Born: May 24, 1954 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Catherine Whitney is a Chicago based Jazz singer / composer/ lyricist published by Second Floor Music in NYC and also the lyricist for Freddie Hubbard's “First Light” and “Gibraltar” at Hubtones Publishing.
“Catherine Whitney has a stylish way with a phrase and an engaging and unpretentious manner..she sings Bossa nova works with precisely the right rhythmic lilt, American pop tunes with a breezy and colloquial air, ballads with a sweet and vulnerable introspection.” Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
Catherine Whitney sings in the vo'cool style. Suzanne Pittson, Jerry Brown, GloriaCooper, and Neenna Freelon have recorded/performed her work. Her collaborations with Milton Sealey, Curtis Fuller, and Rogers Grant are featured in two Hal Leonard print publications,” Jazz Phrasing”, and “Sing JAZZ! Leadsheets for 76 Jazz Vocals”, a fantastic addition to the jazz vocal repertory, with music and lyrics by some of the world's finest jazz composers and performers.
Freddie Hubbard's compositions “First Light”( Grammy award-winning as best instrumental in 1970's), “Gibraltar”, “Brigitte” with Catherine Whitney's lyrics have been recorded by various artists. Lyricist for Clifford Jordon's “Third Avenue”, Curtis Fuller's “Bit of Heaven”, “Sweet and True- Sweetness”, and J.R. Montrose's “Bobbie Pin”, Rogers Grant's “One Heart's Dream”, Houston Person's “Why Not (Peace)”, Johnny Griffin's “Chicago Calling” and “Satin Wrap”
