Valerie Day (born November 20, 1959) is an American pop and jazz singer. Born in Portland, Oregon, she is a fourth-generation Oregonian, and grew up in a musical family.[1] She was the lead singer and a founding member of the 1980s dance band Nu Shooz, with her husband John Smith.[2]
Valerie Day | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1959 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Website | Valerie Day official web site |
Day's performances with Nu Shooz had mixed reviews. She and Smith were credited with "rewriting the book" on Portland's R&B sound.[3] One reviewer at the Seattle Times described her as having a "tough but perky wholesome image," and praised her dancing and conga playing, but opined that she over-used a certain vocal hook, and was reluctant to step out as the star of the group.[4]
Day has taken on other musical genres. In the late 1990s she was a featured singer in the Woody Hite Big Band. She recorded an album of duets with pianist Tom Grant in 2005.[5]
Also in 2005, Day won a contest to have an image of her lips used in the new corporate logo for Portland's Hot Lips Pizza as part of the company's 21st anniversary.[6]
From 2010 to 2014, Day was an adjunct professor at Portland State University, where she taught Contemporary/Jazz Voice.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Valerie | Valerie Day Sings". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
- ^ Nicholas, Jonathan (September 1, 2006). "Old Shooz get a Nu start". The Oregonian.
- ^ Tomlinson, Stuart (April 3, 1988). "Nu socks, nu shine, Nu Shooz". The Oregonian.
- ^ De Barros, Paul (June 9, 1986). "The beat's great, but the band lacks depth". The Seattle Times.
- ^ The Inventures
- ^ Nicholas, Jonathan (October 3, 2005). "Hottest lips in town". The Oregonian.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieday [self-published source]