Born in 1944, American singer La Velle moved from the Sunday gospel choir to the Chicago Conservatory, then to New York's Julliard School, where she began her operatic career. After a few roles in opera, her path veered towards musical comedy and jazz. La Velle sang for Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton, then launched a solo career that moved between disco(Playgirl in 1979) and jazz, with a tribute to Nat King Cole in 1990. In 2012, the four-octave singer made a surprising comeback with the album Special.
