Lois Deloatch Biography

For nearly two decades, vocalist and songwriter Lois Deloatch has been immersed in music, headlining concerts around the country. Noted for her rich contralto voice and expansive repertoire, Deloatch’s performances highlight and integrate spirituals, jazz, and blues.

Lois Deloatch premieres her fourth recording, Hymn to Freedom: Homage to Oscar Peterson, at St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation/Hayti Heritage Center on Friday, August 22 at 8:00 p.m. The Durham-based vocalist and songwriter penned lyrics for three of the ten compositions on the disc including two Peterson compositions (“Hymn to Freedom” and “When Summer Comes”) and Bobby Timmons’ “Moanin’.” Classic composition including “The Very Thought of You,” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” are also covered on the the recording. Drummer Ed Thigpen, an early member of one of Oscar Peterson’s Trios; pianist/arranger Willie Pickens; bassist John V. Brown; and guitarist Scott Sawyer appear on the recording. Although it is just being released, the music was recorded in November 2006, prior to the death of Oscar Peterson, a world-renown pianist and jazz icon who passed away in December 2007.”Oscar Peterson and the great musicians with whom he collaborated such as Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen represent the essence of jazz,” says Lois.

Known for her rich contralto voice, broad repertoire, and ability to transcend musical boundaries, Lois has been immersed in music most of her life. In recent years, she has headlined and shared concert bills with music luminaries such as Ellis Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval, and Freddie Cole. Lois and her husband, Ed Gomes, host Sunday Evening Classics, a weekly jazz radio program on WNCU 90.7 FM, North Carolina Central University’s Public Radio Station.

Hymn to Freedom was released in limited edition in 2008 and garnered international accolades including selection as one of the Top 10 CDs of 2008 by JazzTimes Magazine’s music critic Owen Cordle. Her first release, Sunrise, debuted in 1998 and was followed by Holy Night with Tyson Rogers (2004) and Closure (2005).

“As jazz vocalist, with a sultry voice and presentation in the tradition of Sarah Vaughn, and as a lyricist, Lois Deloatch gives testament to the well known but not always observed fact that knowing the meaning of lyrics is essential to any meaningful interpretation of a song whether one is a singer or instrumentalist. Nevertheless, only some voices are blessed with that jazz sound, feeling, and intuition, and Lois is surely one of them.” Bob Gish, Jazz Improv Magazine.

"The radio in Lois Deloatch's childhood home blasted everything from gospel to heavy metal. She was raised in a family with ten children and it seemed that every one of her siblings had different musical tastes. Deloatch listened to it all, but she was especially drawn to soulful spirituals, blues and jazz. Today, she's a singer who writes original compositions that fuse her musical passions."
Frank Statio, National Public Radio

A longtime resident of Durham, Deloatch hails from Margarettsville (Northampton County), N.C. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University where she also serves as associate director of corporate and foundation relations.

Her academic pursuits have included research on jazz legends Mary Lou Williams and Thelonious Monk, and her documentary project, Sam Reed and The Trumpet of Conscience, is a permanent part of Duke University’s John Hope Franklin Collection.

For more information on Lois and her music, please visit her website .