BIOGRAPHY:
Recently I had the distinct pleasure to be at a large fund-raiser where we were all entertained by what I would describe as a ‘Chanteuse exceptionnelle’.” — Graham Kerr, Renowned Chef and Celebrity
Mia Vermillion, blues singer and musician, and slide guitar great Orville Johnson have recently joined together in live performances to bring Mia’s unique genre-blending sound of blues and early jazz to many different audiences. Their music together highlights a well-matched styling between Mia’s voice and Johnson’s guitar work. Also playing with Mia are Grammy nominated bassist Garey Shelton, gold record composer and pianist Tom Kellock, and Origin Records drummer, Mark Ivester.
Mia's debut record, "Alone Together With the Blues" gained national attention this year making the Roots Music Report blues radio chart top 50 for two weeks at #45 and #46, as well as reaching #2 on XM Radio B.B. King's Bluesville's 'Picks to Click' with her recording of "I'm Going to Copyright Your Kisses".
Mia's music features songs from blues and early jazz artists such as Ma Rainy, Lil Green, Mary Lou Williams, Big Bill Broonzy, Cecil Gant, Billy Holiday to list just a few. Mia has added some of her own compositions to the musical sets in a perfect balance to the blend and style of music.
Mia has formulated a sound of sensuous, earthy blues and released her first album "Alone Together With the Blues" in June of 2009. As with her live performances, the record is a magic combination of sympathetic styling between Mia’s vocals and Orville Johnson’s mastery of guitar. The album contains a well-founded collection of tunes from early blues and jazz artists and includes two of Mia's own compositions: "Little Bit of Love" and "Love's Lost and Found." The Album was recorded at Garey Shelton Productions in Seattle, WA. Other gifted Seattle area musicians contributing on the album include: clarinetist Hans Teuber, drummers Mark Ivester and Ben Smith, bassists Chuck Deardorf and Cary Black.
As a native of Washington State, Mia grew up in the Capitol City of Olympia. Throughout her childhood and as a young woman, she studied and listened to the musical statements of Ann Wilson of Heart, Lil Green, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt and many others. Mia is recognized for her vocals and works in composition and songwriting and is one of the showcased singer/songwriters along with her band at the Crossroads Bellevue Market Stage hosted in association with Puget Sound Productions. She has performed for audiences throughout the Northwest at different venues and festivals as well as in Beijing, China as part of a cultural exchange with musicians from around the globe.
Mia started and ran her own company, Vermillion Music Studio, which produced music commercial music beds for radio, TV, and other business needs. Mia wrote, performed and produced the music beds created for the company's clients, which included Comcast, Toyota dealerships, and several web development companies, to name a few. She has been very active with her music in women’s causes and is currently serving as Vice President of Skagit Habitat for Humanity Women’s’ Build. She has been able to use her talents in aiding to raise funds for those women who are ‘heads of households’ and that qualify for Habitat home construction.
Orville Johnson was born in 1953 in Edwardsville, Illinois and came up on the St. Louis, Missouri music scene, where he was exposed to and participated in a variety of blues, bluegrass and American roots music. He took up the guitar at 17, with early influences from Doc Watson, Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Chuck Berry. Orville moved to Seattle, Washington in 1978. Legendary for his dobro and slide guitar styling, Orville has released 7 albums including the acclaimed "Slide and Joy" and has been featured in multiple television and movie soundtracks.
The following is a quote of Mia’s regarding her music: "My songs and song choices come from my personal knowledge and life’s experiences: the inner and outer workings of relationships, the joy of music and life, and the huge satisfaction of recognizing and providing feminine value and perspective in it all”.
Discography:
Mia's debut album "Alone Together With the Blues" released June 2009.
Mia has completed a record of sensuous, earthy blues hightlighting a well-matched styling between Mia's vocals and Orville Johnson's masterful guitar and dobro work. The disk consists of a truly unmarked sound of traditional blues and was recorded at Garey Shelton Productions in Seattle, Washington. As a collection of nine tunes, the recordings feature songs written by early blues artists and includes two of Mia's own compositions, Little Bit of Love and Love's Lost and Found. Core musicians for the album include bassist Chuck Dardorf, and percussionists Ben Smith and Mark Ivester. Other contributing musicians are HansTeuber, Garey Shelton and Cary Black. Mia arranged and produced the record except for Little Bit of Love and In The Dark co-produced with Tom Kellock, and Two Cigarettes In The Dark co-arranged with Garey Shelton.
Mia's work on this album has coincided with another album she is producing with well know Seattle pianist/arranger/composer Tom Kellock, who is also co-arranging. This project is made up of 9 of Mia's original tunes and two selective cover songs from great women songwriters. This album is titled "Validity" and represents an account of Mia's life from her early young adult years to present, due out in Fall 2009. As with her blues album, notable artists out of Seattle have come together for a great sounding record.
You can see video of the band with Mia and Orville performing from a recent concert performance at: youtube.com/islandmia
A venue owner, sums it up perfectly. She's got an amazing voice."
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