Sunny Ozell

Sunny Ozell, Lady Stewart
Ozell in 2016
Born (1978-12-23) December 23, 1978
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Sir Patrick Stewart (m. 2013)
Children 2 Stepchildren
Musical career
Genres Country music, Jazz music, Americana music, Blues, Pop music, Country pop
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1989–present
Labels Man in the Moon Records
Website Official website

Sunny Ozell, Lady Stewart (born December 23, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. She is the spouse of English actor Sir 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 live at Rockwood Music in New York City, 2015

Although Ozell’s career is well established, she considers the latest release Take It with Me (which mainly consists of Ozell’s own interpretations of the works from artists such as Howard Jones, Hank Williams, Randy Newman, T Bone Burnett and Tom Waits) to be her debut album. Both on this record and live, the Sunny Ozell ‘experience’ benefits from 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). 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]

Ozell has already started work on the follow up album to Take It with Me and has begun preliminary recording sessions. The focus for her sophomore set will be on original material.[1]

Musical style and influence

Ozell cites the likes of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as influences, for their "simplicity and their total lack of pretention", 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 Sir 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 the wedding ceremony. From this marriage, she became stepmother to Stewart's two children, Daniel and Sophia (even though Ozell is younger than them).[6]

Discography

Take It with Me (2015)

Take It With Me
Studio album by Sunny Ozell
Released 31 July 2015
Genre Country, jazz, Americana, blues, pop music
Length 37:15 min.
Label Man in the Moon Records
Producer Ethan Eubanks

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

Git Gone (Single) (2015)

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Git Gone (Radio Mix)"2:42

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "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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