Lee-Ann Zarrella

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Hailing from Waterbury, CT, Lee-Ann Lovelace has been everything from a Division I soccer player, to an elementary school teacher, a coach, a drummer, a poet and a visual artist. However, the talent that has evoked the most emotion in both herself and others is her voice. Her unapologetic stage presence and vocal talent is reminiscent of Janis Joplin, Etta James, Bonnie Rait, Eva Cassidy and Aretha Franklin. Yet, she adds her own color to a canvas of contemporary artists like Amy Winehouse, Susan Tedeschi, Jennifer Nettles and Beth Hart. She is her own voice, her own style, and she is determined to overcome all obstacles that come her way.



Her father, a small appliance repairman who constantly played the records of Dave Brubeck, Frank Sinatra, and Harry James, sparked her musical obsession. As a child, she would sit in the backyard and record stories and songs onto dozens of cassette tapes- and that was the extent of her formal voice training. When she found his old drum set, she taught herself how to play by breaking every cymbal and old drum head. Weeks later, she started a garage band. However, she gave up the dream of being in a band when she went to college in 1998, and it wasn't until November of 2004, when Phil Beach discovered her at an open mic in Southbury, CT, where she was reading prose and singing a capella, that she was given an opportunity to become a professional singer.



Through her experiences with Beach's band, Veloray, and through the encouragement of her first producer, Fred Krug, she finally took the risk and gave up teaching in order to become a singer.



In no more than 2 years, Veloray played shows throughout New England and even as far away as Tempe, AZ. They played the Block Island Music Festival, were runners up at the Mohegan Sun Battle of the Bands in the summer of 2006, won the Western CT State University Battle of the Bands in 2006, and they won the I95.1 Garage Band Challenge, landing them an opening spot for Orleans at The Taste of Danbury. With Veloray, she performed live on I95.1, opened for Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and received a variety of press.



When Veloray decided to take a break in April of 2007, producer Paul Leka (Reo Speedwagon, Gloria Gaynor, Harry Chapin, Steam, The Lemonpipers) took an interest in Lee-Ann's voice, and he inspired her to take her singing to the next level.



Lee-Ann has been writing and collaborating with various musicians ever since.



You can feel the power of Lee-Ann's voice when you are simply listening here, but there is nothing like experiencing her soul in the same room. She became the lead singer for Bad Rooster in May, 2010, which began as a project band for the CT Blue Society's annual Blues Challenge, and the band made it to the finals of the competition after only forming months prior. They were also voted best blues band in the Hartford Advocate's Readers' Poll. She is writing, recording and performing with Bad Rooster. You can check out their videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/BadRoosterFive or on http://www.youtube.com/localbandreview She is also singing with the 11 Piece Rubber City Blues Band, who were also named best blues band in The Hartford Advocate's Grand Band Slam in 2009.

In the past, she sang background vocals for Aidan Nolan's upcoming album with internationally known producer Stephen Lightbody. She and Fred Krug also opened as an acoustic duo for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ronnie Spector in August of 2008. From December 2007 till August 2010, Lee-Ann sand with the local funk band FBI (Funk Brokers, Inc.), who won the Hartford Advocate's Grand Band Slam for best funk band in 2008 and best cover band in 2009, and she was a nominee for best female vocalist both years. She spent some time in an 80's band called Plastica, and with Ronnie Neuhauser's No Cheez Orchestra as well.



Some venues L-A has performed:Symphony Space - NY, NYThe Red Door-Watertown, CTAll Asia - Boston, MACafe 9 - New Haven, CTToad's Place - New Haven, CTThe Peddlar's Daughter - Nashua, NHRudy's - New Haven, CTJimmy's Seaside - New London, CTCaptain Nick's - Block Island Music Festival, RIHarbor Park - Middletown, CTThe Empress Ballroom - Danbury, CTMarbledale Pub - Marbledale, CTOliver's Taverne - Essex, CTThe Last Exit - Tempe, AZBlack Eyed Sally's - Hartford, CTMain Pub - Manchester, CTThe Monkey Bar - Danbury, CTChute Gates - Terryville, CTThe Yucca Tap Room - Tempe, AZThe Georgetown Saloon - Georgetown, CTDaniel Street (Milford Oyster Festival) - Milford, CTThe Taste of Danbury 2006 - Danbury GreenWestover School - Middlebury, CTRookie's - Cromwell, CT125 Riverside DriveSunset Ribs - Waterford, CTQuassy Amusement ParkMayor's Inaugural Ball-Naugatuck 2009Outdoor Summer Venues include - Watertown Summer Festival, Thomaston Summer Concert Series, Torrington Summer Festival, East Hampton Old Home Days Festival, Naugatuck Summer Concert Series, Wallingford Summer Concert Series, Beacon Falls Summer Concert SeriesWaterbury Summer Concert Series Some recent videos! Bad Rooster's original "Dark Knight," written by Nick Mitrou



A Song she wrote for Bad Rooster: "Ten Years"



Cover of Beth Hart's "Monkey Back" Thanks Local Band Review