WHO IS SHE?

DeAnna Victoria was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan - a city that is very well known for having produced a high caliber of musicians in the world of Jazz. As a young girl, DeAnna Victoria expressed the desire to be in the spotlight and ended up shining in many areas. From ballet, to gymnastics, to talent showcases, and then on to modeling and pageants, her mother Virginia Fields played a huge role in helping her develop her many budding talents. DeAnna Victoria is also a former beauty queen, having won the title, "Miss Avenue of Fashion." The "Avenue of Fashion," which is located in Detroit, on Livernois Avenue between 7 & 8 Mile, has a rich American jazz legacy and an African-American cultural heritage that continues to shape the arts and business on Livernois. 

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DeAnna Victoria became a member of the Clark Atlanta University Jazz Orchestra - under the direction of James H. Patterson, and served as their vocalist for 3 years while she was there earning her Bachelor of Arts degree. During her matriculation at Clark Atlanta University,  the orchestra embarked on a European Tour. She was welcomed overseas with open arms and received standing ovations at both The North Sea Jazz Festival and The Montreux Jazz Festival. While on tour, notables such as Rachelle Ferrell, Stanley Clarke, the late bassist Ray Brown and the late trombonist Mel Wanzo congratulated DeAnna Victoria for a job well done. Her biggest thrill while on tour, was when Quincy Jones appeared on the stage at The Montreux Jazz Festival to conduct the orchestra for their performance of the Horace Silver composition titled Doodlin’.  DeAnna Victoria sang and scatted her heart out like never before! As the crowd was applauding the orchestra, Quincy Jones exclaimed to the audience, “This lady can burn!”  

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DeAnna Victoria also had the honor of engaging in a rare performance and singing, “A Night in Tunisia,” with vibraphonist and bandleader, the great Lionel Hampton. This took place while she was a member of the Clark Atlanta University Jazz Orchestra, for their event, “An Evening Under the Stars.” It’s no wonder that years later, she would be selected by Jacey Falk to become the vocalist of The Lionel Hampton Celebration Band, which was created honor the late Mr. Hampton himself! Her first engagement with this powerhouse band, was at The Iridium in New York City. On these engagements, she shared the stage with Jazz legends such as Curtis Fuller, Steve Turre, Jason Marsalis, Candido, Bucky Pizarelli, Marcus Belgrave, Sr., Nick Payton, Red Holloway, Teodross Avery, Corcoran Holt, and several other of the world’s most amazing musicians. She even alternated evenings with vocalist Diane Schur, who also joined the band for stellar performances! Legendary trombonist Curtis Fuller – who was also a member of The Lionel Hampton Celebration Band, shared these words with DeAnna Victoria after hearing her sing: “In my honest opinion, after having played with Ella, Dinah Washington, Betty Carter, Sarah and Billie, DeAnna has the timing and heartfelt feeling that all the great singers before her had acquired.” Along with The Lionel Hampton Celebration Band, she went on to be featured with them at The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, in Jacksonville, Florida. 

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DeAnna Victoria was invited by "Speech" Todd Thomas - leader of the group Arrested Development, to join them for a few recording sessions. She happily accepted and went on to be featured on Arrested Development's recording of the single, "People Everyday." The single, which was recorded for Chrysalis records, received platinum certification status.  Soon following her recording debut on the group's recording of People Everyday, she was once again invited to join them to appear in the video for the same song. She was now coined  an extended family member of Arrested Development - an honor she is still thrilled about, after all these years.  DeAnna Victoria proudly hangs her platinum plaque in her home above her piano, and is reminded daily of this momentous time in her life!

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DeAnna Victoria is no stranger to the Detroit music scene. Upon her return to Detroit after finishing college in Atlanta, her earliest performances include sitting in with Dr. Teddy Harris at BoMac’s Lounge. Her very first ‘paid’ Jazz gig in Detroit was with famed trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Sr. during which they performed a duet of Duke Ellington’s Cottontail. While still under Belgrave's wing, she also performed a rendition of "My One and Only Love" being accompanied by Belgrave on trumpet, for a wedding - her very own. 

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DeAnna Victoria continued to spread her musical wings in Detroit, when accomplished Alto Sax player, music educator and then Director of Fine Arts of Detroit Public Schools, Benjamin L. Pruitt, Sr. asked her to become a vocalist with his group, Ben’s Friends Jazz Orchestra. This is a title she proudly wore for nearly two decades, until Ben's passing in the Fall of 2017.  Mr. Pruitt had this to say about his vocalist of nearly twenty years: “DeAnna Victoria is an upcoming, very bright star on the metro-Detroit Jazz scene. She sings with the confidence and skills of someone much older and more seasoned; her pitch is impeccable—she is not afraid to take intervallic risks. It is often difficult to imagine that huge, rich resonance coming from her petite frame.  She is equally comfortable in front of a big jazz orchestra or a jazz trio. She is definitely someone to watch out for on the local, national and international jazz scene. Treat yourself: check her out.”   Her performances with Ben’s Friends included The Ford-Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival, The Birmingham Jazz Festival, The Robert’s Riverwalk Music Series, multiple engagements at The Annual St. Augustine & St. Monica Jazz on the Lawn Festival, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, and many other venues across metro Detroit. Mr. Carl Stone, who is the director of the MSU Detroit Community Jazz Band, stepped up to also direct The B.F. Legacy Orchestra. The Ben's Friends Legacy Orchestra was formed to keep Mr. Pruitt's legacy alive, by keeping all of 'Ben's Friends' together.  DeAnna Victoria is the vocalist of this band as well, and is thrilled to be part of an entity to  continues to pay homage to Ben Pruitt, Sr. - a man that was her 'musical father', mentor and friend. 

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DeAnna Victoria is a seasoned educator of 27 years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Clark Atlanta University, where she also took classes in Jazz Orchestra. She later developed and copyrighted her Jazz vocal curriculum titled The DeAnna Weeden Vocal Jazz Curriculum. It was Ben Pruitt, Sr. that referred her for the position of Director of Vocal Jazz Education at Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. After acquiring that title, she worked with them for 7 years, to implement her vocal jazz curriculum. The curriculum infuses Vocal Jazz history and multiple of elements of Jazz singing into classrooms throughout Southeast Michigan.  As a Vocal Jazz Preservationist - a title she coined herself, she takes pride in teaching young singers to gain an appreciation for the Blues and Vocal Jazz, while at the same time coaching her students in developing the essential skills they need to transition from the classroom to center stage, to perform confidently with their very own Jazz band. In a time when R & B and Pop styles of singing are the most popular among young singers, she is instrumental in showing her students how Jazz is a timeless and classic genre of singing and why it is beneficial to have in their repertoire. DeAnna Victoria is also an instructor with Wayne County Community College District. At the college DeAnna Victoria teaches a couple courses titled All that Jazz! and Jazz Appreciation, both of which she designed the curriculum for. She even taught her course, "Let's Sing," in their Kid's College. DeAnna Victoria is fulfilling her potential as an educator along with her passion for singing, by combining the two! She currently enjoys being a 2nd grade teacher to her16 "Smart Cookies," as she calls them. 

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DeAnna Victoria is a bandleader in her own right as well. Her band DeAnna Victoria and her Jazzy Gentlemen have been performing at private and public events throughout metro Detroit for close to 20 years! She takes a great deal of pride in surrounding herself with a group of world-class musicians, that she enjoys sitting back and listening to, just as much as she enjoys sharing the stage with! Her ensemble is comprised of pianist Phil Lesky, bassist Ibrahim Jones, and drummer Bang Glen. When DeAnna Victoria asked her musical mentor Ben Pruitt, Sr. to join her band several years ago, he accepted, and was featured on Alto Sax. She was ecstatic and honored to have him as one of her Jazzy Gentlemen! After Ben Pruitt, Sr. passed away, other soloists would sit in from time to time with her ensemble, but the smooth sounds of Ben Pruitt, Sr. would forever be missed.  Other notable musicians that have performed with DeAnna Victoria in her ensemble include Don Mayberry, Tad Weed, George Davidson, Spider Webb, Roger Jones II, DeSean Jones, Kasan Belgrave, Greg Cook, David Green, Josef Deas,

Butter Hawkins, Mark McGruder, Shannon Wade and Brandon Williams. 

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DeAnna Victoria's vocal delivery allows you to drift back in time to the likes of Sarah Vaughan, with a little bit of Phyllis Hyman possibly in the mix as well. However, you will clearly recognize her distinct sound, as she never aims to imitate, but follows in the footsteps of her predecessors with great care and respect for the musical genre she represents when she takes to the stage.  Although she is often compared to a young Sarah Vaughan, her goal is not to be the 'next' anyone.  With a very humbling spirit, DeAnna Victoria shares, "I have elected to follow my own fork in the road – a path which is allowing me to become an entity in my own right.  Although I have listened great Jazz vocalists since I was a child, including the Divine Sarah Vaughan, Billy Eckstine, and Billie Holiday, I listened then - and still listen to the voices of my predecessors with extreme admiration. I will happily admit that I have taken notes from some of the most legendary vocalists. I am a firm believer that in order for me to figure out where I wanted to go vocally, I had to study and reflect on the historical aspects of some of the best Jazz vocals for wisdom, guidance and direction." One of the 'best' in her opinion, was Abbey Lincoln, who coined DeAnna Victoria her "Niece." During her multiple visits and time spent with Abbey - the late, great vocalist, songwriter, bandleader and actress, she gathered an insurmountable amount of wisdom, but not just about singing and songwriting. "Auntie Abbey" -  as DeAnna Victoria called her, shared so much wisdom with her, including ancient Egyptian history, how to braid hair, breathing exercises, and even clothing from her own lavish closet! One year while teaching, DeAnna Victoria invited her students listen to 26 of Abbey's songs, and create a collection of 26 drawings - one for each letter of the alphabet, to depict each of the songs. The book is titled, "The Abbey Lincoln Collection from A-Z," and is now archived in the Abbey Lincoln Collection which is housed at The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. DeAnna Victoria feels that it is the energy and wisdom that she has gathered from Abbey, Phyllis Hyman, Rachelle Ferrell, Cassandra Wilson, Nancy Wilson and other vocalists that she has either met and/or spent significant time with, that she puts to use, while on stage, sitting at her piano writing a song or shedding a new piece to add to her repertoire.  DeAnna Victoria also shares, “I realize that my voice is a gift; an instrument I am using to bridge the Jazz vocals from yesteryears, to the Jazz vocals of the future.  The energy of my musical predecessors travels through me when I sing. Their energy and blessings, are what help me create the momentum that fuels my approach to performing...it is what enables me to deliver my musical talent in the form of "gifts" and hand deliver them to the members in my audience, each time I take to the stage.”  

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DeAnna’s gracious and humble demeanor is obvious as she interacts with her listeners and her band. Her future is very promising. With each performance, she makes more and more waves on the Jazz scene. Be sure to bring your appetite for first-class, vintage vocal Jazz to her next performance - you will surely get your fill!