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Diana Krall, often called the “queen of jazz” was born on November 16, 1964 in British Colombia, Canada. The Canadian artist is considered one of the best jazz singers and pianists of all time. Krall is best known for her sultry voice and her extraordinary talent for creating music that speaks personally to every individual who hears her perform.

 

From a young age, Diana was heavily influenced by music as both her parents played piano and her grandmother was a singer. She began playing piano at the age of four, and in her teens joined her first high school jazz band. Her musical influences were Nat King Cole, Fats Waller, Frank Sinatra and music from old radio shows. When she was 15, she landed her first gig playing piano three nights a week at a restaurant in her hometown of Nanaimo, BC.

 

In 1981, she won a Vancouver International Jazz Festival scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After a year and a half of studying, she returned to B.C. where she was discovered by famous bass player Ray Brown. They developed a mentor relationship that still continues to this day. Brown persuaded Diana to move to Los Angeles to study with pianist Jimmy Rowles. After three years on the West Coast, Diana moved to New York City in 1990. She began playing at a regular gig in Boston with her own trio.

 
In 1993, she released the album, Stepping Out, featuring mentors Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton. The album caught the attention of producer Tommy LiPuma, who produced her second album, Only Trust your Heart in 1995. This album featured well-known musicians including Brown, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, and also introduced her talents to a wider audience.
 
In 1996, Diana released her breakthrough album, All For You, a dedication to the music of the Nat King Cole Trio. The album, which was also produced by Tommy LiPuma, skyrocketed her career and remained on the Billboard traditional jazz charts for almost 70 weeks. In 1997, she earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal performance for the album.
 

That same year, Diana released the album, Love Scenes, which featured Russell Malone on guitar and Christian McBride on bass. It was a huge success, selling more than half a million copies, in addition to certifying Gold and establishing Diana as one of the most popular jazz artists of all time. Love Scenes earned her a second Grammy nomination in 1998.

 

In 1999, she released the album, When I Look in Your Eyes, which featured an orchestral background arrangement by Johnny Mandel. The album was another success, leading her to win her first Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal performance and become the first jazz artist in 25 years to be nominated in the Album of the Year category.

 

In 2001, the album, Look of Love, was released. The album included the smoky rendition of Cry Me A River and her sultry rendition of the title track, The Look of Love. The record reached the top 10 position on the US Billboard chart, hit number one in Canada, and was certified quadruple platinum in Canada.

 
She began a worldwide tour and recorded, Diana Krall- Live in Paris at the Paris Olympia. It was released in 2002 and peaked within the Top 5 in Canada and earned her a second Grammy (Best Voical Jazz Record) and a Juno Award.  Meanwhile, in 2003, Krall tied the knot with British musician, Elvis Costello.
 
In 2004, she released the album, The Girl in the Other Room, which was co-written by her husband Elvis Costello. The album was again a huge success, reaching the top 5 in the UK. That same year she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
 
The singer gave birth to twin boys, Dexter and Frank, in 2006, coincidentally on the third anniversary of her marriage.  Though she admitted that she was busier than ever with her music, she also revealed that she and her husband were doing a good job as parents.  In 2009, she released her latest album, Quiet Nights, which celebrates Brazil’s flair and Bossa Nova.