volora564774

SEEKING

Vocalist, Vocalist - Soprano, Bass Guitar, Piano, Background Singer, Vocalist - Alto.

ABOUT

Volora Howell - Vocalist/TV Producer-Host. Although she has been compared to Phyllis Hyman, this soulful chanteuse has her own voice and style and a five-octave range that sends chills down your spine. Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Volora graduated from the prestigious Arts High School, which produced such talents as Sarah Vaughn, Savion Glover, Wayne Shorter, Tony award winner Melba Moore, jazz vocal legend Andy Bey, and James Moody. There she studied classical music, gospel, voice and music theory for four years, before going on to earn a B.S. in Journalism from Suffolk University and a Masters from New England Conservatory of Music. Thereafter, Volora worked as Jazz Journalist for WILD Boston Radio; as Jazz Editor for Harlem Times; as free-lance Reporter for NBC Affiliate Boston WBZ-TV; and as Associate Producer for Black News Boston (CBS Affiliate). She has interviewed performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, and opera Diva, Shirley Verrett.

Ms. Howell is the Executive Producer of Sahara Entertainment Productions which creates original programming for television, and President of Sahara Entertainment Inc., a music enterprise.

As a vocalist Volora has performed in New York City hotspots, the Lenox Lounge, Blue Note, Kitano Jazz, Smoke Jazz, Ginny’s Supper Club and the 5-Spot, among others. She has also toured Italy, Japan the UK, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. Volora is winner of the Producer and Host Cable Award - “Woman of the Week;” received "Diva Award" for newcomer artist extraordinaire on the Piscataway, NJ Cable Show “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!!; and was nominated "Best Female Jazz Vocalist" in Boston for her show A Tribute to Phyllis.

Former TV Hostess and Executive Producer for BET J Network, Ms. Howell produced "The Volora Show," a half hour program focusing on stellar musical guests with revealing interviews and exclusive performances. This educational and entertaining show - produced through the entrepreneur’s own Sahara Entertainment company - grew from a prime time New York Time Warner phenomenon boasting 850,000 viewers to a welcome addition to the programming of the nationally syndicated Volora! on Viacom 's BET-J Network with over 25 million homes.