Deanna Knight, known to all simply as D, has a voice that has been described as "sultry," "as smooth as fine whiskey," and "unmistakable." But, having worked with George Koller (Holy Cole, Loreena McKennitt) Gary Craig (Anne Murray, Jann Arden) and Richard Bell (Janis Joplin, The Band), performed as a lead soloist in a 60-piece choir, co-founded a theatre company, run her own record label and singing telegram service, and headed a Gypsy jazz band, D is more than just a voice—she's done it all.
D grew up in Bowmanville, Ontario, where her musical career began young. She studied voice and musical theory, performed in many musical theatre productions and Kiwanis competitions, and was chosen as a lead vocalist for The Oshawa Festival Singers, a 60-piece choir.
As the years passed, the importance of music and musical theatre in her life was unwavering and D racked up two recordings, numerous television appearances, and two European tours. She went on to co-found The Eclectic Theatre Company in Jasper, Alberta, and also attended Sheridan College's Musical Theatre Program.
While still quite young, D lent her vocal talents to Pete Webb's CD Mileage, and in later years to Craig Cardiff's Judy Garland and Scott Deneau's August Moon.
Founding Balloon-a-Toons, an event-decorating and singing-telegram service (which she ran for 13 years), overlapped with D co-finding the high-energy Canadian jam band the Fat Cats. The Fat Cats appeared at Hillside Festival, Festival of Friends and on Much Music, played endless club shows, and released Cruelty's Cure, recorded at Grant Avenue Studios. D also took on the band's booking, publicity, and managerial duties.
From there she went on to pursue her solo career, documenting her songwriting with two à cappella albums. They feature her raw talent in the form of her lyrical depth, soulful melodies, and golden voice. During this time D was also a guest vocalist with Durham's Swing Shift and Waterloo's Escape Pods.
Before long she was asked to join the 15-piece big band Classic Swing Orchestra. After three years of inspiring people to throw each other in the air on the dance floor, D released her first full length solo album, Shadow of a Star, co-produced by the award-winning George Koller and featuring cream-of-the-crop talents Gary Craig, Richard Bell, Oliver Schroer, Carlos del Junco and more.
D has always had a love for great talent and through her own independent recording and production company SheMoon Music Canada, D produced a variety of cabaret style events, showcasing the talents of Serena Ryder, Jenny Whiteley, and Aengus Finnan, to name but a few.
In 2001 D joined forces with Vancouver's Hot Club of Mars, now known fittingly as D & The Hot Club of Mars. Performing "swingin' Gypsy jazz," the acoustic 7-piece performs toe-tapping Gypsy jazz tunes from the 20s, 30s, and 40s alongside their own originals—some of which D writes. Now, eight years later, the band is still going strong and has been described as "brilliant woodwind and guitar work, gorgeous vocals, and scintillating arrangements" by Steve Edge of The Rogue Folk Club. And The Chief's Steve Hill says, "Chanteuse Deanna Knight adds just the right sultry vocal spice to the mix, adding energy and sex appeal to the band's infectious rhythms, making The Hot Club of Mars one of the most fun bands to see live."
Over her long and varied career, Deanna Knight (you can call her D) has been just about everywhere and done just about everything. She seems to have settled nicely into D & The Hot Club of Mars and is also now a mother. Now it is time to nurturing her solo career once again, but who knows where she'll be or what she'll be doing next. Not knowing is half the fun of this talented artist. One thing is for certain—whatever she does, she'll be singing.