7-Time Juno Nominee Takes On New Genre, New Label And New Direction

Talented songstress Lorraine Reid is not just reveling inprevious albums with Temperance, Virtues of Life and
her previous success as lead singer for dance groupIf You Don't Know, she has the experience and the
Temperance; she's making a major shift in her careerskills to infiltrate the music industry by simply sharing
with the release of a hot solo R&B album "Lessonsher powerful voice-- with her help, Temperance was
Learned." Hailing from Toronto, Reid has opened forable to secure more Juno nominations than any other
Lou Bega, Monica, Coolio and Destiny's Child, and "isdance group to date.
vocally ready to take her place beside otherSoon after Reid's 7th Juno nomination in 2000, she
international R&B songbirds. Some would even go asbegan to feel as though her life needed a new
far as to grade her deep, rich voice against the bluesydirection. She decided to pursue a teaching career
sounds of Billy Holiday or Sarah Vaughan" (Georgettewhile continuing to record commercial jingles for radio
Charlicombe, Mic Check).and television, as well as perform backup vocals for
It's no surprise that Reid lists Whitney Houston as onecountless other artists.
of her influences, since her new album contains vocalsIn the fall of 2005, the combination of full-time teaching
comparable to those of Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige andand evening-gigging eventually took a toll on Reid's
India.Arie. Says Charles Bouley II from Billboard, "Reidhealth. She suffered a lengthy and extensive bout with
delivers inspired vocal[s] that prove she's a seasonedlaryngitis and was diagnosed with vocal nodules. Reid
performer; it could easily elevate her to diva status.went through with an operation to have her nodules
Her delivery is reminiscent of classic Donna Summer."removed, which caused some loss in range and
Reid's musical style can be described as a combinationforced her to use an amplification system when
of R&B and soul with an edge. Having recorded twospeaking publicly.