Janiva Magness
| Janiva Magness | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 30, 1957[1] Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Electric blues, soul[2] |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980s-present |
| Labels | Various including NorthernBlues and Alligator |
| Website | http://janivamagness.com/ |
Janiva Magness (born January 30, 1957)[1] is an American blues and soul singer and songwriter. To date, she has released nine albums.[2]
The Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year in 2009, becoming only the second woman, after Koko Taylor, to be so honored.[3] In the same year, she was named the Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, which she had already won in 2006 and 2007,[4] and was nominated for again in 2012. Since 2006, she has had 22 similar nominations.[5][6] USA Today stated, "Magness is a blues star."[7]
Life and career
Magness was born in Detroit, Michigan, but suffered the tragedy of losing both of her parents to suicide before she reached her mid-teens.[2] Placed in a series of a dozen foster homes,[8] Magness was pregnant at the age of 17, and gave her baby daughter up for adoption.[7]
Having been initially inspired by the music in her father's record collection, an underage Magness attended an Otis Rush concert in Minneapolis that changed her outlook.[2] Magness later recalled, "Otis played as if his life depended on it. There was a completely desperate, absolute intensity. I knew, whatever it was, I needed more of it."[7] Studying to become an engineer, she worked in a recording studio in Saint Paul, Minnesota, when she was coerced into doing some backing singing.[4] Her work, which included backing Kid Ramos and R. L. Burnside,[4] led her to Phoenix, Arizona and in forming her own band, the Mojomatics. They enjoyed local success before Magness relocated in 1986 to Los Angeles.[1] Her first album It Takes One to Know One, was released in 1997.[2] In 1999, Magness starred in a stage production of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, at the David Geffen Theater in Westwood, California.[9]
Three independent releases followed before Magness was signed to a recording contract by NorthernBlues Music. They released Bury Him at the Crossroads (2004) and Do I Move You? (2006).[2] Both albums were co-produced by Magness and Colin Linden, with the former earning them a Canadian Maple Blues Award for Producers Of The Year.[4] Do I Move You? reached number 8 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart.[7]
In 2008, Magness signed with Alligator Records releasing What Love Will Do. The Chicago Sun-Times stated, "Her songs run the gamut of emotions from sorrow to joy. A master of the lowdown blues who is equally at ease surrounded by funk or soul sounds, Magness invigorates every song with a brutal honesty."[7] She toured widely incorporating Canada, Europe as well as across the United States.[9]
The equally critically acclaimed effort, The Devil Is an Angel Too, appeared in 2010,[4] and Stronger for It in 2012.[2] The latter included some of her own songs, the first album to do so since her debut effort in 1997.[4]
In 2013, Magness was nominated in five categories for more Blues Music Awards.[6]
Festivals
Magness has performed at the Notodden Blues Festival (in 2007 and 2008), and at Memphis in May (in 2006 and 2010).
Personal life
Magness is a national spokesperson for Casey Family Programs, promoting National Foster Care Month.[8] She has also reconnected with her daughter.[7]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | It Takes One to Know One | Fathead Records |
| 1999 | My Bad Luck Soul | Blues Leaf Records |
| 2001 | Blues Ain't Pretty | Loose Leaf Records |
| 2003 | Use What You Got | Blues Leaf Records |
| 2004 | Bury Him at the Crossroads | NorthernBlues Music |
| 2006 | Do I Move You? | NorthernBlues Music |
| 2008 | What Love Will Do | Alligator Records |
| 2010 | The Devil is an Angel Too | Alligator Records |
| 2012 | Stronger for It | Alligator Records |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Janiva Magness". Musicians.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Steve Leggett. "Janiva Magness". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ "Janiva Magness Interview". Chicagobluesguide.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Profile & Discography for Blues Singer Janiva Magness". Blues.about.com. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ "Foster Care « Janiva Magness". Janivamagness.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Blues Music Awards Nominees - 2013 - 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Janiva Magness’s Biography". Last.fm. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mark Guarino. "Janiva Magness: She's earned the right to sing the blues". CSMonitor.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "NorthernBlues Music - Janiva Magness Biography". Northernblues.com. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2012-12-05.