“My junior high school teacher, Bennie Williams, was really more than a music teacher. She taught us poetry. She helped us put on school shows. She did all these kinds of things to help us stand in each other's shoes, and it was a really powerful time. That's when I discovered that I could sing.”

American jazz singer

Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer known for a career that has brought her five Grammy Awards from nine nominations. Her work has made her a prominent voice in contemporary jazz. She is best known for her vocal artistry and for the recognition she has received from the Recording Academy. Reeves has built a reputation as a singer whose performances sit firmly within the jazz tradition while reaching a wide audience.