Susannah Melvoin
Encyclopedia
Susannah Melvoin is an American vocalist and songwriter
, best known for her association with Prince
in the mid-1980s. Coming from a musical family, Melvoin is the twin sister of musician Wendy Melvoin
, sister to the late Jonathan Melvoin
(touring keyboardist
with The Smashing Pumpkins
), and daughter of jazz
pianist
(and former NARAS president) Michael Melvoin.
's stint with The Revolution
. During this period, she was tapped to be co-lead vocalist of Prince's side project The Family
. Prince wrote The Family's 1985 song "Nothing Compares 2 U
" about Melvoin. The song became a hit when Sinéad O'Connor
covered it in 1990.
Later, she joined the expanded line-up of The Revolution
, adding backing vocals to Parade, including the 1986 single "Anotherloverholenyohead
". She designed the Dream Factory
jacket, and, unlike the rest of The Revolution, received a credit on Sign o' the Times. Melvoin also co-wrote some songs with Prince.
Melvoin was engaged to Prince, and during their relationship he wrote several songs about her, including "Condition of the Heart".
, Eric Clapton
and Mike Oldfield
among others and has performed vocals on Wendy & Lisa
's albums.
As a songwriter, she has co-written songs performed by Madonna
, Eric Clapton, and Doyle Bramhall II
(member of Arc Angels
, and Melvoin's husband).
She has also performed in small or cameo roles in three small-budget films, including Skin & Bone and Luster
.
In 2007, The Family reunited to record a new CD, and renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.
on August 16, 1997.They have a daughter named India Willah Bramhall born in April 21, 2001.
Doyle Bramhall II has been seen dating Sheryl Crow in May 2011.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, best known for her association with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
in the mid-1980s. Coming from a musical family, Melvoin is the twin sister of musician Wendy Melvoin
Wendy Melvoin
Wendy Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa....
, sister to the late Jonathan Melvoin
Jonathan Melvoin
Jonathan Melvoin was an American musician active in the 1980s and 1990s.He was the brother of Susannah and Wendy Melvoin of Prince and the Revolution. He first learned to play drums, and was cited by friends and relatives as one of those people who could play anything...
(touring keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
with The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
), and daughter of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
(and former NARAS president) Michael Melvoin.
Work with Prince
Melvoin got her start working with Prince in the mid-1980s during sister WendyWendy Melvoin
Wendy Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa....
's stint with The Revolution
The Revolution (band)
The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
. During this period, she was tapped to be co-lead vocalist of Prince's side project The Family
The Family (band)
The Family is a band formed by Prince, and one of the first signed to his record label, Paisley Park Records. The band renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.-History:...
. Prince wrote The Family's 1985 song "Nothing Compares 2 U
Nothing Compares 2 U
"Nothing Compares 2 U" is a pop song written by American recording artist Prince for one of his side-projects, The Family. However, it wasn't until Sinéad O'Connor recorded her version for the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got when it became a worldwide hit, topping charts in 15 countries,...
" about Melvoin. The song became a hit when Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
covered it in 1990.
Later, she joined the expanded line-up of The Revolution
The Revolution (band)
The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
, adding backing vocals to Parade, including the 1986 single "Anotherloverholenyohead
Anotherloverholenyohead
"Anotherloverholenyohead" is a 1986 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Parade, the soundtrack to the film Under the Cherry Moon. The song is essentially a solo performance by Prince, but with backing vocals from Susannah Melvoin, and the horn section of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss....
". She designed the Dream Factory
Dream Factory (album)
Dream Factory was an unreleased double LP project recorded by Prince and The Revolution from 1986.-History:Unlike the three previous Prince and The Revolution albums, the entire band was invited to the studio to contribute to a majority of the album's material, with the notable exceptions of "The...
jacket, and, unlike the rest of The Revolution, received a credit on Sign o' the Times. Melvoin also co-wrote some songs with Prince.
Melvoin was engaged to Prince, and during their relationship he wrote several songs about her, including "Condition of the Heart".
Later work
Melvoin has subsequently worked as a background vocalist for such artists as Roger WatersRoger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
among others and has performed vocals on Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
's albums.
As a songwriter, she has co-written songs performed by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Eric Clapton, and Doyle Bramhall II
Doyle Bramhall II
Doyle Bramhall II is a guitarist and vocalist in his band Smokestack and was also the second guitarist in Eric Clapton's band from 2004 to 2009.-Discography:with Arc Angels*Arc Angels...
(member of Arc Angels
Arc Angels
Arc Angels are a blues rock band formed in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. The band was composed of guitarist and singers Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton and two former members of Stevie Ray Vaughan's band Double Trouble, drummer Chris Layton. and bassist Tommy Shannon...
, and Melvoin's husband).
She has also performed in small or cameo roles in three small-budget films, including Skin & Bone and Luster
Luster (film)
Luster also known as Muse is a 2002 gay-themed drama film written and directed by Everett Lewis. The film is about a weekend in the lives of a group of friends in the Los Angeles queer punk scene. Lewis sought to "infuse queerness" into the film as much as he could, so he cast a number of...
.
In 2007, The Family reunited to record a new CD, and renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.
Personal Life
Susannah married Doyle Bramhall IIDoyle Bramhall II
Doyle Bramhall II is a guitarist and vocalist in his band Smokestack and was also the second guitarist in Eric Clapton's band from 2004 to 2009.-Discography:with Arc Angels*Arc Angels...
on August 16, 1997.They have a daughter named India Willah Bramhall born in April 21, 2001.
Doyle Bramhall II has been seen dating Sheryl Crow in May 2011.