Tierney Sutton is definitely more than the “girl singer” with the Tierney Sutton Band. Rather, she is truly a part of the band, a musician whose instrument happens to be her voice. It’s both a creative approach and a business model that even by today’s standards of equality can seem a bit remarkable.
Raised in Wisconsin and schooled at Berklee College of Music, Sutton developed a distinct voice in the jazz world, both as a singer and as a creative partner. After her student time at Berklee, Sutton headed west and moved to Los Angeles in 1993, where she quickly made a name for herself as one of the premier vocalists in Southern California. In addition to gigging, she spent time teaching vocal jazz at USC and has been the head of the vocal department at L.A. Music Academy in Pasadena. A nine-time Grammy nominee, Sutton has earned critical acclaim, as well as performing for appreciative audiences worldwide.
With the Tierney Sutton Band, she has explored the works of Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, and Sting. The band has actually incorporated as Hollow Reed, Inc., allowing each of the members to have full equality in both creative and financial matters. The group is celebrating nearly twenty years together.