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Susannah Melvoin

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Susannah Melvoin
Born (1964-01-26) January 26, 1964 (age 60)
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresRock, funk, pop, new wave, Minneapolis sound, R&B
Occupation(s)Vocalist, songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1984–present

Susannah Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American vocalist and songwriter. Melvoin is best known for her association with Prince in the mid-1980s. Melvoin comes from a musical family and is the twin sister of musician Wendy Melvoin, sister of Jonathan Melvoin (former touring keyboardist with the Smashing Pumpkins), and daughter of jazz pianist (and former NARAS president) Michael Melvoin.

Work with Prince

Melvoin got her start working with Prince in the mid-1980s during sister Wendy's stint with The Revolution. During this period, Melvoin was tapped to be a joint lead vocalist of one of Prince's side projects: The Family. Prince wrote The Family's 1985 song "Nothing Compares 2 U" about Melvoin.[1] It charted when Sinéad O'Connor covered it in 1990.

Melvoin later joined the expanded line-up of The Revolution – adding backing vocals to Parade including the 1986 single "Anotherloverholenyohead." She designed the Dream Factory jacket and received a credit on Sign o' the Times co-writing the song "Starfish and Coffee."

Melvoin was engaged to Prince[2] who wrote several songs about her.[3]

Later work

Melvoin has subsequently worked as a background vocalist for such artists as Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, and Mike Oldfield and has performed vocals on Wendy & Lisa albums.

She has co-written songs performed by Madonna, co-writing Ray of Light's fourth track "Candy Perfume Girl", as well as on Eric Clapton and then-husband Doyle Bramhall II's "Arc Angels". “Candy Perfume Girl” was written with William Orbit and were to have been "what she thought would either become her solo debut or an album by Orbit’s Strange Cargo project, which she – and, it turns out, Madonna – both loved." The song was written as she was still mourning the death of her brother. Melvoin told Rolling Stone she didn’t get credit or compensation for her full work on Ray of Light. She said she "has no beef with Madonna," but added that "had I gotten proper publishing on Ray of Light... I wouldn’t be worried about my financial life.”[4]

She has also performed in small or cameo roles in three small-budget films, including Skin & Bone and Luster.

Personal Life

Melvoin was married to Doyle Bramhall II. They had two children. The couple separated in 2010. Their subsequent divorce proceedings were characterized in the tabloids as being "messy," due in part to Bramhall's relationship with actress Renee Zellweger, which started in 2012 before the divorce was settled. [5]

References

  1. ^ Lewis, Everett, DVD commentary, Luster
  2. ^ Elan, Priya (September 20, 2008). "Purple Reign". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Nilsen, Per (2003). Dance Music Sex Romance: Prince: The First Decade. SAF. p. 199. ISBN 0-946719-64-0.
  4. ^ Walters, Barry (22 February 2018). "Madonna's 'Ray of Light': 6 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. ^ Fisher, Kendall (12 October 2017). "How Renée Zellweger Is Financially Supporting Her Boyfriend Doyle Bramhall: Court documents reveal the actress pays his rent and credit card bills". E!News. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
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