Sunny Ozell
Sunny Ozell, Lady Stewart (born December 23, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. She is married to the British actor Patrick Stewart.
Sunny Ozell, Lady Stewart | |
|---|---|
 Ozell in 2016 | |
| Born | December 23, 1978 Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 stepchildren |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Country music, Jazz music, Americana music, blues, pop music, country pop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Man in the Moon Records |
| Website | Official website |
Early life
Ozell grew up in Reno, Nevada, in a musical household and began her classical training at an early age. Her parents did not play or perform themselves, but they had a passion for music and took music education seriously, getting Ozell to play the violin from the age of just four years old.[1] She also started vocal training at the age of 11 years and soon after realised that music was the career path she wanted to pursue.[2] From 13, she started working with an opera coach.
At university in Boulder, Colorado, she majored in English Literature and sang in blues bands and soul-funk bands in her spare time throughout college. After graduating, she started performing in clubs around New York and became a part of the city's musical community with her blend of jazz, blues and American roots music, performing both original material and interpretations of works by other renowned blues, soul and country songwriters.[1]
Music career
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She considers Take It with Me (which mainly consists of covers of works from artists such as Howard Jones, Hank Williams, Randy Newman, T Bone Burnett and Tom Waits) to be her debut album.[1] Both on Take It with Me and live, Sunny Ozell works with renowned musicians, including guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan (Semi Precious Weapons, Drivin N Cryin), bassist Andy Hess (The Black Crowes, Gov't Mule, Uberjam), keyboard player Andrew Sherman (George Duke, Mariah Carey), pedal steel player Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams & The Cardinals), backing singer Nicki Richards (Madonna) and drummer Ethan Eubanks (Teddy Thompson, Crash Test Dummies, Joseph Arthur).[1] Ozell performs frequently at Rockwood Music Hall and The Living Room in New York and has collaborated with musicians such as Jim Campilongo and Adam Levy of Norah Jones’ backing band, and Krystle Warren.[3]
Ozell has begun preliminary recording sessions on the followup album to Take It with Me. The focus will be on original material.[1]
Musical style and influence
Ozell cites Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as influences, for their "simplicity and their total lack of pretention", but also American jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, in particular her 1993 album Blue Light ‘til Dawn.[1] She is also inspired by soul music that is not limited in any way to the traditional definition of the genre (i.e. Motown or Stax Records).[2]
Personal life
Ozell is married to English actor Patrick Stewart. They met in 2008 at Franny's restaurant in New York where Ozell was working as a waitress[4] while Stewart was performing in Macbeth at the nearby Brooklyn Academy of Music.[5] She is an atheist.[6]
In March 2013, it was reported that Stewart and Ozell were engaged[5] and they married on September 7, 2013, beside Lake Tahoe in Nevada with actor Ian McKellen officiating at the wedding ceremony.[7] In marriage to Patrick Stewart, she has two stepchildren.
Discography
Take It with Me (2015)
| Take It With Me | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by Sunny Ozell | |
| Released | July 31, 2015 |
| Genre | Country, jazz, Americana, blues, pop music |
| Length | 37:15 min. |
| Label | Man in the Moon Records |
| Producer | Ethan Eubanks |
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Manhattan Island Serenade" | 4:07 |
| 2. | "Family Tree" | 3:55 |
| 3. | "Move Along Train" | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Louisiana" | 3:50 |
| 5. | "Git Gone" | 2:48 |
| 6. | "Kill Zone" | 3:52 |
| 7. | "Number One" | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Only in the Movies" | 3:11 |
| 9. | "No One Is to Blame" | 3:43 |
| 10. | "Can't Help It" | 3:19 |
| 11. | "Take It with Me" | 4:56 |
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Git Gone (Radio Mix)" | 2:42 |
References
- "Introducing Sunny Ozell". Songwriting Magazine. August 25, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- "Sunny Ozell exclusive interview – her debut album, marriage to Patrick Stewart & more!". Female First. July 27, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- "Sunny Ozell: 5 Things To Know About Patrick Stewart's New Wife". Hollywood Life. September 9, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- "Patrick Stewart and His Fiancée on Meeting at Franny's and Convincing Ian McKellen to Officiate Their Wedding". Grub Street. March 21, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- "Ian McKellen to Lead Wedding for Patrick Stewart". The New York Times. March 19, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- Atheist Patrick Stewart
- "Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell admit they ordained Ian McKellen ONLINE before wedding". Daily Express. July 9, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
