With over 12 million album sales to her name, two Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actor’s Guild Awards as well as the Billboard prize for selling the most television soundtrack records in history for the hit TV series Ally McBeal, Vonda is a world-renowned artist who continues to delight audiences with her magnanimous live performances. She dedicates songs, tells stories, and at the same time, projects dynamic charisma and intimacy with her audience.
Just as Vonda’s songs reflect an independent woman with profound and self-reflective insights on relationships, her approach to running her career in today’s ever-changing music scene is based on that same strength and sense of purpose. She is a consummate artist and businesswoman with her own label, Hotele´ Records. “I love the idea of making and releasing my own records exactly the way I envision them, then going on the road, getting the music out there and having a blast doing it all. I have a tremendous amount of energy for music and life.”
Born in New York City, Vonda’s family moved to Los Angeles when she was a child, and by age 14 she was performing original material at small L.A. clubs. She played keyboards and sang with Rickie Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, and Jackson Browne, eventually opening for Browne in the U.S. and Asia. She has also performed with the Indigo Girls and The Funk Brosthers (a highlight of her life), and she has shared the stage at music festivals with Sting, The Eurythmics, Santana, and Matchbox 20.
“Can’t We Try,” her duet with Dan Hill, hit #6 in 1987. In that same year, Vonda secured her first solo deal with Reprise Records and two years later her eponymous album was released. The Top 10 AC Radio and VH1 hit single “Don’t Cry Ilene” brought her outstanding and unmistakably bluesy voice to a wide audience and caught the attention of the critics. In 1992, her follow-up album, The Radical Light was released.
Vonda has always taken a unique approach to her career, attracting everyone from established music artists to television producers to rally behind her. In 1995, no longer with Reprise, Vonda borrowed money (and Jackson Browne’s studio) to make her third recording, It’s Good, Eve, and released it independently. It was this album that caught David E. Kelley’s ear right at the moment he was searching for a voice for his new TV show Ally McBeal. Throughout the show’s five year run, Vonda performed on each episode and produced the show’s music, recording almost 500 songs featuring artists including Gladys Knight, Sting, Barry Manilow, Al Green, Chubby Checker and Jon Bon Jovi.
Most recently, in addition to opening for Sugarland’s summer 2010 and 2011 tours, Vonda has been performing at her own international and domestic concerts, plus numerous private and fund-raising events. Vonda has also been in the studio recording her next album.
SOLO is Vonda’s fifth collaboration with producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Randy Newman).
Words and picture from the official website.
Discography
Rookie
Hotele Records 2015
Tracks: Need Your Love, Turn It Up, I Just Don´t Get It, Saturday, Long For The Days, Walk On The Water, Rookie, Train To Inverness, Tell My Body, Roll In The Dirt (Live) & Downtown Dirtytown (Live)
Musicians on the Rookie album: Vonda Shepard and others.
Solo
Pan Shot Records 2011
Tracks: A Lucky Life Interlude/Maryland, You Belong To Me, Lose My Way, I Know Better, Soothe Me, The Sunset Marquis, Finally Home Interlude/Another January, Walk Away Renee, Don't Cry Ilene & Baby Don't You Break My Heart Slow.
Musicians on the Solo album: Vonda Shepard and others.
From The Sun Tour
Pan Shot Records 2010
Tracks: From The Sun, Roll In The Dirt (of My Youth), Another January, The Wildest Times Of The World, Downtown (Dirtytown), Respect Yourself, Lose My Way, Where I Belong, Get It Back, Sweet Inspiration, I Know Better, Baby Don´t Break My Heart Slow & Maryland.
Musicians on the From The Sun Tour album: Vonda Shepard and others.
2 Originals
Edel Records 2008
Tracks: Rainy Days, Chinatown, My Whole World, Lose My Way, Rain Or Shine, Downtown, Gyroscope, In July, The Sunset Marquis, 7 Days, Promises Grey Day, Good To Yourself, The Radical Light, Promising Grey Day, The Wildest Times Of The World, Naivete, Baby Don´t You Break My Heart, Slow (Duett), Every Natural Thing, Sweet Inspiration, You & Me, Maryland, Home Again, Mercy, The Radical Light, You Belong To Me & Home Again.
Musicians on the 2 Originals album: Vonda Shepard and others.
From The Sun
Pan Shot Records 2008
Tracks: I Know Better, Ecxtatic, From The Sun, Where I Belong, Roll In The Dirt, Another January, Downtown (Dirty Town), Get It Back, The Rocky Water & Finally Home.
Musicians on the From The Sun album: Vonda Shepard and others.
Live - A Retrospective
Edel Records 2004
Tracks: CD: Promising Grey Day, The Wildest Times Of The World, Naivete, Baby Don´t You Break My Heart, Slow (Duett), Every Natural Thing, Sweet Inspiration, You & Me, Maryland, Home Again, Mercy, The Radical Light, You Belong To Me & Zu Hause Sein (Home Again/German Version). DVD: Wildest Times Of The World, Baby Don´t You Break My Heart Slow, Rain Or Shine, Chinatown, Naivete & Home Again.
Musicians on the Live - A Retrospective album: Vonda Shepard and others.
Live
Jacket Records 2004
Tracks: CD: Promising Grey Day, The Wildest Times Of The World, Naivete, Baby Don´t You Break My Heart, Slow (Duett), Every Natural Thing, Sweet Inspiration, You & Me, Maryland, Home Again, Mercy, The Radical Light, You Belong To Me & Home Again. DVD: Wildest Times Of The World, Baby Don´t You Break My Heart Slow, Rain Or Shine, Chinatown, Naivete & Home Again.
Musicians on the Live album: Vonda Shepard and others.
Chinatown
Jacket Records 2002
Tracks: Rainy Days, Chinatown, My Whole World, Lose My Way, Rain Or Shine, Downtown, Gyroscope, In July, The Sunset Marquis, 7 Days & Promises Grey Day.
Musicians on the Chinatown album: Vonda Shepard and others.
For Once In My Life
Epic Records 2001
Tracks: For Once In My Life, Home Again, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Chances Are, Every Breath You Take, You And Me, Snakes, Reason To Believe, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, When The Heartache Is Over, You're The First The Last My Everything, Love Is Alive, Alone Again (Naturally) & Can We Still Be Friends.
Musicians on the For Once In My Life album: Vonda Shepard, Robert Downey Jr., Sting, Al Green, Tina Turner, Barry White, Anastacia and others.
Ally McBeal Xmas
Sony Records 2000
Tracks: This Christmas, The Man With The Bag, Please Come Home For Christmas, Silver Bells, Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, Run Rudolph Run, Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Santa Baby, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, River, White Christmas & What Are You Doing New Year's Eve.
Musicians on the Ally McBeal Xmas album: Vonda Shepard, Dawn Beckman, Jacqueline Brand, Carmen Carter, Matt Chamberlain, Lynn Davis, Stephen Erdody, Davey Faragher, Jim Hanson, Dan Higgins, Karen Jones, Andrew Kamman, Roland Kato, Vatrina King, Neil Larsen, Greg Leisz, Val McCallum, Victoria Miskolszy, Katia Popov, Greg Richling, Sy Smithm Melanie Taylor, Pete Thomas, Cecilia Tsan, Patrick Warren, Bruce Watson, Margaret Wooten & Jeff Young.
Songs From Ally McBeal 2
Sony Records 1999
Tracks: Read Your Mind, 100 Tears Away, Someday We'll Be Together, To Sir, With Love (Duet With Al Green), Sweet Inspriration, Crying, Vincent (Starry Starry Night), What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, World Without Love, Confetti, Baby, Don't You Break My Heart Slow (Duet With Emily Saliers Of The Indigo Girls), This Is Crazy Now, This Old Heart Of Mine & I Know Him By Heart.
Musicians on the Ally McBeal 2 album: Vonda Shepard and others.
By 7:30
Sony Music 1999
Tracks: By 7:30, Mercy, Clear, Sail On By, Confetti, Cross To Bear, This Is Crazy Now, Baby, Don't You Break My Heart Slow, You And Me, Venus Is Breaking, Newspaper Wife, Soothe Me & Souvenir.
Musicians on the By 7:30 album: Vonda Shepard, Emily Saliers, Val McCallum, Michael Landau, Greg Leisz, Mark Feldman, Lorenza Ponce, Matthew Pierce, David Gold, Garo Yellin, Jane Scarpantoni, Aaron Heick, Charlie Guardino, Mitchell Froom, Penny Owsley, Tony Levin, Leland Sklar, Davey Faragher, Jim Hanson, Pete Thomas, Andy Kamman & Jerry Marotta.
Songs from Ally McBeal
Sony Music 1998
Tracks: Searchin´ My Soul, Ask The Lonely, Walk Away Renee, Hooked On A Feeling, You Belong To Me, The Wildest Times Of The World, Someone You Use, The End Of The World, Tell Him, Neighborhood, Will You Marry Me?, It´s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song), I Only Want To Be With You & Maryland.
Musicians on the Songs from Ally McBeal album: Vonda Shepard, Val McCallum, Jim Hanson, Jeff Young, Andy Kamman, Michael Landau, David Ravin, Greg Leisz, Martin Tillman, John Pierce, Vinnie Colaiuta, Lili Haydn, Lynn Davis, Jean McLain, Rob Ladd, Sy Smith, Vatrena King, Renee Goldsberry, Neil Larson, Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett, Michelle Richard, Peter Kent, Robert L. Becker, Valerie Carter, Paul Bushnell, Jebin Bruni, Brian McCleod, John Keane & Lenny Castro.
It´s Good, Eve
Vesper Alley 1996
Tracks: Maryland, A Lucky Life, Grain Of Sand, The Wildest Times Of The World, Like A Hemisphere, Naivete, Long Term Boyfriend, Every Now & Then, Mischief & Control, Hotel Room View, This Steady Train & Serious Richard.
Musicians on the It´s Good, Eve album: Vonda Shepard, Michael Landau, Greg Leisz, Terry Glenny, Cameron Patrick, Lili Haydn, Darrin McCann, Martin Tillmann, Van Dyke Parks, Jeff Young, John "Jack" Pierce, Oneida James, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gary Mallaber, Carlos Vega, John Keane, Prettie, Leno, Punchy, Kelward, Lenny Castro, Jean McClain, Lynn Davis & Jackson Browne.
The Radical Light
Reprise Records 1992
Tracks: Searchin My Soul, The Radical Light, 100 Tears Away, Wake Up the House, Clean Rain, Dreamin', Good To Yourself, Love Will Come And Go, Out On The town & Cartwheels.
Musicians on the The Radical Lightl album: Vonda Shepard, Michael Landau, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Porcaro , David Pack, Joseph Williams, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Jay Dee Mannes, David Campbell, Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett, Mitchell Froom, Benmont Tench, David James, Matthew Wilder, Khris Kellow, Randy Waldman, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Scheff, Jim Keltner, Lenny Castro & Paulinho Da Costa.
Vonda Shepard
Reprise Records 1989
Tracks: Don't Cry Ilene, He Ain't With Me, Baby, Don't You Break My Heart Slow, Hold Out, Looking For Something, I Shy Away, I've Been Here Before, A New Marilyn, Say The Words, La Journee & Jam Karet (Time Is Elastic).
Musicians on the Vonda Shepard album: Vonda Shepard, Armand Grimaldi, Jimmy Haslip, James Harrah, Michael Ruff, Mark Morgan, Luis Conte, Michael Paulo, Adie Grey, Leslie Smith, James Newton Howard, Neil Stubenhaus, Michael Landau, Davey Johnstone, Paulinho Da Costa, Edie Lehman, David Pack, Jeff Porcaro, Michael Mason, Charles Frichtel, Freddie Washington, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Phil Perry, Brianna Shepard, Gardner Cole, Dean Parks, John Robinson, Steve Croes, Alex Brown, Philip Ingram & Art Munson.