Biography
Who is Diana Krall?
Early life and education
Born Diana Jean Krall on November 16, 1964, she grew up in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Her father, an accountant, played piano, and her mother sang in a community choir. She began formal piano studies at age four and later took exams through The Royal Conservatory of Music.
During high school, she joined a student jazz group. By age 15, she was performing professionally in local restaurants. She eventually earned a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she attended from 1981 to 1983. Following her time in Boston, she spent a period in Los Angeles to focus on jazz performance before returning to Canada to record her debut album.
Musical career beginnings
In the early 1980s, Krall met bassist Ray Brown, who became a crucial mentor and introduced her to other musicians. Her first album, Stepping Out, was recorded in 1992 and released in 1993 for Justin Time Records. It featured bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. This project attracted the attention of producer Tommy LiPuma, who subsequently produced her second album, Only Trust Your Heart, in 1995.
Her third record, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio, earned a Grammy nomination and spent 70 weeks on the Billboard jazz charts. The 1997 release Love Scenes featured a trio with guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride, becoming a commercial success. Throughout this period, she established herself as a consistent presence on the jazz charts.
Chart success and collaborations
Her fifth studio album, When I Look in Your Eyes, featured orchestral arrangements by Johnny Mandel. The follow-up, The Look of Love, reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status. In 2000, she toured with Tony Bennett and later collaborated with him on the TV series Spectacle: Elvis Costello with....
Diana Krall has worked with many prominent artists throughout her career. In 2004, she joined Ray Charles on his Genius Loves Company album for the track You Don't Know Me. She also produced Barbra Streisand's 2009 album Love Is the Answer. In 2012, she performed with Paul McCartney at Capitol Studios for his album Kisses on the Bottom, and she later included a song McCartney wrote for her on her 2015 album, Wallflower. Her 2018 joint album with Tony Bennett, Love Is Here to Stay, marked another major collaboration.
Personal life and awards
Diana Krall married English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello on December 6, 2003, at an estate belonging to Elton John outside London. The couple has twin sons, Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James, born in New York City in 2006. Her father-in-law was the singer Ross MacManus.
She has received several honors, including being named an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Order of British Columbia. She was also inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2004. In 2008, the Nanaimo Harbourfront Plaza was renamed Diana Krall Plaza. She holds an honorary Ph.D. In Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and is a Steinway & Sons Artist.
Birthday and age
Diana Krall was born on November 16, 1964, which makes Diana 61 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Diana shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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