Dana LaCroix (born April 1, 1966) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter.[1] She has released six roots and blues-influenced studio albums that incorporate elements of pop, roots-rock, country and folk music.

Dana LaCroix
Born (1966-04-01) April 1, 1966 (age 58)
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresFolk rock, Roots rock
Years active1986–present
Websitedanalacroix.com

Early life

edit

LaCroix was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Naomi LaCroix (née: Tanaka), a registered nurse and Pat LaCroix, a Canadian musician and photographer who toured in the early sixties with The Halifax Three, a group he founded with Denny Doherty. She cites The Halifax Three as her earliest musical influence.[2] She is the sister of the Canadian actress, Lisa LaCroix.

Career

edit

Touring since 1993, LaCroix has appeared in the United States and Canada, and toured nationally in Norway and Denmark,[3] at venues including Midtfyns Festival, The Opera House, Regent Theater, and on national media including CBC’s Morningside, This Morning and Morning Edition, and The Artie Lange Show.

Early in her career LaCroix performed at Expo ’86[4] in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with the Humber College Big Band and went on to work with Motown session guitarist, Leroy Emmanuel,[5] and Norris Vines,[6] formerly of The Platters, as a back-up and featured singer in a Motown tribute group.

She moved to New York City in 1989 where she performed and recorded with a 24-piece folk-rock band called The Poppies and others, before relocating to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1990.[3] In Denmark she toured nationally with Danish-American guitarist, singer and songwriter, Paul Banks[7] and took over for Champion Jack Dupree as the musical partner of Danish bluesman, Kenn Lending. She worked with Lending under the moniker Lending-LaCroix for two years, releasing a studio recording entitled "Down Home Blues" [8] for Olufsen Records. and touring nationally in Denmark[9] and Norway. Two of LaCroix's songs, Lonely Rooms and Pride, from her independent debut release, Pride, were included in Danish director, Nicolas Winding Refn's 2002 feature film mystery thriller, Fear X, starring John Turturro.[10] The tracks were produced by Canadian producer, Rick Whitelaw.[11] Lonely Rooms was originally released on LaCroix's freshman EP which was selected by Nashville's Performing Songwriter Magazine as a Top 12 Independent Recording in 1997.[12]

LaCroix began working with Spanish bassist, songwriter and producer, Yadam Gonzales,[13] soon thereafter, co-writing music for Eurovision Song Contest winner, Dutch pop star, "Hind’s" 2005 release, "Halfway Home".

As a vocal workshop leader LaCroix has presented at Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Odense, Denmark, The Danish Musical Academy[14] in Fredericia, Denmark, and The Psychotherapy Networker Symposium in Washington, DC. Today LaCroix performs and records[15] with her band in Canada,[16] the US [17] and Denmark,[18] released her sixth studio cd, The Great Divide,[19][3] in November 2016, and has begun a duo project[20][21] with Murali Coryell, son of jazz lmusician Larry Coryell.

She resides in Upstate New York with her husband and contributes to local events and projects there.[16][22][23][24]

Discography

edit
  • 2013 – "Moving On, Looking Back: - Artist: Dana LaCroix – Label: Independent
  • 2011 – "Jump In: - Artist: Dana LaCroix - Label: Independent[15]
  • 2007 – "Faith In You" - Artist: Dana LaCroix - Label: Independent
  • 2005 – "Halfway Home" – Artist: Hind – Label: BMG
  • 2001 – "Down Home Blues" - Artist: Kenn Lending/Dana LaCroix - Label: Olufsen Records
  • 1998 – "Pride" - Artist: Dana LaCroix - Label: Independent
  • 1990 – "The Poppies" – Artist: The Poppies – Label: CBS Records

Filmography

edit
  • 2003 – Fear X – (Contributing Songwriter) Director: Niels Winding Refn – Starring: John Turturro

References

edit
  1. ^ "Forårets største overraskelse, Dana Lacroix". Midthimmerlands Folkebladet. 27 April 2010 (concert review in Danish)
  2. ^ "Bio".
  3. ^ a b c "Dana LaCroix er CD- og turneaktuel". Rootszone Denmark, by Lissen Jacobsen | 6 November 2016
  4. ^ "Humber College Of Music Department - Humber At Expo 86". vinylrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Fireside Chat Leroy Emmanuel". rbmaradio.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  6. ^ InsideOttawaValley.com (2014-09-11). "One time member of the Platters to perform at Gallipeau Centre Theatre Sept. 20". insideottawavalley.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Paul Banks - Biography & History - AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Recordings". lending.dk. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Aarhus Stiftstidende". www.stiften.dk. Aarhus, Denmark. February 15, 2001.
  10. ^ "Dana LaCroix på Kolding Gymnasium". JydskeVestkysen, by VIBEKE GADE, 4 November 2008 (in Danish, concert review)
  11. ^ "Rick Whitelaw - Credits - AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  12. ^ Fagan, Neil (1 January 1997). "Top 12 Independent Recordings". The Performing Songwriter, Issue 22. Nashville, TN.
  13. ^ "Yadam Gonzales ••• Top Songs as Writer ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". musicvf.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Det Danske Musicalakademi - en". musicalakademiet.dk. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  15. ^ a b "CD REVIEW: Dana LaCroix's 'Jump In' at the highest level". dailyfreeman.com. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Dana LaCroix Trio - Old Mill - Toronto Hotel". oldmilltoronto.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Songwriter celebrates new roots in Binghamton". pressconnects.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  18. ^ "Dana LaCroix – Spillestedet Blokhus". spillestedetblokhus.dk. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  19. ^ Ivan Rod. "Dana LaCroix The Great Divide Canadisk americana udkommer i Danmark (CD Review)". Gaffa magazine.
  20. ^ "Dana Lacroix & Murali Coryell and Band at the Oneonta Theatre". thisiscooperstown.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016. (in Danish)
  21. ^ "Pair of shows set at B Side Ballroom". thedailystar.com. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  22. ^ "Song proceeds donated to support Binghamton school garden". Binghamton Homepage, 10/17 2016
  23. ^ " Music, dancing part of First Night festivities". The Daily Star, By Denise Richardson, Jan 3, 2011
  24. ^ " On The Bright Side: City tree goes green". The Daily Star, By Mark Boshnack Nov 29, 2007
edit