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)
Sing My Heart
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know it's spring my heart
So why not show it
Pretend you're glad my heart
Although you're sad my heart
He mustn't know it
Remember love is not an easy game
Go on and dance my heart
Our only chance my heart is to forget it
Should you despair my heart
He'll know you care my heart
And we'll regret it
It it's to be we soon shall see and
If it's not to be no power on earth
Can make it so
Pretend it's spring my heart
Go on and sing my heart
For if you sing he'll never know
The lyrics to Dianne Reeves's song "Sing My Heart" speak of a woman's internal struggle to hide her true feelings from her lover. She urges herself, through the lyrics, to "sing her heart" and show outwardly that she is happy, even though inside she is sad. She fears that if she doesn't pretend to be glad, her lover will pick up on her discontent and know that she is truly unhappy. The song speaks to the complexity of love and the challenges that come with it. The woman knows that love is not an "easy game," and that no two hearts beat alike. She urges herself to dance with her lover and to forget about her worries. However, she cautions herself that if she shows despair, her lover will know that she cares, and they will both regret it. The song is melancholic and beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of a conflicted heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on and sing my heart
Encouraging the heart to express its emotions vocally
You know it's spring my heart
Spring symbolizes hope, renewal and new beginnings, and warmness of heart
So why not show it
Suggesting one should express their heart’s emotions with joy
Pretend you're glad my heart
As much as the heart feels sad, it is advised to feign happiness to keep up appearances
Although you're sad my heart
Acknowledging the sadness felt within
He mustn't know it
Trying to keep the level of sadness felt from the other party so as not to alert him
Remember love is not an easy game
Love is complicated and has its ups and downs, and people should always remember that
No two hearts ever beat quite the same
Each heart we encounter in life leaves a unique imprint on ours
Go on and dance my heart
Heart is urged to sway to the rhythms of life
Our only chance my heart is to forget it
We can only deal with heartbreak and deep set sadness by moving on and letting go of the past
Should you despair my heart
The heart is being addressed, and it is feared that it may lose faith and hope to move on
He'll know you care my heart
If the heart shows too much emotion, the other party may notice and feel it
And we'll regret it
It is feared that revealing too much emotions will bring about sorrow and regret
If it's to be we soon shall see
If things will work out or not is not predictable, and the heart must learn to accept the outcome
If it's not to be no power on earth can make it so
If things are not meant to work out, not even a force on earth can bring it to fruition.
Pretend it's spring my heart
A suggestion that one should pretend it is a hopeful period of their lives
Go on and sing my heart
Encouragement to make one's emotions known vocally
For if you sing he'll never know
If one expresses their emotions vocally, the other party may not necessarily understand the gravity of emotions felt
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind