Page 14 - Distinguished Daughters Special Edition
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her double-platinum–selling debut stage, both musically and dramatically.
album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and She is equally respected for her
Sounds, Vol. 1, in 2000. performances on the concert stage and in
RollingStone.com writer Touré called Jill recitals. A native of Philadelphia,
"the premier female romantic voice of the Marietta began her operatic career at
neo-soul era." Inspired by the poetry of Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New
Nikki Giovanni, Jill began her career as a York. She became a member of the
spoken word artist, performing at live Houston Opera Studio for several
poetry readings. This eventually led to an seasons and has appeared in roles with
acting career that landed her a role in a the Mobile and Minnesota Operas,
road company of Rent. She earned a Opera Delaware and Opera North.
Grammy nomination in early 2003 for Best Additionally, she has performed on the
Female Vocal Performance. She lost that stages of such major venues of opera
award but won a 2005 Grammy for Best as the Royal Opera House at Covent
Urban/Alternative R&B Performance for Garden in London, La Scala in Milan,
“Cross My Mind.” and the New York City Opera. On the
Jill earned her second Grammy in early concert stage, Marietta has sung with
2007 for a collaboration of the Billie the world's great symphony orchestras,
Holiday standard “God Bless the Child” including the Berlin Philharmonic, the
with George Benson and Al Jarreau. In Vienna Philharmonic, the Chicago
2008 she received her third Grammy for Symphony, the Los Angeles
“Daydreamin’.” Jill’s acting credits span Philharmonic, and a host of others. The
the large and small screen. Why Did I Get batons of major maestros such as
Married and Why Did I Get Married, Too, Robert Shaw, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel,
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Steel Simon Rattle, Helmuth Rilling, Charles
Magnolia, and the James Brown biopic Get Dutoit, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Neeme
on Up. She was offered a role in the Jarvi, and Neville Marriner have
Broadway play Chicago but turned it conducted her. Her recitals and
down. Jill established the Blues Babe recordings are legendary and are
Foundation, a program founded to assist sought out by fans of classical music all
minority students in paying for college over the world. Marietta is now a
costs. The foundation offers financial Professor of Music, teaching her art to
assistance to inner-city students in the students of Voice. She is a magnificent
Philadelphia metro area. She founded the role model for them. She recently gave
organization named for her grandmother, of her time and talent to perform at
known as "Blue Babe" with a $100,000 Hail, All Hail! a concert sponsored by
contribution. the GHS Alumnae Association to raise
funds for the school’s music
Marietta Simpson (June 1976) is a department. Her speech about the
musical artist with power of music and teachers was as
a multi-faceted moving as her performance.
career. She is
highly admired for
her performances
on the operatic
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