Hello and welcome to the new site. Take a look around and come back often to find out the latest news, dates and/or join the Mailing List to stay up to date with my comings and goings. You can also leave a message in the Guestbook! Thanks for stopping by, see you at the next show.
Yours musically....
♥ eileina
"Hear the note... be the note"
Latest News
Happy 2008..... NEWS TO FOLLOW IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.... I AM IN ITALY AND IT'S FOGGY...... REMINDS ME OF A SONG!!!!!!
People I'd love to work with!
Quincy Jones, Hank Jones, Eric Gunnison, Eliane Elias, John Clayton, George Mraz, Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (from my hometown in the UK), Big Band Orchestres worldwide...
Influences
Bessie Smith, Mary Lou Williams, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Ernestine Anderson, Billy Eckstine, Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, Mattie Moss Clark, Jennifer Holliday, Rosa Passos, Eliane Elias, Joni Mitchell, Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker. Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Ray Brown.... just a few!
Bio
“………… I just love to sing! It’s my first passion!” exclaims Eileina who at the age of 3 made her singing debut at church in her hometown of Birmingham, England where her father was and still is the presiding Minister. Eileina sang her first music, gospel, all through her teens. Later, while working as a legal secretary in London, Eileina started getting calls for session work and was soon singing alongside noted performers such as Randy Crawford and Paul Young. Around that same time, she was recommended to perform at the world famous Xenon nightclub in Piccadilly, London where she quickly became one of the regular showcases.
In 1992, Eileina auditioned for Italian rock sensation ‘Zucchero’ Fornaciari who had spent the prior 12 months searching for a replacement ‘corista’. He had been unsatisfied with what he had found until hearing Eileina improvising with the studio pianist. “Ecco! Bravissima!” Eileina was hired on the spot and embarked on a 6 month European and Italian tour with Zuccehero that opened up wonderful opportunities for her in Italy where she resided for 5 years.
After the tour she kept her “on-call” status with the star, and was soon approached by EMI Italia to record 5 singles, 2 of which went to the Top Ten Italian hit parade.
Eileina Dennis (nee Dennis) arrived in Southern California in October 1999. Since being here she has performed for the former President Bill Clinton when Los Angeles played host to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Debra Messing, of the famed TV show ‘Will & Grace’ personally selected Eileina to provide the entertainment for her wedding in September 2000.
On July 21st 2002, Eileina won the award for ‘Excellence In Jazz Music” as “Jazz Female Vocalist of the Year” in the 2002 Long Beach Jazz Search’. Shortly thereafter she was presented with the award for “Best Jazz Performance of the Year” for 2002, which in turn placed her as one of the acts for the 15th annual Long Beach Jazz Festival 2002.
eileina quote: “I really feel as though as I have come full circle vocally with all the many styles of music I have sung. Though my first love will always be Gospel, my new love is Jazz. I always have a new experience singing America’s greatest art form. For me, Gospel and Jazz evoke the same deep and elevating emotions that cannot be found elsewhere. OK, maybe also in Opera, which I may attempt before I leave this universe.”
Eileina is currently embarking on national and international appearances.
Now booking 2007 and beyond!