BLUE BLOODS DISCOVER THE UNDISCOVER
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DIONNE BENNETT www.dionnebennett.com
When you first experience the British Jamaican singer-songwriter, producer, and radio personality Dionne Bennett, the word that immediately comes to mind is powerhouse. It is little wonder producer, songwriter and artist Little G Weevil assembled a muscular wrecking crew of the finest Hungarian musicians for her new album Sugar Hip Ya Ya released on Hunnia Records, Receiving critical acclaim worldwide, the album charted at #1 on both the Roots Music Report UK and Soul Blues charts, as well as charting in the UK, France, and Australia. Dionne is internationally known for her unique and diverse vocal style that covers all Afro-culture influenced genres from blues, jazz, R&B, soul, reggae, drum bass funk, rock ‘n’ roll, and beyond. During her career she has performed throughout Europe and has shared the stage with music legends such as Dr. John. She has also opened for Maceo Parker and the British super group Oasis, as one of the members of the ‘The Peth’ fronted by Welsh actor, producer, and singer Rhys Ifans. She has released singles with renowned jazz pianist, Jason Rebello, Grammy award winner saxophonist, Tim Garland, and rock bands such
as Super Furry Animals and The Earth. Dionne also starred as a ‘Bluette’ in the official Blues Brothers Musical. Dionne has had a varied career path within the arts and was part of a Cbeebies educational program called the Bobinogs that used music and song to educate and inform preschoolers. She also presented the BBC program ‘The Maths Channel,’ another program for young school children to educate and solve math problems using music and song. She is also a vocal and performance university lecturer, who coaches the next generation of up-and-coming singers on the music scene and at degree level. Dionne hosts and produces her own music show ‘The Suga Shack’ for Radio Cardiff, UK. She is the chair of a grassroots music organization ‘Ladies of Rage.’ Dionne also chairs the Diversity Advisory Group at the Royal College of Music Drama, helping to ensure the inclusion of black music and black artists within the curriculum and the college itself. Despite health issues and raising a family, her love and desire to sing and perform has never been lost and she continues to work, play, perform, and record music. Says Metronome in the US, “catch Dionne Bennett as soon as you can…. She’s a beautiful shooting star.”
BLUESMATTERS.COM
ISSUE 124
35
