The youngest of three children, Carolyn was born shortly after her mother emigrated from Jamaica in the late 1960s. Her exposure to music started early and ranged in extremes from her mother’s taste in reggae and calypso to her oldest brothers’ Supertramp, Genesis, and Rush records. Being young and impressionable, she absorbed every lyric and imbibed every note like a sponge.

 

Music continued to play an integral role during her school years. Choir and band were common activities and in Grade 9, she started teaching herself to sing. She would race home after school every day to secretly practice her vocal skills before her family got home. Carolyn finally came out of her musical “closet” in her senior year of high school, when she performed Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” in front of her peers, teachers, and family. The energy she felt onstage that night was the strongest adrenaline rush she’d ever had!

 

For over 20 years, Carolyn has been a force on the Toronto music scene, collaborating with the city’s top musicians and performing in festivals such as the Taste of Little Italy and the renowned Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival. Her musical persona is shaped by acid jazz bands such Brand New Heavies and Incognito; influenced by soulful artists like Chaka Khan, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin; and completed by funk acts like Stevie Wonder and Jamiroquai.

 

Carolyn’s most recent successes have been behind the microphone with her band. “The CarolynT Band” http://www.carolyntband.com has been in demand across Ontario with appearances taking them to Oshawa, Guelph, Hamilton, Oakville and of course in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing this band in action, you can catch select performances on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/CarolynTBand and on the official MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/CarolynT.

 

Along with regular club appearances, The CarolynT Band has entertained at private functions, weddings and corporate events.  A favourite is the “Think Pink” annual fundraiser, benefiting the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.  2008 marks the second year The CarolynT Band has headlined the sold out event.

 

Carolyn is thankful for the opportunities she’s had to work with some of Toronto’s finest musicians.  She is also grateful for the support she has received from her family and friends.  They are the source for Carolyn’s inspiration to create and entertain.