John Proulx
Encyclopedia
John Proulx is a jazz pianist, vocalist, and Grammy Award winning composer out of Los Angeles
, California
. His singing style has elicited comparisons to a young Chet Baker
. He is a MAXJAZZ
recording artist. His debut album, Moon and Sand, was released on August 1, 2006.
, Michigan
, where he grew up in the trendy Eastown area. The son of two talented musicians, Mark and Suzanne Proulx, he began his formal musical education at the age of 3 on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz.
In 1994 he graduated from Catholic Central High School (Grand Rapids, Michigan). After high school, John attended Aquinas College
in Grand Rapids for two years. He then moved to Chicago where he studied at Roosevelt University’s
Chicago School of Performing Arts
. In 2001, John moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits.
John Proulx has composed songs for legendary jazz artists Nancy Wilson
, Mary Stallings
, and Greg Walker.
,” which won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His singing style has elicited comparisons to a young Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
. He is a MAXJAZZ
Maxjazz
MAXJAZZ is an American jazz record label founded in 1999. Its catalog contains sixty-eight vocal and instrumental recordings. MAXJAZZ recordings are generally regarded as a “straight-ahead” acoustic style of jazz...
recording artist. His debut album, Moon and Sand, was released on August 1, 2006.
Career
John Proulx is originally from Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where he grew up in the trendy Eastown area. The son of two talented musicians, Mark and Suzanne Proulx, he began his formal musical education at the age of 3 on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz.
In 1994 he graduated from Catholic Central High School (Grand Rapids, Michigan). After high school, John attended Aquinas College
Aquinas College (Michigan)
Aquinas College is a small Catholic college that aims to provide a liberal arts education located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Aquinas is considered one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Midwest region by U.S. News and World Report ....
in Grand Rapids for two years. He then moved to Chicago where he studied at Roosevelt University’s
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
Chicago School of Performing Arts
Chicago College of Performing Arts
Chicago College of Performing Arts is a performing arts college that is housed at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. The college has two divisions: the Music Conservatory and the Theatre Conservatory.- History :...
. In 2001, John moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits.
John Proulx has composed songs for legendary jazz artists Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson (singer)
Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
, Mary Stallings
Mary Stallings
Mary Stallings is an American jazz vocalist and mother of R&B/soul singer Adriana Evans.-Biography:Mary Stallings was born in San Francisco, one of the eldest of 11 children in the Stallings family; saxophonist Ron Stallings is her first cousin...
, and Greg Walker.
Awards
John Proulx composed the song "These Golden Years" with lyricist D. Channsin Berry for Nancy Wilson’s 2006 album “Turned To BlueTurned to Blue
Turned to Blue is an album from Jazz singer Nancy Wilson which saw release in 2006. The title track is a poem penned by Maya Angelou. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2007.- Featured performers :...
,” which won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.