain of being separated from family and loved ones. The singer responds with empathy, recognizing the deep and genuine sadness in this person's voice that wants to make her cry. There is something universal about the pain of separation that people can relate to, and the song conveys a message of hope even while acknowledging the difficulties of being apart.
The second verse shifts the focus to encouragement and the power of remembrance. The singer reminds the person on the other end of the phone to "remember those who love you and all the love you've known." This is the key message of the song, that even when people are far from the physical location of their home, they are never truly far from the love and care that comes with it. The chorus reinforces this idea with repetition and the assurance that this person is "never, never, never too far from home."
Line by Line Meaning
Call from you long distance.
Receiving a phone call from someone who is far away.
Rang the midnight phone.
The phone call was received in the middle of the night.
Can't forget the words you've said, "I feel so far away from home.
The person on the other end of the line expressed their sadness about being far away from home.
I only want to hold you, I know you want the same.
Despite the distance, both parties want to physically be together.
I only wish that we could make a million miles fade away".
The distance between them feels insurmountable.
Something in your sadness wants to make me cry.
The singer feels empathy for the person who is far away.
There's no easy way to be so far away.
Being separated from loved ones is difficult.
Oh why, oh why, oh why, oh why.
The artist is struggling to understand why they must be so far apart.
Remember those who love you and all the love you've known.
The artist urges the person who is far away to think of their loved ones and their past experiences together.
If you can remember you will always be at home.
Thinking of loved ones can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity even when physically far from home.
All the ones who love you, are thinking of you there alone, far from home.
The people who care about the person who is far away are also feeling the distance between them.
Keeping you besides us, never far away from home.
Despite the distance, the person who is far away is still a part of their loved ones' lives.
All the best intentions are sometimes put to shame.
Despite meaning well, it can be difficult to follow through when distance is involved.
There will always be regrets when you are far away, so far away.
Feeling regret is a common feeling when separated from loved ones.
If you can remember every face and name, somehow all the miles will fade and you'll be home again.
Thinking of the people and memories from home can help make the distance feel less daunting.
Somehow all the miles will fade away and you'll be home someday.
Despite the distance feeling insurmountable, eventually the person who is far away will be able to return home.
You're never, never, never too far from home.
Despite the physical distance, the person who is far away is always connected to their loved ones.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DIANE LOUIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind