Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness
Background information
Born (1957-01-30) January 30, 1957 (age 67)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
GenresElectric blues, soul[1] Americana
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, author
InstrumentVocals
Years active1980s-present
LabelsVarious including NorthernBlues, Alligator, Blue Élan, Fathead Records
WebsiteOfficial website

Janiva Magness (born January 30, 1957)[2] is an American Grammy Award[3] nominated blues, soul, and Americana singer, songwriter, and author. To date she has released 16 albums.[1]

The Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year in 2009, becoming only the second woman, after Koko Taylor, to be so honored.[4] The award was presented by B.B. King himself and Bonnie Raitt. In 2014 she released her second album of all originals entitled Original which earned her the award for Song of the Year.[5] Magness has earned seven Blues Music Awards with 29 similar nominations.[6][7][8] USA Today stated, "Magness is a blues star."[9]

In 2019, Magness published her memoir "Weeds Like Us" and the audiobook version was released in 2022. "We get to relive her career with her, as she discovers her own talents, right up to her work with the great Dave Darling over the past decade. It's a ride that is both thrilling and heartbreaking. But the spoiler is, we know how it ends, because we know that Magness is still producing incredible music. And she's still a badass." – LA Weekly's Book of the Month, Brett Callwood. "When you're singing "The Blues," credibility is essential. You can talk the talk, but if you didn't walk the walk, people can tell. Janiva Magness has been singing the blues professionally for decades, but don't think for a minute that she didn't get to where she is now without having a struggle with hard times. And where she is now, it's a very good place: a highly regarded, award-winning singer and musician with an international following and a cache of critically well-received albums." – The Recoup, Joseph Kyle

  1. ^ a b Steve Leggett. "Janiva Magness". AllMusic. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jazz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Grammys 2017: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2017. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "Janiva Magness Interview". Chicagobluesguide.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  5. ^ Minter, Will. "Album Premiere: Janiva Magness, Original". American Songwriter. The Craft of Music. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  6. ^ Nash, JD (April 11, 2017). "WORLD PREMIERE – Smoking New Track From Janiva Magness, 'I Can Tell' – American Blues Scene". American Blues Scene. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  7. ^ "Foster Care « Janiva Magness". Janivamagness.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  9. ^ "Janiva Magness's Biography". Last.fm. July 4, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2012.