Background
Wells was born Veronica Burke on February 28, 1943.
Wells was born Veronica Burke on February 28, 1943.
She attended Howard University during 1960-1962, majoring in liberal arts
She shared the stage with such internationally known artists as Billy Eckstine, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jimmy Witherspoon and Oscar Brown. Wells died in 2007 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Doctor of Medicine, after battling lung cancer. She came from a musical family.
Among her fond recollections were the annual family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas when, after dinner, the family would gather together to play the piano and sing.
There she had to opportunity to see some of Jazz greats perform. She was largely self-taught as a singer.
She sang in her church choir, leading her own group when she was 13, both as a singer and as a pianist. Her first experience singing jazz professionally was at age 20 with A Shade Mellow, a Washington, District of Columbia group consisting of five voices.
After singing the first song that is all it took.
She knew then the music had chosen her. Her first single gig was in 1960 at the Tallyrand where she sang for 1 ½ years before she was approached by Bert Coleman, proprietor at the Top of the Foolery where she performed for 9 ½ years. She also performed at the Kennedy Center, the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Maryland, and at jazz festivals worldwide.
She worked and recorded with the Widespread Jazz Orchestra and recorded regularly for her own Jazz Karma label.
Wells was an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland"s Department of Music during 1983-2002. She developed and designed its first jazz vocal techniques workshop.
Her sister Wilhemina was a member of the John & Wilhelmina Richburg singers.
