Sunny Ozell
Ozell in 2016
Born (1978-12-23) December 23, 1978
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Spouse
(m. 2013)
Musical career
GenresCountry, jazz, americana, blues, pop, country pop
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1989–present
LabelsMan in the Moon
WebsiteOfficial website

Sunny Ozell, Lady Stewart (born December 23, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter who resides in Los Angeles, California. She is married to the British actor Patrick Stewart.

Early life

Ozell grew up in Reno, Nevada, in a musical household and began her classical training at an early age. Her parents did not play or perform themselves, but they had a passion for music and took music education seriously, getting Ozell to play the violin from the age of just four years old.[1] She also started vocal training at the age of 11 years and soon after realised that music was the career path she wanted to pursue.[2] From 13, she started working with an opera coach.

At university in Boulder, Colorado, she majored in English literature and sang in blues bands and soul-funk bands in her spare time throughout college. After graduating, she started performing in clubs around New York and became a part of the city's musical community with her blend of jazz, blues and American roots music, performing both original material and interpretations of works by other renowned blues, soul and country songwriters.[1]

Music career

Ozell on stage at Rockwood Music in New York City, 2015

She considers Take It with Me (which mainly consists of covers of works from artists such as Howard Jones, Hank Williams, Randy Newman, T Bone Burnett and Tom Waits) to be her debut album.[1] Both on Take It with Me and live, Sunny Ozell works with renowned musicians, including guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan (Semi Precious Weapons, Drivin N Cryin), bassist Andy Hess (The Black Crowes, Gov't Mule, Uberjam), keyboard player Andrew Sherman (George Duke, Mariah Carey), pedal steel player Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams & The Cardinals), backing singer Nicki Richards (Madonna) and drummer Ethan Eubanks (Teddy Thompson, Crash Test Dummies, Joseph Arthur).[1] Ozell performs frequently at Rockwood Music Hall and The Living Room in New York and has collaborated with musicians such as Jim Campilongo and Adam Levy of Norah Jones’ backing band, and Krystle Warren.[3]

Musical style and influence

Ozell cites Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as influences, for their "simplicity and their total lack of pretension", but also American jazz singer Cassandra Wilson, in particular her 1993 album Blue Light ‘til Dawn.[1] She is also inspired by soul music that is not limited in any way to the traditional definition of the genre (i.e. Motown or Stax Records).[2]

Personal life

Ozell is married to English actor Patrick Stewart. They met in 2008 at Franny's restaurant in New York where Ozell was working as a waitress[4] while Stewart was performing in Macbeth at the nearby Brooklyn Academy of Music.[5]

In March 2013, it was reported that Stewart and Ozell were engaged[5] and they married on September 7, 2013, beside Lake Tahoe in Nevada with actor Ian McKellen officiating at the wedding ceremony.[6] Through her marriage to Stewart she has two stepchildren.

Discography

Take It with Me (2015)

Take It with Me
Studio album by
Sunny Ozell
ReleasedJuly 31, 2015
GenreCountry, jazz, Americana, blues, pop music
Length37:15 min.
LabelMan in the Moon Records
ProducerEthan Eubanks
Take It with Me track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Manhattan Island Serenade"4:07
2."Family Tree"3:55
3."Move Along Train"3:23
4."Louisiana"3:50
5."Git Gone"2:48
6."Kill Zone"3:52
7."Number One"4:29
8."Only in the Movies"3:11
9."No One Is to Blame"3:43
10."Can't Help It"3:19
11."Take It with Me"4:56

Overnight Lows (2020)

Overnight Lows
Studio album by
Sunny Ozell
ReleasedMarch 13, 2020
Length41:32 min.
LabelChitin Records
Overnight Lows track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Driving Highways"3:48
2."Comes And It Goes"4:11
3."All That I Am"3:06
4."In The Sun"4:22
5."Not Afraid"3:48
6."Saint Ursula"3:51
7."The Garden"4:44
8."Hammer and Nail"4:44
9."Downstream"4:54
10."Take You Down"4:04

Git Gone (single) (2015)

"Gone Girl" single track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Git Gone" (Radio Mix)2:42

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Introducing Sunny Ozell". Songwriting Magazine. August 25, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Sunny Ozell exclusive interview – her debut album, marriage to Patrick Stewart & more!". Female First. July 27, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. "Sunny Ozell: 5 Things To Know About Patrick Stewart's New Wife". Hollywood Life. September 9, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  4. "Patrick Stewart and His Fiancée on Meeting at Franny's and Convincing Ian McKellen to Officiate Their Wedding". Grub Street. March 21, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Ian McKellen to Lead Wedding for Patrick Stewart". The New York Times. March 19, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  6. "Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell admit they ordained Ian McKellen ONLINE before wedding". Daily Express. July 9, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
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