Performing at Chicago Singer Spotlight on Wednesday, August 14 at FitzGerald's.

Marie Alexandre
Marie was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in July, 1951. She came to the United States in 1953 and settled in Brooklyn, New York where she studied classical piano through grade school, high school and part of her college years. While at the University of Delaware, she began singing in school talent shows and various functions with rock'n'roll and country rock groups. In 1978 Marie moved to Miami, Florida and began singing jazz and performing before live audiences professionally. She wed Caleb Drake, a talented and well known South Florida bassist in 1981. Cal was offered a job in Puerto Rico, and so they moved to the San Juan area. Marie worked in the San Juan area, and began incorporating other ethnological influences in her live performances; especially Brazilian and Latin music. She performed a blend of jazz, fusion and Brazilian/Latin music at clubs and at the Music Department of the two main Universities: Sagrado Corazon and Interamericana at Cupey. She worked in Miami Beach resorts with pianist Eddie Higgins of London House, Chicago fame. From 1984 to the present, Marie Alexandre has been performing in various clubs and hotels in the Chicago area. Mixing club appearances with wedding receptions and corporate parties, Marie works with the Rich Daniels Big Band, Franz Benteler Orchestras, Frank Caruso Orchestra and Frank Portolese Orchestras. In 1989, Marie made a television appearance on the NBC televised Chicago Emmy Awards program entitled, "Chicago Sizzlin," hosted by Byron Allen. In November of 1996 Marie was elected by her peers to the Board of the Chicago Local AFTRA and served one term ending in November 1999. Find out more about Marie at www.jazzsingers.com

Richard Schoen
You wanna get music? Just get yourself born into a big family. That's what Richard Schoen did. "I'm fifth from the top and seventh from the bottom: Jean-Denny-Philip-Cathy-Richard-Chrissy-Tom-Jim-Robert-Steven-Kevin. Did I make that in two seconds? That's my record. A lot of children means a lot of dishes and pots and pans to wash, dry and put away. We were like the danged Von Trapp family in the kitchen. I do miss it. Singing with my family, not the dishes." "It was a very musical upbringing. Den played the trumpet. And he also managed Phil's and my effort to get on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. We were going to be the next Joe & Eddie. We didn't get chosen, but we did get two matching black and gold sweaters from the deal, which was pretty cool. Just try to imagine what they'd be worth today. My folks were always asking us to perform for company. Chrissy was kind of shy. Not too shy to sing. Just too shy to look at people and have them look at her when she sang. So sometimes she sang from the back porch when guests were in the kitchen." "My father's favorite singer was a Swedish tenor named Jussi Bjoerling. He would put on one of his records and just crank it up until the house shook. It was during one of those musical sessions, one of those special moments, when it hit me, struck me like a thunder bolt. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that one day in my bright and shiny future I would become at least partially deaf. In my DREAMS I can sing high C's like Jussi Bjoerling did! Of course, in my dreams I can also levitate when I run, kind of like in that movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'" "I went to college in Winona, Minnesota. And after taking a few classes in music composition I decided that I had finally found my major. Dad and Mom certainly knew where that was coming from. But they thought that, music being the insecure business that it was, maybe I should major in something more secure, something that I might be able to fall back on. So I ended up majoring in theater." "Post-college I had an exciting time being the front singer for a group called DAY BY DAY. We rented a house together in Minneapolis, which was quite an experience for six people who were real used to leaving garbabe cans brimming and wet towels on the floor. We were traveling around the midwest, it was the first time any of us had ever had an agent, and we were all feeling pretty upwardly-mobile. History. Ain't it great? And I haven't even started talking about my wife and children." Besides history, Richard has some credits too. He started singing jingles in the late seventies, has been voicing commercials since the early eighties, and claims to have a client list from A-Z, though he admits he's still missing the Q. He would very much like you to go to www.voicesunlimited.com and check out some of his VO work. And, last but not least, he would like you to know that he can't wait to sing his ass off for you at Fitzgerald's on 8/14.

Chazz Dixon
Chazz is a singer/songwriter/actor. He's been performing on stage since the age of 4 and signed his first deal at the age of 17. During February of 2001 he scored with the number 1 song on MP3'S Urban Contemporary Chart and R&B Chart. He's formed several groups through the years with and emphasis on vocals. With the help of Aki Aleong (former manager of the band Mandrell and jazz man Norman Conners) he began developing his skills. Harvey Fuqua (songwriter/producer/former VP Motown Records) stepped in like a big brother and helped develop the details of his stage persona . . . lights, stage, performance rider, etc. Currently Chazz travels with a six piece ensemble of musicians and singers. The Team has performed together both on stage and in the studio for the past 9 years. Proudly, in addition to singing and recording, Chazz serves on the Chicago local of the Screen Actors Guild sitting on several committees. He's appeared in commercials, television and film and occasionally works as a print model when time permits. Chazz is also a published journalist and poet. Find out more about Chazz at www.chazzdixon.com

Yvonne Gage
YVONNE GAGE IS AN R&B SINGER WHO LOVES HER JAZZ. DRAWING FROM HER VAST AND IMPESSIVE EXPERIENCE, YVONNE HAS SHARED THE STAGE AND STUDIO WITH RAMSEY LEWIS, R. KELLY, C.C.WINANS, SMOKEY ROBINSON, MADONNA, CELINE DION, RICHARD MARX, PETER CETERA, AND DOZENS OF OTHER ICONS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. YVONNE'S DAY JOB AS SHE REFERS TO IT IS JINGLE SINGER. SHE'S BEEN HEARD ON COUNTLESS TELEVISION AND RADIO COMMERCIALS FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. GRATEFUL BUT NO LONGER CONTENT WITH SHADOW OPPORTUNITIES, MS. GAGE'S SPIRIT SUMMONS HER FROM THE BACKGROUND TO THE FOREGROUND AS SHE SHOWCASES HER TALENT AS WRITER AND PRODUCER ON HER NEW C.D. SINGLE ENTITLED "RAINBOW". YVONNE GAGE IS AN R&B SINGER WHO LOVES HER JAZZ.  DRAWING FROM HER VAST AND IMPESSIVE EXPERIENCE, YVONNE HAS SHARED THE STAGE AND STUDIO WITH RAMSEY LEWIS, R. KELLY, C.C.WINANS, SMOKEY ROBINSON, MADONNA, CELINE DION, RICHARD MARX, PETER CETERA, AND DOZENS OF OTHER ICONS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. YVONNE'S DAY JOB AS SHE REFERS TO IT IS JINGLE SINGER.  SHE'S BEEN HEARD ON COUNTLESS TELEVISION AND RADIO COMMERCIALS FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. GRATEFUL BUT NO LONGER CONTENT WITH SHADOW OPPORTUNITIES, MS. GAGE'S SPIRIT SUMMONS HER FROM THE BACKGROUND TO THE FOREGROUND AS SHE SHOWCASES HER TALENT AS WRITER AND PRODUCER ON HER NEW C.D. SINGLE ENTITLED "RAINBOW".

Anne DeLangis
Anne deLangis is thrilled to be part of the singer's spotlight showcase. She has sung at some of the most prestigious events and in some of the most exciting venues the city has to offer, including Navy Pier, Taste of Chicago, The Chicago Theatre and Symphony Hall. She has appeared on television and radio programs to promote her CD of original material entitled "Take on the Rain", which has received excellent reviews throughout the country. Performing Songwriter Magazine's review said, "…Her powerful set of pipes…lift every song effortlessly. She's obviously a pro when it comes to delivering a vocal. Fortunately, she has the writing chops to match." Anne spends a great deal of time in the recording studio, lending her voice to national television and radio spots such a Hallmark, McDonald's, and Pepsi to name but a few. She also contributes vocals on various artists' album projects as well as being a popular choice among songwriters who enlist Anne to sing on their song demos. She also teaches voice and is a song coach; helping singers develop the style and delivery of their repertoires. She is the very proud Mother of two incredible children, Cole and Ruby, who keep her joyfully busy and constantly inspired.