JEANNE JOLLY BIOGRAPHY
Singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly broke onto the music scene as the featured vocalist for Grammy Award winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Touring all through North America she had the opportunity to sing with world renowned symphonies and perform at venues like Carnegie Hall and play marquee events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival.
A diverse, classically trained vocalist, Jolly’s voice is said to embody the “early belting power of Linda Ronstadt” (MetroMusicScene, VA) combined “the delicate lilt ofAlison Krauss” (NC Metro Magazine). Born in North Carolina, Jolly was the recipient of Western Carolina University’s Young Alumni Award and has earned a Masters in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. Upon completing her schooling, Jolly moved to L.A. where her career quickly took off. In addition to working with Botti, she began to explore different styles of music, recording with acclaimed songwriters Lowen & Navarro and country artist Bob Woodruff.
After her tenure with Botti came to an end Jolly found herself being pulled back to her Southern roots. Soon she co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded her first country/Americana EP (Jan, 2008) and started a band. A year later she was the 2008 finalist in The Next Big Country Star, L.A. (an L.A. talent search to play at the Staples Center) In 2009, Jolly moved back to North Carolina where she began to focus on developing her guitar skills, sharpening her solo performance, and focusing on writing more of her own songs. It wasn’t long until she once again found herself in the company of Grammy nominated artists, opening up for Sam Bush, Maura O’Connell, Chuck Mead, and many more.
In October 2010 Jolly released her new EP, Falling In Carolina. Recorded in Durham, NC at SoundPure studios and released over an 11 day run of 29 shows at the 2010 NC State Fair in Raleigh, the album features Jolly on vocals, baritone ukulele, piano and guitar. Since retuning home Jolly has toured the Southeast (both solo and with her band) playing esteemed venues that include The Birchmere and IOTA in Virginia, North Carolina’s Lincoln Theater , The Berkeley Café, & The Pour House Music Hall, Charleston’s Music Farm, & Nashville’s The Basement and Third & Lindsley. Jolly has also been the recipient of NC Metro Magazine’s award for “Best Local Musician” 2010. “Jeanne Jolly has a heavenly voice…Jolly embodies the traits of an established performer who has been playing juke joints and concert halls for 20 years”. (NC Metro Magazine)
