Valerie Ghent

Valerie Ghent (born May 2, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and recording engineer from New York City. She began by playing the piano at age three and started taking cello lessons at the age of five before beginning to write songs when she was eight years old. Valerie later began her performing career when she joined Dizzy and the Romilars at the age of 15.[1]

Valerie Ghent
Born (1964-05-02) 2 May 1964
New York, New York
GenresSinger-Songwriter, Soul, R+B, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Acoustic, French Chanson
Occupation(s)Singer-Songwriter, Musician, Vocalist, Composer, Producer, Recording Engineer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, voice
Years active1980–present
Websitewww.valerieghent.com

Biography

Valerie is a longtime keyboardist, vocalist and engineer with Ashford & Simpson. As a solo artist Valerie has released five albums under her own name: Unstoppable (1996), Day to Day Dream (2012), Muse (2014), Velours (2016), and The French Sessions (2017), and a remake of the Ben E. King hit Supernatural Thing (2013). Her first solo album, Unstoppable, was self-recorded with Jimmy Biondolillo employed as co-producer.[2] In 2012 the single "Love Enough For a Lifetime" from Day to Day Dream hit #1 on iHeart Radio.[3] Velours, which features 11 original songs written by Ghent, was recorded in the South of France and in New York.,[4][5] SoulTracks named Velours one of the Top 50 Albums of 2016.[6]

Valerie has toured, performed and recorded with world-renowned artists including Ashford & Simpson, Debbie Harry, Defunkt,[7] Valerie Simpson, Dr. Maya Angelou, Billy Preston, TM Stevens, and has worked as a recording engineer with Ashford & Simpson, Sir Cliff Richard, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, and Luther Vandross.

Valerie started performing and touring in France in 2014 with French musicians affiliated with Association BLUES'UP, and recorded two more albums, Velours (2016) in New York and the South of France, and The French Sessions (2017), the latter recorded entirely in France and released on the Blanc Musiques label.

Discography

Solo
  • The French Sessions - Valerie Ghent (Blanc Musiques, 2017)
  • Velours - Valerie Ghent (West Street, 2016)
  • Muse - Valerie Ghent (West Street, 2014)
  • Supernatural Thing - Valerie Ghent (West Street, 2013)
  • Day to Day Dream - Valerie Ghent (West Street, 2012)
  • Unstoppable - Valerie Ghent (West Street, 1996)

With Ashford & Simpson
  • Soulicious – The Soul Album - Cliff Richard featuring Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson & Peabo Bryson (EMI, 2011)
  • The Real Thing - Live DVD & CD - Ashford & Simpson (Sony, 2009)
  • Uh Uh Ooh Ooh Look Out Here It Comes- Down in the Delta soundtrack (Virgin, 1998)
  • Been Found - Ashford & Simpson with Maya Angelou (Hopsack & Silk, 1996)
  • It’s In There - Jennifer Holiday (Arista, 1991)
  • Hungry for Me Again - Ashford & Simpson (Capitol, 1990)

With Valerie Simpson
  • Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again - Valerie Simpson featuring Nina Simone & Roberta Flack (Hopsack & Silk, 2012)
  • Now Love Has No End - Michael Franks & Valerie Simpson (Windham Hill/BMG, 1999)

With Mike Thorne
  • Fantastic Star - Mark Almond (Some Bizarre, 1996)
  • Strange Angels - Laurie Anderson (Warner Bros, 1989)
  • Diary of a Hollow Horse - China Crisis (A&M, 1989)
  • Song from the Edge of the World - Siouxsie and the Banshees (Polydor, 1987)
  • Everybody’s Got A Little....Soul - Carmel (1987)
  • The Communards - The Communards (1985)
  • Don’t Leave Me This Way - The Communards (1985)
  • You Are My World - The Communards (1985)

Additional Select Discography
  • Mosaic Project: Love and Soul - Terri Lyne Carrington (Concord, 2015)
  • A Couple Friends* - Kindred the Family Soul featuring Valerie Simpson (Shanachie, 2014)
  • Former Lady of Chic - Alfa Anderson (2013)
  • It’s About Eve - Joan Jett (2002)
  • Shocka Zooloo - T.M. Stevens (United One, 2001)
  • Limousine Drive - T.M. Stevens (Victor, 2001)
  • Radioactive - T.M. Stevens (Pidm, 1999)
  • Take Action - The Intensity Quotient (Emergency, 1986)
  • Sweepstakes - Nursery School (Epic, 1983)
  • Daily Dose - Dizzy and the Romilars (Medical Records, 1982)
  • TVC-15 - Dizzy and the Romilars (Medical Records, 1980)

Film Credits
  • Bill Murray – A Very Murray Christmas (2015, Netflix) – percussionist
  • Ashford & Simpson - The Real Thing Live DVD (2008, SONY) - keyboardist, vocalist

TV Appearances
  • David Letterman - with Valerie Simpson - July 15, 2015
  • CBS Morning Show - solo performance with NY firefighters - July 20, 2002
  • Oprah Winfrey Show - with Ashford & Simpson and Maya Angelou - Sep 27, 1996
  • Rosie O'Donnell Show - with Ashford & Simpson and Maya Angelou - Nov 6, 1996
  • Club MTV Live - with Debbie Harry - Nov 6, 1996
  • Pat Sajak Show - with Grayson Hugh - 1989
  • Byron Allen Show- with Grayson Hugh - 1989

References
  1. Frieman, Richie. "Valerie Ghent". PensEyeView. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. "New Music Series: Valerie Ghent". Music Direct. 7: 0.
  3. "Powerhouse NYC Recording Artist Valerie Ghent Releases New Solo Album "Velours" at Joe's Pub, October 29". NiteLife Exchange. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. Banks Weber, Carol. "Valerie Ghent releases French-inspired 'Velours' at Joe's Pub". AXS. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  5. Dukes, Howard. "Valerie Ghent - Velours (2016)". SoulTracks. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  6. "The 50 Best Albums of 2016". SoulTracks. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. "Discoveries: Valerie Ghent". Valerie Ghent (March 1998).
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