Jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato – born February 11, 1976 – comes from a musical
family. Her father Dave Parlato was best-known for playing bass for Frank Zappa
but also worked with Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Buddy Rich, Henry Mancini,
Don Ellis, Paul Horn, and many others. Her grandfather, Charlie Parlato, played
trumpet for the Kay Kyser Big Band, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Lawrence Welk.
Inspired by bossa-nova, Gretchen Parlato was moved to pursue a career in jazz.
She attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, then studied at the
University of California, Los Angel...