Gail Wynters

Singer Gail Wynters, an Ashland minister’s daughter, has been performing since she joined her family’s gospel vocal ensemble at age 3. Her first professional tours had her opening for Joe Cocker, Roy Orbison, and others. She then joined guitarist Cal Collins in Cincinnati and ventured into the jazz arena.

Wynters’ influences range from Southern a cappella gospel singers to jazz performers Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Fats Waller to the rock and soul of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight. Her sound and approach to jazz is a blend of all these influences as well as her Southern country church upbringing.

In the late 1970s, Gail moved to New York, where she was signed for an RCA album, Let the Lady Sing, and began working in clubs like the Village Gate and the Blue Note. Two more recent CDs—Boogie to Heaven and My Shining Hour—are also available. She tours South America, Poland, and Singapore on a regular basis ... and occasionally returns to her home state for a gig, such as the appearance on In Performance.