GINA FOX
…is a singer/songwriter, keyboardist and performer. As the daughter of dramatic soprano , and granddaughter of a big band singer Ralph Randell (of The Tommy Dorsey Band), Gina was surrounded by music and the Arts from the beginning of her life. Her professional singing career started at the age of 14 with a performance as Nancy in The MeadowBrook Theatre's production of "Oliver Twist". Born in Newark New Jersey, her family moved to Montclair, NJ. Montclair is home to a progressive jazz scene as well as the performing arts scene in general. Her Home became a musical sanctuary for all kinds of musicians passing through and a home school for aspiring artists. At the same time Gina’s mother became the founder and Executive Director of The New School for the Arts in Montclair & Newark New Jersey and an assessment counselor for the National Endowment for the Arts. This opened endless resources for Gina to study all her interests in the performing Arts. Her days and evenings were filled with acting, ballet, tap, and vocal lessons. She received a strong traditional education as well. Gina attended the prestigious Lacordaire Academy for young Women, Caldwell College for Women, as well as The New School for the Arts. This created two very different worlds for Gina to navigate through on a daily basis.
It was during this period that Gina was very involved with musical theatre. Inspired by Diana Ross’ performance in “Lady Sings the Bluesâ€. Gina auditioned for this show and thus began her chronic love affair with Jazz and Blues. Along with Billie Holiday, she was greatly influenced by Etta Jones, Charles Brown, Ray Charles, Sister Wynona Carr, Sarah Vaughn and Bonnie Raitt. After various projects which included other roles in musical theatre, Gina paired with the talented and visionary , Dennis Gruenling and fronted his band for the next seven years along with her own band as well.Gina's love for the harmonica lead her to work with other great players along with Dennis Gruenling , such as Rob Paparozzi, Jason Ricci and many others. She has also worked with Kenny Davern, world-renowned jazz clarinetist, . Singer/songwriter Peter Karp. As a performing artist, Gina regularly sings to standing room audiences in some of the most renowned music rooms on the East coast, such as The Turning Point Café in Piermont, New York, The Town Crier in Pawling, New York, The Jazz Company in Downtown Disney World in Florida, and Madams Organ in Washington, DC. Fronting Jump Time, she has shared the bill with such notable blues acts as Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Debbie Davies, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, and many more.
Whether she is performing with or writing songs for Dennis Gruenling & Jump Time, or for her own group “The Gina Fox Bandâ€, she continues to build a growing fan base that appreciates her unique and formidable talents-BackBender Records
"Her Name Is Gina" captures chanteuse Gina Fox at her jazziest! On cabaret-approved standards the accompaniment is sublime and, Fox is sultry, evocative, and just plain sexy!Tom Hyslop-October/November issue of Blues Review Magazine
"Gina Fox is a great Blues singer with a beautifully expressive voice! Gina diverges from her roots in roots music and swings gently and sexily into the world of the crooners with this disc . For those of you who appreciate the Great American Songbook and who have appreciated the blues artists who have dived into that Songbook with gusto, this CD is for you.Steve Jones-Crossroads Blues Society
"If you know who I'm talking about by Just using these ladies first names
- ELLA, SARAH, NANCY, NINA, LENA and DIANE - then you'll obviously love this disc.
Pick up a copy of "HER NAME IS GINA". While you're there, tell her that the
Blewzzman has a suggestion for her. Staying with the format of using her name
in the title of the disc, I'm thinking her follow up should be called "SHE'S A
FOX". "
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ _www.Mary4music.com_ (http://www.mary4music.com/)
"Gina has a beautiful voice, writing talent, and intelligence. Who is that lucky guy on the back of the CD?"
Richard Ludmerer-contributing editor Blueswax Magazine
"Gina has great stage presence and filled up the Turning Point with the warm sultry spice of her singing. She controlled the horizontal; she controlled the vertical. Watch out for Gina. It won't be long before some record company gets her to sign on the dotted line." - jt30.com
"...it doesn't take long to realize this young woman is already a veteran vocalist. Adaptable and diverse, Fox's vocal stylings cover all the bases on this..." - Richard Skelly Low-Budget Blues Program WRSU, 88.7 FMâ€
"Gina has really hit her niche, "Her Name is Gina", is her best effort to date." -Rick Estrin-Musician/Songwriter
"In my opinion, which is the only one that counts, an artist makes a sound that is true to them.. to who they are. Thus, their sound is unique and you can easily recognize them through the clatter and din of contemporary music. To find that sound and yourself, is a journey through the heart of some dark spots. Gina Fox is a warrior who is making that fearless journey. Don't miss the chance to listen to this CD!" - Peter Karp-Musician/Songwriter
Real Sounds From The WorkplaceThe following are the Top Five most often listened-to recordings in the BluesWax offices this week, May 1, 2008 (in no particular order):1. Mike Zito - Today (Electo Groove)2. Cool Disposition - Buzz Awhile (Self-Produced)3. Lonesome Dan & the Curmudgeons - Lonesome Dan & Curmudgeons (Self-Produced)4. Gina Fox - Her Name Is Gina (BackBender)5. Kelly Hunt - Mercy (88 Records) Release: May
