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)
One For My Baby
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no one in the place
Accept you and me
So set 'em up, Joe
I've got a little story
You oughtta know
To the end of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
I've got the routine
So drop another nickel in the machine
I'm feeling so bad
I wish you'd make the music dreamy and sad
Could tell you a lot
But you've gotta to be true to your coat
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it
But buddy, I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things to say
And when I'm gloomy
You simply gotta listen to me
Until it's talked away
Well that's how it goes
And Joe, I know you're
Gettin' anxious to close
So thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found
Must be drowned
Or it soon may explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
That long, long road
The song "One For My Baby" by Dianne Reeves is a melancholic and introspective tune that tells the story of a man who finds himself alone in a bar with the bartender, Joe. As the night crawls to a close, the man reflects on the ups and downs of his life and the many stories he could tell, but decides to simply drown his sorrows in a last, “one for the road” drink. The lyrics reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the bittersweet ache of nostalgia.
The opening lines set the scene: it's 'quarter to three' and the bar is empty except for the singer and Joe. As the story unfolds, the singer asks Joe to pour him another drink and begins to share his innermost thoughts. He mentions he has a 'little story' that Joe just has to hear. The man is feeling melancholic and sad, and as he orders another drink, he reminisces of the past, recounting that this is the end of a brief episode. The man is not ready to let go yet and wants to prolong the moment with Joe. He asks Joe to make the music dreamy and sad, to set the mood for his melancholic ponderings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three
It is currently 15 minutes before three in the morning.
There's no one in the place
The place is empty, except for the singer and the person they are speaking to.
Accept you and me
Except for us, there is no one else present here.
So set 'em up, Joe
The artist instructs Joe, presumably the bartender, to pour them more drinks.
I've got a little story
The artist has a story they want to tell to Joe.
You oughtta know
The singer implies that the story they are about to tell Joe is important and worth hearing.
We're drinking, my friend
The singer and Joe are drinking alcohol together.
To the end of a brief episode
The drink they are having is to commemorate the end of a short period of time in their life.
Make it one for my baby
The artist requests Joe to pour them one drink for themselves.
And one more for the road
The artist asks for one more drink for the journey ahead.
I've got the routine
The singer knows the steps of the process to follow when they have had too much alcohol.
So drop another nickel in the machine
The artist wants music to be played and asks Joe to put money in the jukebox.
I'm feeling so bad
The singer is upset and feeling low.
I wish you'd make the music dreamy and sad
The singer wants to listen to slow, melancholic music.
Could tell you a lot
The singer has many stories and experiences to share.
But you've gotta to be true to your coat
The artist implies that Joe has to perform his duty as a bartender, rather than chat with them extensively.
You'd never know it
The artist believes that the person they are speaking to does not realize that they are a poet.
But buddy, I'm a kind of poet
The singer reveals that they have a poetic soul.
And I've got a lot of things to say
The singer has a lot of experiences and emotions to share.
And when I'm gloomy
When the artist is feeling down or blue,
You simply gotta listen to me
The artist wants Joe to listen to them and understand their thoughts and feelings.
Until it's talked away
Talking about their problems helps the artist to feel better.
Well that's how it goes
The singer comments on how things happen in life.
And Joe, I know you're
The artist acknowledges that Joe is waiting for them to finish their conversation.
Gettin' anxious to close
Joe wants to close the bar and end his workday.
So thanks for the cheer
The singer thanks Joe for spending time with them.
I hope you didn't mind
The singer hopes that they did not burden Joe with their problems.
My bending your ear
The artist implies that they have spent a lot of time talking to Joe and sharing their thoughts.
But this torch that I found
The artist is referencing the feeling of love they might have felt.
Must be drowned
The singer believes that their feelings need to be obliterated with alcohol instead of overwhelming them.
Or it soon may explode
Otherwise, the feelings might grow so strong that they cannot be contained.
Make it one for my baby
The artist requests Joe pour them a final drink.
And one more for the road
The artist asks for one more drink before they begin their journey on the long, uncertain road ahead.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.