Rachelle Ferrell Biography

Rachelle Ferrell was born in 1961 in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. She began signing at the early age of six, an endeavor which undoubtedly helped to contribute to the development of her vocal range, which spans more than six octaves and includes the “whistle” register.

By the age of thirteen, Rachelle Ferrell determined she’d pursue a career in songwriting. She’d already learned the violin and piano, and began securing professional gigs as a vocalist and pianist. At the age of eighteen, she began attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating, Rachelle Ferrell taught music for the New Jersey State council on the Arts, before releasing her debut album, First Instrument, in 1990.

The album was initially released only in Japan, and featured a host of notable musicians, including Eddie Green, Doug Nally, Tyrone Brown, Terrence Blanchard, Gil Goldstein, Kenny Davis, Pete Levin, and Wayne Shorter. Rachelle Ferrell’s recordings of classics such as “You Send Me,” My Funny Valentine,” and “What Is This Thing Called Love” lead to the album’s success not only in Japan, but in the United States upon its release a few years later. Ferrell’s self-titled US debut, released in 1992, featured a more contemporary sound. Eventually Ferrell signed to both Capitol Records for pop and contemporary records, and Blue Note Records for her jazz recordings.

Rachel Ferrell’s career boasts the additional albums: Somethin’ Else, Til You Come Back to Me, Rachelle Ferrell, Welcome to My Love, Nothing Has Ever Felt like This, Individuality (Can I Be Me?), and Live at Montreux. Although she does not record or perform as frequently these days, she recently appeared on the webseries “Now What with Kevin E. Taylor.” She stunned the host and delighted her fans when she began to deliver all her interview responses in an unusual fashion—by singing them.