Yolanda Rabun

Rank #1 Wake Forest, NC Jazz / R&B/Soul

About

Members: Yolanda Rabun

Sounds Like: Oleta Adams, Gladys Knight - Empress of Soul, Nancy Wilson, Stephanie Mills

Label: Yodyful Music

Manager: Law By Design Management

Bio: Yolanda sings with intelligence and passion. Her vocal flexibility and range earn high marks for taste, inventiveness and power. Phrasing is always sophisticated, and she's not afraid of taking risks. She handles all styles of music across nearly three octaves with sensibilities that stem from y... See Full Bio

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Status

: #holdontoyourdreams http://t.co/dZkOOLVfpI http://t.co/bL6nGsNRRD

Press

“Yolanda possesses a warm, clear, engaging voice that's outstanding on ballads like 'I Will Be Loved Tonight' and 'My True Love' (a hint of Anita Baker about that one, by the way) and it's perfect for the gentle, almost Latin rhythms of the LP's title cut. She takes flight on the builder that is 'Only In Mind' (a Sadao Watanabe tune, by the way) while on the album's big cover (the audacious element we alluded to up top) Yolanda's a revelation. The song in question here is Destiny's Child's 'Say My Name'. Always a good song (well, with seven writer credits it should be!), Yolanda transforms the teen angst anthem into a mature, dramatic, bumpy ride with rock ballad overtones towards the end and it stands in stark contrast to what immediately follows – the superficially gentle, soporific and reflective 'The Good Wife'. Throughout the album, Yolanda's supported by a superb live band (the keys from Chris Evans and Stanley Baird's sax work are outstanding). ”

— Bill Buckley, Soul and Jazz and Funk

“GREAT MUSIC, GREAT VOICE ! Wawww J'adore !”

— Greetings from France, YouTube

“Yolanda,you are the best to come along in a very long time. No screaming, just good , good sounding music, personality and CLASS!!! ”

— Fan, YouTube

“Actor, dancer, singer Yolanda Rabun is turning her unique style into something very real… the expressive vocalist is receiving global attention with her single, “So Real,” a wonderful musical combination of neo soul and Smooth Jazz. Yolanda has been singing most of her life, in fact, at a young age she toured Europe and Japan as a featured singer for Coca Cola. When she’s not performing her own music, she's touring with the Stanley Baird Group all over the world. With sexy saxophone and Ms. Rabun’s impressive vocal range, “So Real” is on a rocket ride to becoming an authentic Smooth Jazz hit!”

— Sandy Shore, Smooth Jazz.Com

“Rabun is no flash in the pan or overnight success. Long before she graced the front of the stage with the Stanley Baird Group, Yolanda was sharing her voice with the masses. As a youth, she took the stage for a performance to sing for a President of the United States. You’ll find that kind of enthusiasm laced amongst the ballads and the jams. Yes, I said jams. ”Dreaming” has a groove that is memorable to say the least, with it’s body moving and foot tapping sensuous sound from the back up band to Yolanda’s clear booming highs and lows. From cut one, the title track “So Real” to “Set for Life” it just get better and better. There’s something on “So Real” for everyone to love. It’s a must hear, got to have, piece of work. “Just Believe”, “The Good Wife” and more, are a testament to what hard work will do for you. “So Real”, should be on every jazz and R & B station in the country. Not only is she a polished singer, trained, and a beautiful lady,”

— Karl Blake, Co-Host/Music DirectorCreative Colorful People Radio Show WCOM-fm , Creative Colorful People Radio

"So Real" is an album that's in a long line on contemporary jazz albums that incorporate R&B and soul. Yolanda keeps a high standard with her music, however; there's not really a weak song on the CD, not even her cover of the Destiny's Child tune "Say My Name". It's tough to polish a jaded rock, but Rabun gives her best effort, and thank goodness, she's not emulating Beyonce's vocal style, but rather bringing a sultry approach to a lyrically shallow song. Sultry is a word you'll think of often with this album. The title track gets you in the mood with Stanley Baird's signature saxophone style. My guess is that you'll be hearing more from Yolanda Rabun in the near future. "So Real" has already garnered attention in some music circles; I suspect that circle will expand as time goes on. The album is definitely worth checking out. If you're looking for a strong CD that's intelligent musically, vocally, and lyrically, than "So Real" is for you.

— Gabriel Rich, SoulInterviews.com

“Proven Album. Yolanda Rabun quite successfully works full-time as a woman barrister but is also a complete entertainer and with her new project, So Real, Yolanda has allowed for soul and jazz to blossom in a beautiful combination that takes place in a near perfect merger of styles. So Real has an earthy roughness which provides for a strong delivery of the vocal and accompanying instruments. The guitar delivers and sometimes brilliantly in heavy solos while Stanley Baird and his cronies ensure the jazz side of the album that masters on the soul side of life. The songs chosen for So Real, including So Real is a perfect entry for the album and summarizes the music to follow in a smooth swinging groove. The single So Real is joined by a choice between soft jazz (including Sadao Watanabe), Destiny Child's Say My Name with a completely new emphasis and almost forgotten Dreaming (Ledesma's highlight of the smooth jazz genre). The album is proven and a good deal any way you look at it.”

— Joerg Michael Schmitt, SonicSoul

“One of those records that really grabs us right away – a contemporary soul set, but one with the depth of a classic from the late 70s – thanks partly to heartfelt vocals from Yoland Rabun, but also to some impeccable production that's right on the money! The record's got a way of getting smooth, yet still having a nice tight punch – a blend that's somewhere in the neighborhood of mid 70s Earth Wind & Fire, with a similar strength of jazzy instrumentation in the mix! Rabun's vocals push things, and really stretch out – making for a nice counterpoint to the well-hewn backings, on titles that include "Dreaming", "My True Love", "Marry You Again", "Set For Life", "The Good Wife", and "Say My Name".”

— Dusty Groove America

"delicious melodic composition"

— Private Reviewer

“- " Yolanda's voice could melt hearts, so very smooth and sultry. Her R & B vibes really worked fine and I found her voice faultless."”

— Private Firm Review

“- " So Real is superb, doesn't get a lot better than this!" ”

— Private Review

“ - " So Real is so classy. I like the mixture of the voice and the saxophone and also the subtle sound of the piano in the background, elegance. All in all the instrumentation is great but the best part is Yolanda's voice and her passion. She really gives her all."”

— Private Review

“The track is a nod back to the days of MFSB and Jean Carne or Phyllis Hyman and Norman Conners...The mood is a slow groove and a mixture of Neo Soul and Smooth Jazz. You will like “So Real”.”

— Howard Burchette, Triangle Arts and Entertainment

“You are amazing”

— Facebook Fan

“got chills listening”

— YouTube

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Songs

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Play "So Real"

So Real

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Play "Set For Life"

Set For Life

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Play "Just Believe"

Just Believe

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Play "My True Love"

My True Love

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Play "I Want to Love You"

I Want to Love You

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Discography

Hold on to Your Dreams Released on Apr 16, 2013
Christmastime Released on Nov 27, 2012
So Real Released on Jul 19, 2011

Videos

Yolanda Rabun - Hold on to Your Dreams - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

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Shows

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Tue
May 14

Duke University
Durham, NC, US | 8:00pm
Duke University
Durham, NC, US
Tue May 14 8:00pm
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- Tickets
Tue
May 14

North Carolina Museum o…
Raleigh, NC, US | 8:00pm
North Carolina Museum of H...
Raleigh, NC, US
Tue May 14 8:00pm
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Tue
May 7

Duke Energy Center for …
Raleigh, NC, US | 7:30pm
Duke Energy Center for the ...
Raleigh, NC, US
Tue May 07 7:30pm
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Yolanda will be in Drowsy Chaperone with Broadway's Beth Leavel and American Idol's Clay Aiken for North Carolina Theatre
Mon
May 6

UNCs STV
Chapel Hill, NC, US | 5:00pm
UNCs STV
Chapel Hill, NC, US
Mon May 06 5:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
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Catch Yolanda on Black Issues Forum singing, and talking about new single and her law career! Black Issues Forum airs on UNC-TV Sundays at 11:30am with encore presentations Mondays at 5pm!
Sun
May 5

UNCs STV
Chapel Hill, NC, US | 11:30am
UNCs STV
Chapel Hill, NC, US
Sun May 05 11:30am
- Show Details
- Tickets
Details

Catch Yolanda on Black Issues Forum singing, and talking about new single and her law career! Black Issues Forum airs on UNC-TV Sundays at 11:30am with encore presentations Mondays at 5pm!

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Store

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Comments

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Yuli
Beautiful music!
Lenny Fleming
Dropped in to check the vibes!!!! Stayed to love the music!!!! Great Songs!!!! Great Sound!!!! Excellently Done!!!!
I love Jazzzzzzzzz
Nice!!! Amazing!!!! Classy!!!! Your my new blog topic!!!! Check it out!!!!!
Jacquescoley®
Hello Yolanda: Stopped by to check out 'So Real.' I also love Mills, Knight, Adams and the one and only Wilson. Cheers. J
Brii
Keep up the good work, I am your new fan ,want to show my support. Check my music too and show your support. Good luck.
Teneke Rochelle
Yolanda Rabun.,, her smooth caramel scented ,sultry, euphoric sound is a treat to my heart, soul and ears! I love her ministry of love and life through her God given gift of ...

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Questions

Ask Yolanda Rabun anything...

Q: How did you get started in music? Where were you when you when you first realized (or someone realized) you had a voice and a future in music?

A: I got started in music as a child singing songs my mother sang to me from Nina Simone and Nancy Wilson. I was 4 when imitating Gladys Knight and when folks discovered I had a voice and future in music. Thanks for asking.

Asked by anonymous. Answered on Wed Jan 30 2013

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