Dennis Rowland is a jazz vocalist born and raised in Detroit.

Career

Having grown up in a household of jazz enthusiasts, Rowland developed an appreciation for jazz music at an early age. At the age of five or six Rowland heard the vocals of Joe Williams of the Count Basie Orchestra, which has influenced his approach to singing ever since. In the early 1970s, Rowland worked as a singer and actor in Detroit. In 1977 Count Basie hired him to sing on tour, filling the same role his idols Joe Williams and Jimmy Rushing had occupied. For Rowland, it was a dream come true, and he toured with Basie for the next seven years. During his time with Basie, he had the chance to share the stage with

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...

, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett.Carr, et al.; pp. 682-683 Rowland was seen as Jimmy Baker in the film ''

Real Gone Cat ''Real Gone Cat'' is a 2006 film directed by Robert Sucato and starring Dennis Rowland and Scott Hopkins. The film was an official selection of both the Sedona Film Festival and the Phoenix Film Festival. Hopkins wrote and starred in the film ...

'' directed by Robert Sucato.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Rhyme, Rhythm & Reason'' ( Concord Jazz, 1995) * ''Get Here'' (Concord Vista 1996) * ''Now Dig This! A Vocal Celebration of Miles Davis'' (Concord Jazz, 1997)

Credits

References

Sources

* American jazz singers American soul musicians African-American musicians American rhythm and blues singers Living people 1948 births Concord Records artists 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people {{US-jazz-singer-stub