Background
Dara Tucker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the third of seven children to music minister and gospel recording artist, Doyle Tucker and singer Lynda Tucker.
composer singer songwriter jazz musician
Dara Tucker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the third of seven children to music minister and gospel recording artist, Doyle Tucker and singer Lynda Tucker.
Tucker has released three studio albums. "All Right Now" (2009), "Soul Said Yes" (2011) and "The Sun Season" (2014) as well as a limited-release, live performance album, "Dara Tucker Live" in 2013. Tucker has performed internationally with her jazz ensemble since 2009.
She has shared the stage with jazz musicians such as organist Doctor Lonnie Smith, 7-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, and pianist Johnny O"Neal at The Blue Note in New York City, The San Jose Jazz Festival, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club in New York City, Sculler"s in Boston, Master of Arts, The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, and Snug Harbor in New Orleans, Los Los Angeles She has recorded with guitarist Peter Bernstein, guitarist Charlie Hunter, pianist Helen Sung, trombonist Alan Ferber, saxophonist John Ellis and drummer Donald Edwards.
She traveled the country singing with her family for most of her childhood. Dara"s family spent time in Spokane, Washington, Detroit, Michigan, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Pasadena, California and Baltimore, Maryland.
Dara studied International Business and German Studies at Oral Roberts University. After graduating, Tucker worked for a few years in the field of International Business.
She then moved to Interlaken, Switzerland to study German while aupairing.
Dara Tucker began writing in Switzerland in 2003, and in 2004, moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. She recorded the first of her albums, "All Right Now" in 2009. lieutenant featured mostly Great American Songbook standards.
Her second album, "Soul Said Yes" (2011) was a blend of Rhythm & Blues and jazz and featured seven string guitarist, Charlie Hunter.
lieutenant made Amazon.com"s top 10 Rhythm & Blues chart within a few weeks of its release. Two of Tucker"s compositions were included on this project
Tucker"s third release, "The Sun Season" (2014) was recorded in Astoria, Queens, New New York Ten of the twelve songs on "The Sun Season" were written by Tucker.
The album features Peter Bernstein on guitar, Helen Sung on piano, Donald Edwards on drums, John Ellis on saxophone, Alan Ferber on trombone and Greg Bryant on bass.
lieutenant reached number 62 on the JazzWeek charts on September 22, 2014. Dara Tucker is a frequent performer at the Nashville Jazz Workshop, and performed her New York Civil Defense release show at "Smoke Jazz and Supper Club" on New York"s upper west side in August 2014. On June 29, 2015, Dara was interviewed by Tavis Smiley for his Public Broadcasting Service television show.
Dara Tucker on Tavis Smiley Tucker counts among her influences: Lynda Tucker, Doyle Tucker, Mel Tormé, National King Cole, James Taylor, Lizz Wright, Eva Cassidy, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Dinah Washington, Donny Hathaway, Nancy Wilson, Gregory Porter, Jane Monheit, Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Kathleen Battle, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, India.Arie, Alison Krauss, Andrae Crouch, Susan Ashton, Bryan Duncan, Marvin Winans, BeBe Winans, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Lalah Hathaway, Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter, John Denver, Joe Sample, Kim Burrell, Harry Connick, Junior., & Dionne Warwick.
