1. Mindi Abair is an American saxophonist, vocalist, author, and National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization that puts on the Grammy Awards show.
20 Facts About Mindi Abair
1. 2.
Mindi Abair was the featured saxophonist for the 2011 and 2012 seasons of American Idol, and performed with the rock band Aerosmith.
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Mindi Abair transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, attending on a scholarship and studying saxophone with Joe Viola and George Garzone.
4.
In 1991, after college, Mindi Abair moved to Los Angeles, California, where she began booking her band into clubs, coffee shops and hotels.
5.
Mindi Abair played solo on the street at 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California and garnered the attention of jazz keyboardist Bobby Lyle, who hired her to record on his Power of Touch CD and tour with him.
6.
Mindi Abair was featured on saxophone in the Go West video "Tell Me".
7.
In 1999, Mindi Abair joined the Backstreet Boys for their Millennium World Tour, and spent the next year and a half as their saxophonist, keyboardist and percussionist.
8.
Mindi Abair assembled Mandy Moore's first band and acted as musical director, keyboardist, background singer and percussionist for many of Moore's first television appearances and shows.
9.
Mindi Abair performed in local Los Angeles rock clubs to promote the record, in addition to her touring with the Backstreet Boys.
10.
Mindi Abair released "Hi-Fi Stereo" in 2010 which peaked at No 6 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
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On May 27,2014, Mindi Abair released Wild Heart on Concord Records imprint, Heads Up International.
12.
Mindi Abair received the Mad Skills Award at the third annual She Rocks at NAMM Show on January 24,2015.
13.
In 2007, Mindi Abair took over the nationally syndicated radio program Chill with Chris Botti which he had hosted for two years.
14.
Mindi Abair featured on the 2011 American Idol season as a soloist with Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams and playing behind contestants Jacob Lusk and Haley Reinhart.
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Mindi Abair was part of the selected brass section for Ledet's performance of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" originally by James Brown.
16.
Mindi Abair filled in as the saxophonist with the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman on April 3 and 4,2012.
17.
Mindi Abair has appeared on The Tavis Smiley Show and more than once on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
18.
In 2009, Mindi Abair was elected as a Governor on the Board of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, serving for three years until 2012, when she was elected as Secretary.
19.
In 2013, Mindi Abair was elected to a two-year term as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter, taking over the position from the previous president, MC Lyte.
20.
Mindi Abair was elected to a two-year term as National Trustee of the Recording Academy in 2015.