Kami Lyle: Biography

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Genres:

Singer/Songwriter Rock Music, Adult Alternative

Decades Active:

1990's

With her jazz-tinged pop tunes, singer/songwriter Kami Lyle certainly stands out from the crowd in her home base of Nashville. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Lyle began playing the trumpet at age nine, partly inspired by the concerts her grandparents gave at family gatherings. At 14, a teacher invited her to perform with a local salsa band, and Lyle began absorbing the sounds of Latin jazz, big bands, and horn-driven funk. She befriended older local musicians and occasionally took advantage of opportunities to play with their jazz combos. After high school, she attended the Berklee School of Music and majored in jazz composition and performance, but song- and lyric-writing classes opened a whole new avenue for Lyle, who took as many of the courses as she could. Lyle first sang publicly with a Christmas bell choir, and after graduating, she moved to Nashville, where she performed in clubs and worked as a nanny and waitress, among other jobs. Three years later, MCA offered her a deal after seeing her perform live, and Hugh Padgham (also involved in some of Sting's jazz-pop efforts) was brought in to produce her debut album, Blue Cinderella. Featuring support from longtime backers David Jacques (bass) and David Steele (guitar), as well as a guest spot from percussionist Manu Katche, Blue Cinderella was released in August of 1997.

- Steve Huey, All Music Guide