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Melody Gardot (born February 2, 1985 in New Jersey) is an American jazz singer, writer and musician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has been influenced by such blues and jazz artists as Janis Joplin, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin as well as Latin music artists such as Stan Getz and Caetano Veloso.
Gardot follows the teachings of Buddhism, is a macrobiotic cook and humanitarian who often speaks about the benefits of music therapy.
Early lifeBorn on February 2, 1985, in New Jersey,[title=Buckled up Inside] Melody Gardot was brought up largely by her grandparents. Her mother, a photographer, worked and traveled widely. They moved around New Jersey often and as a consequence had very few possessions, often living out of suitcases.[first=Chrissie]
EducationGardot studied fashion at the Community College of Philadelphia.[title=Unchained Melody]
AccidentGardot was severely injured at 19 after being struck by a car while riding her bicycle and began writing music after using music to aid her recovery. While cycling in Philadelphia in November 2003[title=Melody Gardot hits New York ] when she was hit by a Jeep Cherokee whose driver had ignored a red traffic light. In the accident she suffered serious head injuries. Her pelvis was shattered in two places and spinal injuries meant she was in hospital on her back for a year
. She had to re-learn how to do simple things such as brushing her teeth and walking and to this day she needs a cane to walk and, when performing, she sits on a special chair (or stands). Besides that, she also became sensitive to both light and sound and has to wear dark glasses.
Music for therapyAfter her accident Gardot began writing music and since then often speaks and advocates in favour of using music for therapy. The accident had damaged the neural pathways between the brain's two cortexes which control perception and higher mental function and made Gardot (in her own words) "a bit of a vegetable."[title=Melody Gardot should not be playing music] As well as making it very hard for her to speak or communicate properly, she found it difficult to recall the right words to express her feelings. Music involving listening and making a verbal attempt to sing or hum is thought to help the brain form new pathways. At first, Gardot learned to hum and was eventually able to sing into a tape recorder. She made good progress and was eventually able to write original songs that sometimes talked about her rehabilitation.
Other therapyFor several years after the accident Gardot traveled with a physiotherapist and carried a TENS machine strapped to her waist which released pain reducing impulses.[title=Macrobiotics Guide]
BuddhismBuddhism has been an important factor in Melody Gardot's recovery and she has described herself as a Siddhartha. She talks openly about her Buddhist beliefs and what she calls 'the art of suffering' and has said "to be truly Buddhist is to let everything go, your memory, your expectations".[first=Alison] Gardot's Buddhist philosophy extends to her lifestyle, in that she has sold her flat in Philadelphia and gave away her furniture and cat. Her only possessions fit in two suitcases which she takes on concert tours.
Music career Gardot started music lessons at the age of nine[title=Melody Gardot Biography] and began playing piano in Philadelphia bars at sixteen on Fridays and Saturdays for four hours a night. She insisted on only playing music she liked, ranging from standards from the The Mamas & the Papas to Duke Ellington and modern groups such as Radiohead.[title=Melody Gardot ]
During her time in hospital she learned how to play the guitar and began writing songs, which were made available as downloads in iTunes and released in Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions in 2005. She began to play these songs at venues in Philadelphia and was spotted by the radio station WXPN, operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, which helped to launch Norah Jones. As well as playing her songs, WXPN encouraged her to assemble a demo which was quickly picked up by Universal Records.
Backing BandThe musicians touring with Gardot vary but she usually performs with a backing band often augmented by a string section.
Discography- Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions (2005)
- Worrisome Heart (2008) U.S. #80; AUS #93
- Live from SoHo (2009)
- My One and Only Thrill (2009) U.S. #42, U.K. #12, AUS #23, FRA #5, NZ #12, SWI #17, NET #20
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Melody Gardot
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