Sweet, Sultry, & Smooth
LYNETTE POWERS
Sweet, Sultry, & Smooth
LYNETTE POWERS
Lynette Powers uses her voice in various different styles, some of which we have not heard in a very long time. Lynette has the class of the late great Phyllis Hyman, the confidence and innocence of Ella Fitzgerald, and the sassiness Of Sarah Vaughn with the brilliance and humbleness of Abby Lincoln. Her voice is magic, and it tells a story! Her passion has become her legacy because she is doing what she loves. A quote that Lynette lives by:
“I was born with music inside me. It was a force already with me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me, like food and water. " —Ray Charles
Who is Lynette Powers?
Lynette Powers is a mother, a wife, a daughter of music, a sister, a friend, a woman of faith, and a musician who uses her creativity as a tool. It is a powerful tool of self-reflection, personal growth, survival, and is meant to inspire others to navigate the challenges and joys of life.
When did you know you wanted to sing?
As a child, I got my first taste of singing at about age six in a small church in Camp Springs, Maryland. The first song I remember singing was called "Give Me My Flower While I Can Smell Them," with my two sisters LeAnn and LaVedia. As time went on, I performed in my junior high school glee club, the choir, countless open mic nights, and with cover bands.
Are you from a musical family? Why Jazz?
Yes. My parents, William and Marion Powers, were talented musicians. My dad played the percussions, and my mother was a gifted vocalist who played the chitlin circuit with the
Sunlight Stars in the '60s. She also sang in the choir at 2nd Union Baptist Church in Washington, DC.
Jazz appeals to my love for all things abstract, especially art. I love all the possibilities and vibes that come with jazz. There are no limits on how I approach music. I recall countless jam sessions with my parents, witnessing them engage in an amazing creative process. My dad and his friends would start with popular music of their time and transform it into something unique and remarkable, doing their own thing. Ultimately, I gravitated to a more organic sound, with an authentic vibe. I simply get a group of musicians and we start jamming.
Which famous vocalist do you admire most, and why?
That is a tough one for me because I love and admire so many artists, both men and women. They all have a special place in my soul and my life. But if I must be specific, on a good day I channel my inner Billy Holiday, Phyllis Hyman, Al Jarreau and I love Jill Scott.
Inspiration
