Katy Free

Sure, Katy's first memory of singing is "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" for her church while actually missing her two front teeth. After that auspicious beginning she studied classical voice and applied that to musicals and choirs that toured and performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. While studying musicology and jazz voice at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she toured the eastern United States sharing her passion and love of jazz music. Katy's multifaceted musical experience and versatile voice make her well equipped for many types of music and performance. Her specialty is taking songs from every genre and creating jazz stylings with her velvet voice that will reach out and wrap itself around you.

Along with the release of her first album in 2016, Katy is incredibly busy as a solo jazz artist and hosts Katy Free’s Singers Series at The Red Piano Lounge in Knoxville, Tn each week. She performs as a duo with the extremely gifted jazz pianist and composer, Wendel Werner. Additionally she sings with her guitar duo, trio "Katy Free Three," four-piece, "Katy Free Fourtet," and full bands. Any and all of these talented musicians perform in concert halls, jazz clubs, bars and restaurants, weddings, church services, and other venues.

With her wide array of musical experiences, interest in various genres, and her desire to be the very best musician she can be, Katy is in constant study and strives to share her deep love of music with her audiences. Katy Free’s style reveals the soul-baring interpreting power of her influences Sarah Vaughan, Jane Monheit, Etta James, Esperanza Spalding, and Stevie Wonder. She calls on the vocal vulnerability of Joni Mitchell with the versatility of Linda Ronstandt while reflecting the instrumental influence of the greats like Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. Her musicality, savvy use of drama, and creativity are spurred by influences from Sammy Davis Jr. to Post Modern Jukebox. Katy, above all, gives of herself to her listeners in shows and recordings that are all her own.

"Katy...has a velvet voice that can lift you to heaven and throw you back down again...And Katy can rock out! Who knew?"
-Alan Sims, Knoxville Urban Guy
www.insideofknoxville.com

"[Her] voice makes me go 'Ahh.'"
-Cynthia Ripley
iTheatrics

"Her voice [is] a layer of warm honey drizzled over old standards."
-Steve Wildsmith
The Daily Times