Phoebe Snow

b. Phoebe Laub, 17 July 1952, New York City, USA, Phoebe Snow was a singer with jazz and folk influences who released a string of popular albums in the '70s that showcased her versatile, elastic contralto vocals. Snow and her family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey where she studied piano during her childhood. She switched to guitar while in her teens. She wrote poetry and fashioned songs around them, which led her into performing at New York clubs in the early '70s. She was signed to Leon Russell's Shelter Records label in 1974 and released her self-titled debut album, which reached the US Top 5, as did the single Poetry Man. The album included jazz greats Stan Getz and Teddy Wilson guesting. Snow duetted with Paul Simon on his song Gone At Last in 1975 and toured with him as well. She switched to Columbia Records for SECOND CHILDHOOD, in 1976, and stayed with that company throughout the decade, although her album sales lessened with each new release. In 1981 she switched to Mirage Records, distributed by Atlantic Records, and rebounded with ROCK AWAY, which reached number 51 in the USA. In 1989 she reappeared on Elektra Records and in 1990-91 made numerous club appearances in the New York area, performing with a makeshift band that also included ex-Steely Dan member Donald Fagen and former Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald.