Sylvia Bennett

Born in Italy, Sylvia Bennett moved with her family to Philadelphia during childhood, following an indirect route toward a career as a jazz vocalist. Appearances on children’s television programs throughout the 1950s supplied her earliest exposure to entertainment. After relocating to Miami, she began performing professionally in 1976, focusing on cabaret and pop material and issuing two disco albums. Growing local recognition soon led Phyllis Diller, Jackie Mason, and additional marquee acts to book her as an opening performer for Florida engagements. Bennett remained satisfied as a pop artist until Lionel Hampton urged her to pursue jazz instead. Their first recording collaboration occurred in 1985, after which Bennett joined Hampton at various festivals and performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Hampton’s advice yielded three jazz albums: I Need a Man, released in 1988 on New York Music; Rainbows in the Sky, issued in 1991 on her own Out of Sight Music label; and Here’s That Rainy Day, recorded for Bay Cities in 1992 with tenor saxophonist Boots Randolph as a guest. Throughout the 1990s she performed at European jazz festivals, including appearances in Budapest and Amsterdam. Drawing from such varied sources as Barbra Streisand and Nancy Wilson, Bennett sings with a clear soprano voice, handles both ballads and up-tempo numbers comfortably, and occasionally explores the blues.