Lillie Kae

Since Lillie Kae could talk, she’s been singing: since she could walk, she has been dancing.

Lillie Kae knew her calling by the time she was three years old, and just ten years later, the New Jersey native rode a bus into New York City to study dance with Broadway legend Ann Reinking. Around the same time, she also began to study under renowned teacher Lynn Starling — and Lillie Kae remains her student to this day.

Following years of touring Europe and the United States with various productions of West Side Story, Evita, Sunset Boulevard and Crazy for You, Reinking hired her former student as the Swing and Dance Captain for the Tony Award-winning Musical, CHICAGO.

After years on stage and in the spotlight, Lillie Kae took time off to start a family. However, in 2005, she entered into a fruitful collaboration and new stage of her career. She began singing with Jazz Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli’s Protégé, Edward Decker. With Decker, she began studying and experimenting with the influences of Chris Connor, Julie London, Linda Eder, Sarah Vaughn, Rosemary Clooney and Maxine Sullivan.

Earlier this spring, Lillie Kae celebrated the release of her first studio recording, I’m Glad There is You, and the release of her first single, “That’s All,” by performing a stunning set of jazz standards at Birdland in New York City, Las Vegas, and at Englewood’s bergenPAC, where she opened for Broadway legend and Pulitzer Prize-winner Marvin Hamlisch. Additionally, she just wrapped up a series of live performances at select Borders Book Stores.

Lillie Kae’s debut as a solo artist has won her an impressive following from within the industry. After attending one of her recent engagements, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and performer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson raved, “There wasn’t one song that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. The choice of material and Lillie Kae’s interpretation were simply beautiful.”

Similarly, Lynn Dimenna of WVOX endorsed her, saying, “The two words that describe Lillie Kae’s gorgeous sound are heart and soul—the perfect package of a wonderful vocal instrument and stage presence. She will be a force to contend with for years to come!”

I’m Glad There Is You, is now widely available. It features the drum-less, intimate brand of jazz first popularized by Nat King Cole. The result is spare and smoky, featuring renditions of standards such as the single “That’s All”, “Day In, Day Out,” and “Talk to Me Baby.” The album also features rarely recorded verses in “What Is There to Say” and “I’m Glad There Is You,” along with other gems from a golden age in American songwriting.

The debut CD features Pizzarelli, along with seasoned pianist Tony Monte and is available online at www.lilliekae.com.

I’m Glad There Is You is currently at record stores and online at www.lilliekae.com.