Valerie Day

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Valerie Day (born 20 November 1959) is an American pop and jazz singer. Born in Portland, Oregon, United States, she is a fourth-generation Oregonian, and grew up in a musical family.[1]

She was the lead singer and a founding member of the 1980s dance band Nu Shooz, along with her husband John Smith.[2]

Day's performances with Nu Shooz had mixed reviews. She and Smith were credited with "rewriting the book" on Portland's R&B sound.[3] One reviewer described her as having a "tough but perky wholesome image," and praised her dancing and conga playing, but opined that she over-used a certain vocal hook, and was reluctant to step out as the star of the group.[4]

More recently, Day has taken on other musical genres. In the late 1990s she was a featured singer in in the Woody Hite Big Band. She recorded an album of duets with pianist Tom Grant in 2005.[5]

Also in 2005, Day won a contest to have an image of her lips used in the new the corporate logo for Portland's Hot Lips Pizza, as part of the company's 21st anniversary.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.valeriedaysings.com/valerie-day.php
  2. ^ Nicholas, Jonathan. "Old Shooz get a Nu start", The Oregonian, September 1, 2006. 
  3. ^ Tomlinson, Stuart. "Nu socks, nu shine, Nu Shooz", The Oregonian, April 3, 1988. 
  4. ^ De Barros, Paul. "The beat's great, but the band lacks depth", The Seattle Times, June 9, 1986. 
  5. ^ The Inventures
  6. ^ Nicholas, Jonathan. "Hottest lips in town", The Oregonian, October 3, 2005. 

[edit] External links