Dennis Rowland is a jazz vocalist born and raised in Detroit, MI. Having grown up in a household of jazz enthusiasts, Rowland developed an appreciation for Jazz music at an early age. At the age of five or six Rowland heard the vocals of Joe Williams of the Count Basie Orchestra, which has influenced his approach to singing ever since. Rowland's voice is rich and deep, and throughout the early 1970s, Rowland worked Detroit's local jazz and acting scene. In 1977 Rowland was hired by Count Basie as a vocalist on his tours, filling the same role his idols Joe Williams and Jimmy Rushing had occupied for so many years. For Rowland, it was a dream come true and he would tour with Basie for the following seven years. During his time with Basie, Rowland had the chance to share the stage with such icons as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. Rowland was seen recently as Jimmy Baker in the film Real Gone Cat by film director Robert Sucato. He currently resides and performs regularly in Phoenix, Arizona.
December 19, 2012 Dennis Rowland was hospitalized at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix after suffering a severe stroke. The stroke was bad but the hospital gave him medicine that he was allergic to. That almost killed him.
He is fully recovered and is doing well.
Discography
Studio albums
Album | Year | Label |
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Rhyme, Rhythm & Reason | 1995 | Concord Records |
Get Here | 1996 | Concord Records |
Now Dig This | 1997 | Concord Records |
Credits
Count Basie Album | Year | Label |
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Count Basie: The Golden Years | — | Pablo Records |
On the Road | 1979 | Pablo/Original Jazz Classics |
Kansas City Shout | 1980 | Pablo Records |
Wendell Harrison Album | Year | Label |
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Birth of a Fossil | 1985 | Rebirth Records |
Ray Anthony Album | Year | Label |
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Swing Back to the 40s | 1991 | Aerospace Records |
Joe Sample Album | Year | Label |
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Sample This | 1997 | Warner Bros. Records |
Frank Foster Album | Year | Label |
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We Do It Diff'rent | 2003 | Mapleshade Records |