17 Facts About Carolyn Leonhart

Carolyn Leonhart was born on July 10,1971 and is a jazz singer, daughter of jazz bassist Jay Leonhart, and sister of the trumpeter Michael Leonhart.

Carolyn Leonhart has performed as a back-up vocalist for Steely Dan on several tours and recordings.

Carolyn Leonhart was exposed to music from a very early age, attending her father's gigs where she saw him accompany famous singers such as Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, and Peggy Lee.

Carolyn Leonhart sang on television commercials as a young child.

Carolyn Leonhart won the Lena Horne High School Jazz Vocalist competition in her senior year.

Carolyn Leonhart attended the University of Rochester, obtaining a degree in Comparative Religion.

Carolyn Leonhart recorded two solos with the Toshiba EMI label, and in her senior year was named Best College Jazz Vocalist by DownBeat magazine.

Carolyn Leonhart returned to New York and in 1994 began singing in jazz clubs.

In 2000, Carolyn Leonhart released the album Steal The Moon, a collaborative project with pianist and composer Rob Bargad.

Between 1996 and 2007 Carolyn Leonhart was a lead back-up vocalist with Steely Dan, singing on three world tours and two albums.

Carolyn Leonhart performed again with Steely Dan in 2009 and 2011.

Carolyn Leonhart met Wayne Escoffery, a London-born saxophonist, in a New York Jazz club in 2002.

Carolyn Leonhart studied Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University.

Carolyn Leonhart has been an assistant professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and has taught at the Jazz Academy.

Carolyn Leonhart has said that she does not consider herself a jazz singer, just a singer, and she has performed with ensembles covering a wide range of musical styles.

Carolyn Leonhart was deeply influenced by her father and by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan.

Carolyn Leonhart says that other influences include Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, Ahmad Jamal, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.