Rare Silk | |
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Origin | Boulder, Colorado, U.S. |
Genres | Vocal jazz, swing |
Years active | 1979–1988 |
Labels | Polydor, Palo Alto |
Past members |
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Rare Silk was an American vocal jazz group that was active during the 1980s.
MaryLynn Gillaspie and her sister, Gaile, grew up in southern California. [1] Their father played trumpet, and from an early age they heard big band music and Ella Fitzgerald. [1] In 1978, they were working as waitresses in Boulder, Colorado, with Gaile also singing at a local club. [1] After they met another singer, Marguerite Juenemann, they formed Rare Silk. [1] They sang on a local radio station and in clubs, sometimes dressed like the Andrews Sisters. [1]
In 1980, they were the opening act for Benny Goodman at the 1980 Playboy Jazz Festival. [2] They recorded their first album, New Weave, in 1983. [1] This album was nominated for two Grammy Awards. [3] It was followed by American Eyes, which was released in 1985, and Black and Blue, in 1986. [1]
Juenemann left the group and was replaced by Barbara Reeves and then by Jamie Broumas. [2] The band broke up in 1988. [1] [2]