Kevin Mahogany

Kevin Mahogany
Jazz singer Kevin Mahogany at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Jazz Fest on March 4, 2007
Born	(1958-07-30) July 30, 1958 Kansas City, Missouri

Kevin Mahogany (born July 30, 1958,^[1] in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American jazz vocalist who became prominent in the 1990s. He is known for his scat singing,^[2] and his singing style has been compared with jazz singers Joe Williams^[3] and Johnny Hartman.^[4]

Early years

Kevin Mahogany began his study of music as a child with piano and later learned to play the clarinet and baritone saxophone, performing with jazz bands and teaching music while still in high school. "When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household" says Mahogany. "In fact piano lessons were a grade school staple for the whole family."^[5] Mahogany attended Baker University, where he performed with both instrumental and vocal ensembles and formed a vocal jazz group. In 1981, Mahogany received his BFA in Music and English Drama.

Performing

After graduation, he returned to Kansas City where he attracted a local following in the 1980s performing with his groups, "The Apollos" and "Mahogany." In 1991, he was featured on a CD by Frank Mantooth.^[6]

His first CD release as a solo artist was Double Rainbow in 1993. This was followed by the self-titled album Kevin Mahogany, which won him his first critical acclaim in the media, prompting Newsweek to call Mahogany "the standout jazz vocalist of his generation."^[7]

Mahogany appeared in Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City, playing a character said to be based on Kansas City singer Big Joe Turner.^[8]

Kevin Mahogany lists his vocal influences as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Al Jarreau and Eddie Jefferson.^[9] As a jazz educator, Mahogany has taught at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Miami.^[10]

Discography

With Enja Records:

• Double Rainbow (1993)
• Songs and Moments (1994)
• You Got What It Takes (1995)
• Pussy Cat Dues (2000)

With Warner Bros.:

• Kevin Mahogany (1996)
• Another Time Another Place (1997)
• My Romance (1998)
• Portrait of Kevin Mahogany (2000)

With Telarc:

• Pride and Joy (2002)

With Jazz Empress

• Warming Up Kansas City (2003)

Under his own label, Mahogany Music:

• Big Band (2004)
• To Johnny Hartman (2004)

With Elvin Jones

• It Don't Mean a Thing (Enja, 1993)

References

External links

• "Master vocalist makes his Nashville debut". The City Paper. 2006-05-26. 
• "Kevin Mahogany's official biography". Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
• "Kevin Mahogany biography". Telarc International Corporation label. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-06. 
• "Kevin Mahogany biography". Enja Records. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
• "Kevin Mahogany biography". Hopper Management Agency. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
• "Mahogany's tribute does justice to Kansas City jazz". Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
• "Minnesota State University Mankato Past JazzFest Events". Minnesota State University. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
• "Art of Jazz Celebration Review". JazzElements.com blog. Retrieved 2008-07-31. 
• Jim Newsom. "Kevin Mahogany: An Independent Voice". Portfolio Weekly. Retrieved 2008-07-31. 
• Kevin Mahogany's official site
• Hopper Management Agency
• Richard De La Font Agency, Inc.