“Lois Deloatch is more than a jazz singer. Her fluid interpretation of a vocalist’s role transcends being only a medium for the music. She often becomes a caretaker of the music’s history, an advocate of its redemptive power.”
Lois Deloatch is a true original. (Dave @ Durham Jazz Workshop)
Lois Deloatch is a songwriter and vocalist known for her powerful contralto voice and distinctive blend of jazz, soul, blues, folk and spirituals. Her original compositions and interpretations of classic tunes resonate with purity and emotion, simultaneously intellectual and passionate. Shaped by and reflective of her early life as the seventh of ten children raised in a rural southern town, Lois’s music expresses cultural richness and timeless truths.
She has appeared in concert throughout the United States and internationally, written and lectured on music, arts and culture, and co-hosted a radio show. She has produced five recordings as leader: Roots: Jazz/Blues/Spirituals, Closure, Holy Night, Sunrise and Hymn to Freedom: Homage to Oscar Peterson, which garnered international accolades including selection as one of the Top 10 CDs of 2008 by JazzTimes Magazine’s Owen Cordle. A new recording of original music is scheduled for release winter 2023.
Lois has shared the stage with legendary musicians such as pianists, Willie Pickens, Ellis Marsalis, Ernest Turner and Chip Crawford; drummer Ed Thigpen; trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and saxophonist Branford Marsalis as well as emerging jazz luminaries.
A distinct and original voice..
A sparking vocalist/lyricist/composer. (Jazz Review)
Read an article about Lois here.
Described as "courageous and provocative," Lois has been a writer, poet and vocalist since her youth. Her talent and insights were nurtured and inspired by her rural, southern upbringing and, over the years, she has expanded her artistic pursuits with the support of friends and fans around the globe. She collaborates with dancers, visual artists, filmmakers, authors, teachers and scholars to conceive and create innovative works.
Lois has received numerous awards and honors for her musicianship and commitment to serving the community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from UNC–Chapel Hill and the Masters of Arts from Duke University. In addition to her work as a musician, she has enjoyed a notable career as nonprofit leader .
Peace. Love. Respect for Everybody! Baba Chuck Davis