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