I was born and raised in Palo Alto, California and began singing when I was a toddler. As a child, music was a major part of my life, including piano as well as singing. Both my parents were extremely supportive of my musical studies, with kudos belonging to my mother for her time and energy carting me around to various music lessons, and insuring that I spent ample time practicing! My specifc musical talent, however, came primarily from my father. He was a piano virtuoso as a child, and, according to my grandmother, his piano teacher thought he had the talent to pursue a career as a concert pianist. My father tells me, however, that the idea to make a profession of music never even occurred to him. He likes to say that he approached music mechanistically, from the brain, whereas my music clearly comes from my heart. My dad ultimately had a very successful career as a physicist at Stanford University. In fact, he was part of the team that won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1990.
Growing up on the Stanford University campus was a unique experience. My elementary school was attended not only by Stanford faculty and staff children, but also by children of graduate students from all over the country and world. I was exposed at an early age to children of multiple religious and ethnic backgrounds, which helped mold an attitude of acceptance and understanding of people different from myself. My high school buddies, primarily from families associated with the University, were brilliant. I, however, chose music and the arts over academics. When my friends were studying, I was off with the University students singing and performing, taking voice and piano lessons, and giving recitals in our living room. Amazingly, my artistic inclinations were fully supported by my academic parents, my friends and others in the University community.
My early formal music instruction was of the classical influence. I attended the University of Colorado and earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance. I have performed in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Cole Porter's "Anything Goes", Douglas Moore's "The Ballad of Baby Doe", Donizetti's "Elixer of Love", and was the soprano soloist in Handel's "Messiah" in Boulder, Colorado for 10 seasons. I also performed in multiple classical recitals and choral concerts during my college years.
In my early and mid twenties I played keyboards and sang backup vocals with an original rock band in Austin, TX. My rock & roll days came to an abrupt halt in 1991 with the death of my first husband, who was the leader of the band. After his death, I stopped performing music for several years, focusing instead on emotional survival and rebuilding my life. In 1998 I met, and married my current, wonderful husband, Tim. We had a son, Rohan, in 2000, and shortly thereafter moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where we now live.
When I was introduced to the vocal jazz standards of the early 20th century, I felt my life opening up a soulful and tender part of me that had been dormant since my first husbandís death. What a revelation! I felt alive and invigorated. I just had to sing this stuff, and found myself singing everywhere: at home, at work, in the car, in the shower. The CD player started working overtime as I discovered the fabulous vocals of Irene Kral, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. When I started singing jazz, I was afraid that my classical background would stifle me. I found, however, that I had little problem adapting my classical habits to the expressive qualities of jazz music. Having been through a tough tragedy, I realized that I had a depth of spirit which allowed me to tap into emotions in the music that I couldn't have found when I was younger.
When I started singing jazz in Anchorage, I performed as part of the jazz ensemble Midnight Starlight, with Tom Lambert, Liz Santoro, John Wheatley and Bill Barry. We performed regularly at Sullivan's Steakhouse, at Senior Center Dances, and at festivals and concerts throughout Anchorage. Later I branched out on my own and began playing with other incredible Anchorage musicians such as Dan McElrath, Evgeny Chernonog, Vlad Morakhovsky, Ron Kichura, Ray Booker, Nate Bersee, Joe Eunice, Nick Putemenous, Bob Andrews, John Nyman, Doug Coulter, Daren Rayburn, Jim Davis and Matt Peterson. I recorded my CD "Cat Coward ~ Out of the Bag" in January 2007 with Dan MacElrath, Ray Booker, Scott Weller, and Jim Davis
Shorly after the release of "Out of the Bag", I began to play out with Kevin Barnett as my permanent keyboard player. Shortly thereafter I also took on Lee Pulliam on sax and flute. Continuing with Scott Weller on Drums and Ray Booker on bass, I had found myself a first class band.
One evening after a gig (and a few too many beers?), Kevin essentially dared me to start writing my own songs. The result, a couple years later, was my just released CD, "Cat Coward - On a Limb". I wrote the lyrics, and Kevin and I co-wrote the music. Three of the tunes on the CD were also co-written by Ray Booker. I'm so very pleased with how the project turned out, and am super excited to continue writing. Maybe, yet a third CD in the distant future!
Three years ago, as a way to give back to the Anchorage community, I founded "Jazz for a Cause: Musicians and Neighbors in Concert for our Community". With amazing help from my husband, Tim, and from friends Blythe Martson and Gordon Pospisil, "Jazz for a Cause" has hosted three annual fundraising parties for grass roots, Anchorage organizations. These parties feature fine catering, cocktails, and of-course, my band entertaining with fabulous jazz music. All three years these black tie events have raised $11,000!! In 2006, the proceeds were donated to Bean's Cafe (an Anchorage based soup kitchen), and, in 2007, to the Alaska Women's Aid In Crisis Shelter, in 2008 to Kid's Cafe (food services for low income kids.) Next year's "Jazz for a Cause" beneficiary TBA. Please contact me if you would like to be involved.
My favorite part of singing is the audience. Singing is always soulful, but you make it fun! See the calendar dates and venues - I hope to see you there!