Loretta McNair:  

Alumni of Van Nuys High might remember me for writing and singing the class song of 1973 "The Peaceful Ones." For others, it's easier to copy and paste my professional bio: A fine singer with a beautiful voice, Loretta McNair is a very talented songwriter whose lyrics give fresh takes and viewpoints about universal topics, especially love and relationships. While her previous CD, Deeper Than Indigo, was an impressive effort, her most recent recording, Intimate Portrait, is a giant step forward. ¿Intimate Portrait is a collection of my best writing,¿ says Loretta. ¿It is all acoustic, and it has the vocals and the lyrics up front.¿ A superior storyteller, she introduces a dozen fine originals on this memorable set. Raised in Southern California, Loretta remembers, ¿My grandfather, who played mandolin and banjo, bought me a guitar when I was 12 years old and sent me to guitar school to have lessons. One of my teachers was the backup guitarist for John Davidson. My mother played piano and she wrote songs for all of her children. I taught my sisters how to sing harmonies. We would have family jam sessions.¿ Loretta spent a period playing classical guitar but was more interested in the music of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and the British Invasion bands, and she learned harmonies from listening to the Lennon Sisters. She got occasional calls to perform as a single act for hotels, showcases and weddings but was a realist. ¿It was a dream of mine to be a singer, but my grandfather taught me that I would need a backup plan because hardly any artist can make a living.¿ Although Loretta chose to work in the business world, she always sang and performed. She appeared in musicals (The Music Man was a favorite), worked with an international chorus for four years, and particularly enjoyed being part of an ensemble. In addition, she wrote music, starting when she was 12 on the very day that she received her first guitar. A turning point in her career occurred in the mid-1990s when her famous friend, Herbie Hancock, heard a demo she had recorded. On it she performed three songs that she co-wrote with a musician who was working with the keyboardist during that period. Hancock encouraged her and would later say, ¿Loretta¿s songs are fresh and unique. Her voice is clear, with a beautiful balance between warmth and edgy power. Her lyrics are exquisite and the musical performances are gripping with emotion. The more I hear, the more I want to hear.¿ Loretta was inspired to focus on her music career. She has since been a guest vocalist on Mars ...Expand for more