By Patte Purcell
I had the privilege to see Rose Mallett performing at our last Celebrity Jazz Jam at Arnold Palmer’s. She arrived at the end as she had another booking, got up on stage and belted out some jazz and blues tunes including “Stormy Monday” (one of my favorites). There is no doubt that this lady has chops!
I’ve been watching her Facebook posts and see that she’s playing the Purple Room Tuesdays from 6:30-9:30 and has been selling out Woody’s on Friday’s from 6:30-10:30 as well.
For the 4th year in a row she’s doing the Fantasy Springs Casino New Year’s Eve event. So I decided to interview her to discover her background.
Originally from Chicago she relocated with her family to California when she was 13 years old. From elementary school and into Junior and Senior high she sang with a group of four girls. At the tender age of 16 she and her band were offered a deal to do demos for Capital Records by Sam and Dave. The girls took them up on their offer and recorded at Capitol Records where they met Lou Rawls and Martha Reeves of the Vandellas. Lightning struck and they were offered a contract.
Rose asked her mother about it, who had her ask her pastor, who told her, ‘you can sing for the Lord or sing for the devil’. Rose went with the former. Now you know the rest of the story.
She went into musical theatre and eventually into marketing for Union Bank. She retired in 2007 to devote full time to her singing career. From where I sit, I would have to say she’s doing an impressive job!
When I asked Rose about her goals she told me she is working on a one woman show of Sarah Vaughn songs and she’d like to record a live CD with it. Her projected finish date is June 2016. To contact Rose, visit her website at rosemallett.com or better yet, stop out to see her.
Rose will be one of the guest vocalists at the next Celebrity Jazz Jam on Jan. 18, 2016 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert from 5-8. The jam will feature a mix of National artists and local favorites. National artists include Blake Aaron (5 #1 Billboard Hits, guitarist), Greg Manning (#1 hit of the year Billboard 2013), Slim Man (13 CDs), Joe Baldino smooth Jazz and blues guitarist, Darryl Williams (A List bass player) along with desert favorites including John Carey (recording artist, guitar) and Craig Chesnut (drums). Out of town guest artists include sax man and recording artist Victor Robles and vocalist and sax man Rick Parma along with Guillermo Yslas (percussion) and Tazz Washington (Brazilian drummer) who will be traveling into the desert just for the jam. For more information or tickets visit www.purplepass.com/celebrityjazzjam
Patte Purcell
Muze Muzic
pattepurcell@yahoo.com
702-219-6777
