Contessa Black’s great grandmother was a Pentecostal Holy Roller preacher and sang hillbilly Gospel in her own church in Texas. Contessa was raised yodeling and singing gospel. She sang backup for Josh Grobin on “You Raise Me Up” in the gospel choir where she performed with him at the opening of the new Hollywood Bowl, at the Staples Center, on his music video. Their voices also were heard at the Super Bowl Halftime show. She was exposed to classical and many other styles of music during her five years with the Los Angeles Children’s Choir where she sang at the United Nations, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and numerous other venues. Jazz and blues became an interest when, at 10 years old, Contessa attended a musical based on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” where all of the songs were Duke Ellington classics. This led her to study with jazz vocalists and master teachers. She was accepted into Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the Gospel Choir. She performed in such venues as the Dorothy Chandler, the Alex Theater, Staples Center, Catalina’s Bar and Grill and several of the California State Universities, including Northridge, Long Beach and Los Angeles. Her vocal jazz group competed in both the Monterey and Reno Jazz Festivals, winning either 1st or 2nd place over several years. As a soloist, Contessa has performed at the renowned Catalina’s Bar and Grill, improvised at the Ritz Carlton; jammed at the famous Sportsman’s Lodge and was accompanied by Bonnie Raitt’s keyboardist at several benefits for the homeless. Contessa was “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”, in the National Honor Society and is now a University student. She loves songs with a mixture of cultural sounds, combining Arabic or Brazilian influences, with jazz and blues, salsa, rock, or rap. These diverse influences meld into her music and song writing. Sick Woman (Looking for a Healthy Man) is her 1st Original Independent Blues Album. Musicians Contessa Black: Vocals Jonathan Richards: Upright & Electric Bass Michael McTaggart: Electric & Acoustic Guitar Daniel Richardson: Sax Jonathan Pinson: Drums Kris Bowers: Piano Nick Vaters: Electric Guitar (Sick Woman) Gary Mallaber: Drums (Devilish Guy) All Musical Arrangements: Tessa Hendrie & Jonathan Richards (Except “Devilish Guy” Arrangement: Tessa Hendrie & Gary Mallaber) Produced by: Tessa Hendrie Recording Engineer & Mixer: Tony Green Recorded at: Ear Gallery Music Mastered by: Wayne Cook Photography by: Kaylie Wilson (Back & Inside) Photography by: Jeremy Jackson (Front) CD covers by: Marissa Dominello Recording Engineer: Gary Mallaber (Devilish Guy) Josh Grobin Back-up vocal on “You Raise Me Up” Josh Grobin Music Video Super Bowl 2004, Voice for back-up singing on “You Raise Me Up”. Staples Center with Josh Grobin Hollywood Bowl Opening Ceremony with Josh Grobin Santa Monica Airport Benefit with Josh Grobin Alex Theater Gospel Show Cal State Los Angeles, Luckman Auditorium Multicultural Choral Festival Los Angeles, televised Coburn School of Music Concert Cal State Los Angeles Music Hall Dorothy Chandler Pavilion LACHSA Zipper Hall Concert State Choir Festival CSUN Invitational Chamber Choir Festival Occidental College Thorne Hall Vocal Jazz Monterrey Jazz Festival Reno Jazz Festival Staples Center Opening of the 2003 Basketball Playoffs Dorothy Chandler Pavilion LACHSA Alex Theater Catalina’s Bar & Grill PAC 10 Basketball Hall of Honor Banquet-Opening Entertainment KCET KLAX Cal State Los Angeles, Luckman Auditorium Cal State Los Angeles, State Playhouse Cal State Long Beach Jazz Occidental College Thorne Hall Academic Bowl Opening Ceremony LACHSA Benefits, multiple venues Sportsman’s Lodge-Soloist Ritz Carlton Lounge-Soloist Opening for the Coasters-Soloist Monterrey Jazz Festival, 2nd place HS Vocal Jazz Reno Jazz Festival, 2nd place Vocal Jazz Los Angeles Children’s Chorus United Nations New York City St. Michaels Cathedral New York City Vancouver International Choir, multiple venues Gospel Choir Back-up vocals - Josh Grobin, events include: “You Raise Me Up” Music Video, Super Bowl 2004, Staples Center, Hollywood Bowl Opening Ceremony, Santa Monica Airport Benefit. Alex Theater Gospel Show Cal State Los Angeles, Luckman Auditorium Multicultural Choral Festival Los Angeles, televised Concert Choir Coburn School of Music Concert Cal State Los Angeles Music Hall Dorothy Chandler Pavilion LACHSA Zipper Hall Concert State Choir Festival CSUN Invitational Chamber Choir Festival Occidental College Thorne Hall Vocal Jazz Monterrey Jazz Festival Reno Jazz Festival Staples Center Opening of 2003 Basketball Playoffs Dorothy Chandler Pavilion LACHSA Alex Theater Catalina’s Bar & Grill PAC 10 Basketball Hall of Honor Banquet-Opening Entertainment KCET KLAX Cal State Los Angeles, Luckman Auditorium Cal State Los Angeles, State Playhouse Cal State Long Beach Jazz Occidental College Thorne Hall Academic Bowl Opening Ceremony LACHSA Benefits, multiple venues Jazz & Blues Catalina Bar & Grill–Headliner Recognized Prof. Catalina Bar & Grill-Headliner Young Artist Series Sportsman’s Lodge-Soloist Ritz Carlton Lounge-Soloist The Blue Guitar - Soloist Opening for the Coasters-Soloist Whiskey A GoGo – Backup vocalist for FUNK