Early years
Evenings with her father listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Anita O’Day, Julie London, and Sarah Vaughan.
Biography
About Deone Jennings
A jazz vocalist and theatre-trained actress based in Bend, Oregon. The work began with records played in the evening, found its first stages in Portland, and continues now in Central Oregon.
The story
Singing still feeds the work
Her love for jazz began early—and the most memorable night was a concert with pianist Tommy James.
Deone Jennings is a professional jazz vocalist and actress living in Bend, Oregon. She has more than 15 years of experience as a performer. The voice you hear on this site is the same one she brings to a restaurant, a private gathering, or a theatrical stage: warm, conversational, and grounded in the standards.
As a child she spent evenings with her father listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Anita O’Day, Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, and other greats. Those records are still the soil under her repertoire.
A friend later suggested a college performance jazz class. She was hooked. The class opened the door to singing at jazz clubs around Portland, and the club work became a career rather than a pastime.
She has sung alongside some of Portland’s finest musicians, including Tom Grant and Ron Steen. Her most memorable performance was a jazz concert accompanied by pianist Tommy James, who performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
She holds a BFA in Theater and loves performing in musicals. To date she has been the featured singer at several clubs; Wilf’s Jazz Club and Clyde’s sit at the top of that list.
Today she is a Bend-based performer, available for live jazz and acting inquiries across Central Oregon. If you are planning an evening or a production, the next step is simply to get in touch.
Milestones
Finding the stage
A college performance jazz class led to singing at jazz clubs around Portland—and she was hooked.
Training and clubs
A BFA in Theater, a love of musicals, and featured work at Wilf’s Jazz Club and Clyde’s.
Work with Deone
Music bookings and acting inquiries use the same, direct line.