Biography
"A Voice As Unique as Her Origins" “Looking
for a new name to get excited about, try Dessy Di Lauro”: Chris
Wells, Editor-In-Chief, Echoes Magazine (April 2005). Dessy is a Montreal
born Brazilian Italo-Cuban singer / songwriter with an impressive track
record. Her recently commercially released EP album, 'A Study of a Woman's
Soul' (CrazyglueMusic) is a blend of soul & Latin. Her single, “When
You Need Me” was chosen by UK taste maker, Andreas Hellingh, for
his compilation, “Soul Exposed” (Expansion Records / 2005).
In January of 2006, DJ John Dean aired a full hour of Dessy’s live
performance on his popular UK satellite radio show, The Juice, on Solar
Radio.
For the entire year of 2006, Dessy is touring the US and Canada with the
latest Cirque Du Soleil production, Delirium. Dessy has a leading role,
and her producer/writing partner, Ric’key Pageot is the musical
conductor & keyboardist on the show.
In 2005 alone, Dessy and Ric’key have showcased there original music
in Detroit’s “Motor City Music Conference”, Toronto’s
“Canadian Music Week Conference” & Phemphat’s “Honey
Jam”, New York City’s S.O.B.’s Club, The Montreal International
Jazz Festival. At that same event, she sang back up vocals for none other
than Patti Labelle & The Neville Brothers. Of that experience, Dessy
says: “After meeting Ms. Labelle, my admiration for her grew even
more, not only as an artist, but also as a person. She is just incredible”.
From early
childhood, Dessy Di Lauro's parents exposed her to music of many genres,
considering her multi-ethnic background. The music of her parents inevitably
would later become her own musical influences; soul music (Chaka Khan,
Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder); jazz (Sara Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald);
Cuban (Los Van Van, Irakere); and Brazilian (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto
Gil).
As she made her way in the Montreal music seen in the early 90's at a
young age, she began singing in professional gospel choirs. She also joined
the Rn'B/Soul group Co-Soul, singing alongside, Janis "Coco"
Thompson (Celine Dion), and Alan Prater a.k.a.Soul-o (Michael Jackson,
Cameo). During her time in the band, she opened for singer Mary J. Blige
on her "My Life Tour" in Montreal.
Along with genius turntablelist DJ Kid Koala (Ninja Tunes Rec.), Dessy
was one the original members of the acid jazz group, Bullfrog. Among many
performances in and outside of Montreal, they opened for James Brown's
saxophonist, Maceo Parker.
Dessy has also performed and recorded with many francophone recording
artists in Quebec, such as Mitsou, Marie-Denise Pelletier, France Joli,
and Marie Joe Therie.
In 1997, Dessy was getting to be known around Montreal not only as a gifted
singer, but also as a talented songwriter. That year, she was called to
write and sing for a brand new francophone rap group, named Dubmatique
for their debut album "La Force de Comprendre" (Tox records).
Her single when on to top the charts in Canada and France, and the album
was certified double platinum, earning Dubmatique the title of the first
francophone rap group to go platinum in Canada. Internationally known
singer Ginette Reno, winner of six Juno Awards personally picked Dessy's
original composition "Will You Be There" for her English album
"Love Is All" (Honey Dew Records/1998) produced by Steve Skinner.
In 1998,
Dessy was chosen to be part of the original cast of the critically acclaimed
Cirque du Soleil production, "La Nouba" in Orlando, Florida,
where she performed for three years.
At her return to Montreal in 2003, she was introduced to Ric’key
Pageot, and they soon began working together on her original material.
His credentials include a Bachelor degree in music, majoring in Jazz Performance
from McGill University (2003), and he also leads his own Afro-latin Funk
Jazz quintet, Jazzma (see his biography on www.dessydilauro.com for more
information).
In the Fall of 2004, Dessy and Ric’key went on a two-month tour
in France with multi platinum selling recording artist, Corneille, as
she sang back up vocal. She is also featured on his sophomore album, “Marchand
de Rêves” (Deja Musique, 2005).
Dessy will release a full-length CD entitled “An In-Depth Study
of a Woman’s Soul” in late 2006. You can look forward to her
digging deeper into her childhood musical influences and her adult experiences
resulting into what some may say, is a unique sound in today’s music.
|