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)
Who’S Minding The Store?
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have broken, their wings
The loneyliest, tears, I cry
My heart, never sings
I′m, in, dis-a-ray
Blue heart, on the floor
Laughter and dark, for the day
The sins, of a neeeeeeew perfume
Has drawn you, from meeeeeee
She′s changing, the view, for you
For every, oooone, to, see
So, you, slipped away
Remote, ever more
Who's warmmmmmming, the chill, every day?
And, who minding the store?
I silently... call, your name
But, no one, is here
My heart, saddly hopes, in vain, that you might, soon... appear
As doubt settles in
And closes, the, door
It's only, to hide, what′s happened, inside
Who′s minding, the store?
Who's, minding, the stooooooooore?
In Dianne Reeves's song "Who's Minding the Store?" the lyrics convey deep emotion and vulnerability as she sings about a broken heart and the loneliness that consumes her. The metaphorical use of "angels on high" whose wings are broken, and the lonely tears she cries that never allow her heart to sing, highlights the pain that she feels after being left alone. The repetition of the question "Who's minding the store?" reflects the confusion and disarray that she feels inside. She is left to wonder who will take care of her, who will keep her warm, and who will fill the void left by her departed love.
The sin of a new perfume that has drawn her love away emphasizes how something as simple as a scent can hold so much power corrupting and changing everything that was once perfect. The tone becomes melancholic as she hopes that her love might appear again, though doubts begin to settle in and the door to her heart closes. Ultimately, the question remains unanswered, "Who's minding the store?" representing her fear and confusion about moving forward and starting anew.
Line by Line Meaning
My, angles, on high
The divine forces that were guiding me have left me alone.
Have broken, their wings
Those divine forces that guided me have abandoned me.
The loneyliest, tears, I cry
I am extremely sad, which makes me cry uncontrollably.
My heart, never sings
I am so sad and hopeless that I cannot find any reason to be happy.
I'm, in, dis-a-ray
I'm in a state of confusion and disorganization.
Blue heart, on the floor
My heart is broken, and I am very sad.
Laughter and dark, for the day
The days are filled with unpleasant and depressing things instead of happiness and joy.
Who's minding the store?
Who is in charge of things in my life?
The sins, of a neeeeeeew perfume
My partner has been unfaithful to me with someone else who wears a new perfume.
Has drawn you, from meeeeeee
You have been attracted to someone else wearing a new perfume and have left me.
She's changing, the view, for you
The new person you are with is changing how you see things.
For every, oooone, to, see
Everyone can see that you have moved on to someone else.
So, you, slipped away
You have left me and moved on to someone else.
Remote, ever more
You are now far from me and we can never be together again.
Who's warmmmmmming, the chill, every day?
Who is making me feel better every day?
And, who minding the store?
Who is in charge of things in my life?
I silently... call, your name
I secretly call out your name.
But, no one, is here
Nobody responds, and I am alone.
My heart, saddly hopes, in vain, that you might, soon... appear
My heart wishes that you would return, but it is just a hopeless and unrealistic dream.
As doubt settles in
As I become more doubtful and uncertain.
And closes, the, door
I become more closed off and less trusting.
It's only, to hide, what′s happened, inside
I am closing myself off to hide how much I have been hurt.
Who's minding, the store?
Who is in charge of things in my life?
Who's, minding, the stooooooooore?
Who is in charge of things in my life?
Writer(s): Walter Earl Brown, Matthew Catingub (matt) Moody, Allen Jeffrey Sviridoff, Alana Biden
Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.