Home » Jazz Musicians » Lorraine Feather

Lorraine Feather

Lorraine Feather was born in Manhattan. Her parents named her Billie Jane Lee Lorraine after godmother Billie Holiday, her mother Jane (formerly a big band singer), her mother’s ex-roommate Peggy Lee, and the song “Sweet Lorraine.” She is the daughter of the late jazz writer Leonard Feather.

The Feathers moved to L.A. when Lorraine was 12; at 18, after two years as a theater arts major at L.A. City College, she returned to New York to pursue an acting career.

Some touring, off-Broadway work and the Broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar followed, interspersed with countless waitressing jobs up and down Manhattan’s West Side.

Frequently out of work, and discouraged by more than one restaurateur from pursuing a career in the food service industry, Lorraine decided to try singing. She began working with various jazz and Top 40 bands in and around New York. She sang backup for Petula Clark and Grand Funk Railroad, and finally put her own act together, eventually moving back to L.A., where she sang at local jazz clubs. Soon after, she joined producer Richard Perry’s vocal trio Full Swing and recorded three albums with the group.

Lorraine wrote lyrics for most of the songs on these releases, some for classic pieces like Duke Ellington’s “Rockin’ in Rhythm,” the Yellowjackets’ “Ballad of the Whale” and Horace Henderson’s “Big John’s Special” (later heard in the movie Swing Shift). Full Swing was featured on Barry Manilow’s Swing Street album and TV special singing the Feather/Eddie Arkin song “Big Fun.”

When Full Swing dissolved, Lorraine focused mainly on writing. Songs with her lyrics were recorded by artists such as Patti Austin, Phyllis Hyman, Djavan, David Benoit, Kenny Rankin and Diane Schuur. Cleo Laine recorded four tracks of Lorraine’s versions of Ellington instrumentals.

Lorraine has written lyrics for the Disney TV show Dinosaurs (with Ray Colcord) and the PBS show Make Way for Noddy (with Terry Sampson). Her work with Mark Watters includes the MGM animated film Babes in Toyland, the Disney video Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween, Hasbro’s Candy Land movie and their My Little Pony series, as well as the touring stage show My Little Pony—The World’s Biggest Tea Party. Lorraine and Mark also wrote opening title themes for All Dogs Go to Heaven and The Lionhearts, and the piece “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” performed by opera singer Jessye Norman in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Lorraine wrote lyrics for  the Disney feature films The Jungle Book 2 (with Paul Grabowsky and Joel McNeely) and The Princess Diaries 2 (with Larry Grossman).

Read more

Tags

6
Radio & Podcasts

New September Releases - Sisters of Jazz, John Stein, Aaron Diehl & The Knights, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter, Ivan Lins And More

Read "New September Releases - Sisters of Jazz, John Stein, Aaron Diehl & The Knights, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter, Ivan Lins And More" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This broadcast includes new releases from Sisters of Jazz, John Stein, Aaron Diehl & The Knights, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter, Ivan Lins and Kirsten Agresta Copely, with birthday shoutouts to Gabrielle Stravelli, Alyssa Allgood, Tom Wopat, Greta Matassa, Claire Martin and Lorraine Feather, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire. Playlist Champian Fulton ...

1
Liner Notes

Lorraine Feather's Language Turns A Witty Phrase

Read "Lorraine Feather's Language Turns A Witty Phrase" reviewed by Ken Dryden


I got to know Lorraine Feather through reviewing several of her CDs, amazed by her gifts as a lyricist and singer, who was equally at home with witty songs and tender ballads. I first met Lorraine when she was performing at the late lamented Manhattan club Danny's Skylight Room with pianist Shelly Berg. We would chat during IAJE conferences and I was delighted when she invited me to write the liner notes for this CD. This release stands the test ...

8
Radio & Podcasts

New Releases: Roberta Brenza With Sheila Jordan, Marína Ósk, Ana Nelson, Charu Suri & More Women Driven Jazz

Read "New Releases:  Roberta Brenza With Sheila Jordan, Marína Ósk,  Ana Nelson, Charu Suri & More Women Driven Jazz" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This broadcast presents new releases from vocalists Roberta Brenza featuring Sheila Jordan, Marína Ósk, saxophonist/clarinetist Ana Nelson, and pianist Charu Suri with birthday shoutouts to Lorraine Feather, Claire Martin, Paul Jost, Greta Matassa and Alyssa Allgood, among others. Remembering Lou Caputo in the first hour. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time of pandemic so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire. Playlist Lou Caputo Not ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Raining Cats And... Even More Cats!

Read "Raining Cats And... Even More Cats!" reviewed by H William Stine


I wanted to do a special show for a special audience who never choose to listen to the show but listen to the show nearly every week, often sitting in someone's lap or, more likely, sitting in exactly the chair someone else wants to sit in. So I dedicated the show to all the cats who are probably my furriest and  also my most loyal listeners with songs about cats and songs sung by Cats and Kats. During the show ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

New Releases by Jane Ira Bloom & Allison Miller, Lorraine Feather, Adrianne Duncan, Susan Krebs and More

Read "New Releases by Jane Ira Bloom & Allison Miller, Lorraine Feather, Adrianne Duncan, Susan Krebs and More" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


The Fall bounty of new releases continues with music from the Abbie Finn Trio, Lorraine Feather, Lili Anel, Adrianne Duncan, Susan Krebs, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Mark Zaleski and a collaboration of Jane Ira Bloom & Allison Miller, plus birthday shoutouts to Rebecca Kilgore, Catherine Russell, Tia Imani Hanna, Lara Driscoll, Norma Winstone and more. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by purchasing their music during this time of pandemic so they can continue to distract, comfort and ...

4
Bailey's Bundles

Bailey’s Bundle – Seven Women (Plus Three) 2018 – Part IX

Read "Bailey’s Bundle – Seven Women (Plus Three) 2018 – Part IX" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Yilian Cañizares and Omar Sosa Aguas Ota Records 2018 Pianist/composer Omar Sosa has established himself as a pioneer at the edge of Cubano-Caribbean music. Sosa teams with violinist/vocalist Yilian Cañizares for a breezy and sensual stroll through 11 original, for lack of a better term, world music compositions that are as entertaining as they are accomplished. I think the way to out the music of Sosa into perspective is to think of it as being ...

7
Album Review

Lorraine Feather: Flirting with Disaster

Read "Flirting with Disaster" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


The release of a new Lorraine Feather recording consistently brings a sense of excitement and delicious anticipation. What does this gifted singer-lyricist who, like a figure-ground illustration simultaneously brilliant at both, have in store for us? More than likely, if she's true to her own Muse, I'd suppose it's going to be a sublime rendering of relationship-themed, thoughtfully poetic, yet sparkling verbiage that's delivered paired with highly stylized and impeccably-performed music. In the case of Flirting with Disaster the supposition ...

Read more articles

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lorraine Feather was born in Manhattan. Her parents named her Billie Jane Lee Lorraine after godmother Billie Holiday, her mother Jane (formerly a big band singer), her mother’s ex-roommate Peggy Lee, and the song “Sweet Lorraine.” She is the daughter of the late jazz writer Leonard Feather. The Feathers moved to L.A. when Lorraine was 12; at 18, after two years as a theater arts major at L.A. City College, she ...

1

Interview

Interview: Lorraine Feather

Interview: Lorraine Feather

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Lyricist and singer Lorraine Feather is the daughter of Leonard Feather, the jazz pianist, composer, producer, author and journalist who died in 1994. If not for Feather and other driven and talented communicators and promoters in the 1940s such as Norman Granz, Gene Norman, Symphony Sid Torin, Barry Ulanov, Fred Robins, photographers William P. Gottlieb and Herman Leonard, to name a few, post-war modern jazz may have come and gone without recognition. As I wrote in my 2012 book, Why ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist. All of her work as a recording artist has featured her ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist. All of her work as a recording artist has featured her ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

2

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today! Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Jazz Musician of the Day: Lorraine Feather

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Lorraine Feather's birthday today!

Lyricist/singer Lorraine Feather’s work has been heard on numerous records, in films and on television. Her songs have been covered extensively by adult contemporary and jazz artists, including Phyllis Hyman, Kenny Rankin, Patti Austin, Diane Schuur and Cleo Laine. As a jazz singer, Lorraine has recorded eleven albums, three with her vocal trio Full Swing and eight as a soloist... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Dave Tull
drums

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Math Camp

Relarion, Inc.
2018

buy

2 In Love

Concord Records
2015

buy

Attachments

Jazzed Media
2013

buy

Tales Of The Unusual

Jazzed Media
2012

buy

Ages

Jazzed Media
2010

buy

159

From: Attachments
By Lorraine Feather

Five

From: Tales Of The Unusual
By Lorraine Feather

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.