Nnenna Freelon

Nnenna Freelon ’79 (born Chinyere Nnenna Pierce in 1954) is a Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, composer, actress, and playwright. At Simmons, Freelon studied Health Care Administration and worked at the Durham County Hospital Corporation. (Years later, she recognized the usefulness of her Simmons degree when managing jazz bands). She began cultivating her talent for singing at the Union Baptist Church and St. Paul A.M.E. Church (both in Cambridge, MA). In 1990, Freelon attended the Southern Arts Federation’s jazz meeting, where she met Ellis Marsalis, a jazz pianist, educator, and father to jazz luminaries Wynton and Branford Marsalis. Ellis recognized her talents, and two years later, she signed a contract with Columbia Records. Her debut album, Nnenna Freelon, appeared in 1992. A review of her Time Traveler album in DownBeat: Jazz, Blues, and Beyond conveys that: “Vocalist Nnenna Freelon has always had a powerful instrument, but rarely, if ever, has she employed that voice in such an intimate way. . . the Grammy-winner wastes no time in grabbing your attention and pulling you in close.”

Freelon has led a decorated musical career, collaborating with a cornucopia of esteemed artists: Ray Charles, Anita Baker, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, and many others. She has performed at legendary venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Freelon is also passionate about arts education, and served as the national spokesperson for the National Association of Partners in Education. Her late husband, Philip Freelon, was one of the principal architects for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Nnenna Freelon maintains an active performing, producing, and podcasting schedule.