Ranee Lee

Biography


Ranee Lee has enjoyed over 50 years in Montreal, Quebec, where she has built a remarkable career as one of Canada’s leading jazz vocalists, an award-winning actress, songwriter, and author of the children’s book Nana What Do You Say?  With twelve acclaimed albums on the Justin Time label, her discography showcases collaborations with some of jazz’s finest musicians. Notable works include The Musical, Jazz on Broadway, which blends jazz standards and Broadway tunes, and her Juno-winning album Ranee Lee Lives UPSTAIRS (2010). Her latest release, Because You Loved Me, is a poignant collection of well known tunes originally recorded by Celine Dion.

Ranee has graced stages across North America, Europe, and the Caribbean, performing at prestigious jazz festivals and alongside legends such as Clark Terry, Oliver Jones, and Herb Ellis. She has twice been named Top Canadian Female Jazz Vocalist by Jazz Report magazine and received multiple Juno nominations.

A dedicated educator, Ranee is an Assistant Professor at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and a former faculty member at Université Laval. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and received Quebec’s Ordre des arts et des lettres in 2023, honoring her enduring contributions to music and culture.

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