Biography
Miss Lynnie Stewart
Classic & Original
Jazz, Blues & Ballads
Whether bringing her sound to the great Jazz standards, or singing her own original material, Lynnie's warm, smoky pure tone, sophisticated way with lyrics and compelling rhythm delight audiences with authentic style. Her luscious voice and distinctive wit, poetry and soul blend into a tasty mix of infectious rhythm, sensual imagery and genuine emotion.
Lynnie is a Southern California native, whose mother was also a singer, and her dad a trumpet player. Her parents met in a Washington D.C. nightclub where they were both appearing. Her early life was saturated in the Jazz scene of her family, and later in the LA Blues and Folk Rock world of her friends, and with their Hollywood Film and Television composer families. Her baby pictures were taken by William Claxton, photographer to Jazz greats! She was singing and dancing as a toddler, and began writing songs while a teenager.
She has just produced 2 CD's of her own. "Classic Jazz Songs" with Joel Scott on Piano is a collection of classic Jazz standards with a contemporary feel and true authentic style. "Tonight Was Made for Love" is an album of all original Blues, Ballads, and Jazz with music and lyrics written by Miss Stewart. Lynnie collaborated with some of the best talent in L.A. on these projects, and the bands sound great! The brilliant Derol Caraco co-produced, played all guitars, and provided gorgeous arrangments. The amazing Gold Record producer and Bassist John Avila, of Oingo Boingo fame, also played, produced and arranged some of the most distinctive songs on the album.
Lynnie was also a dancer/choreographer for many years, literally performing from the time she could walk. She produced several beautiful dance concerts in the LA area.
These culminated in "LE JAZZ HOT", a review exploring the Classic Jazz music of
Billie Holiday, Kurt Weill, Bix Beiderbecker, Benny Goodman, the Modern Jazz Quartet and others. Taking place in an imaginary nightclub that changes clientele and fashions with evolving Jazz style, the show moved the audience through each era of this distinctive American art form.
She toured nationally with Margalit Ovid, performed throughout Southern California with the Westside Ballet, and taught Ballet, Modern, and Jazz dance at many of the finest schools in the area.
As a Flower Child teen, Lynnie danced at the L.A. Love-Ins, and you can sometimes see her in documentaries of the time. This was deep schooling in the rhythms of Brazilian and Afro-Cuban drumming that she knew from the Latin Jazz and Bossa Nova which played constantly at home. Her marriage of 18 years to her Cuban husband ensured gaining even more intimate knowledge of that unbelievably rich music. She also collaborated on the composition and recording at A&M Studios of the electronic scores for her early dance pieces.
Last but not least she had the very great honor to study acting with the legendary Stella Adler during Miss Adler's summer visits to Los Angeles. Adler encouraged Miss Stewart by praising her talent and wisely telling her to "Always aim high!" Good Advice!