Avis Harrell
Vocalist AVIS HARRELL is a Pop, R&B, and Jazz vocalist out of Washington D.C. AVIS comes from a very musical family of four children that were all trained by their Mother who still sings in her local choir in D.C. AVIS has studied with the best of the best but mostly was inspired by her Mother, Althea Harrell, Father, Tim Harrell, Sisters, Mia, Ayana, dancer Brother Tim and many professionals.
Yet I can truly say that she should take much of the responsibility for becoming all that she has become. As a child, AVIS sang in many plays at Garfield Elementary School where it was discovered that she had a very powerful and strong voice for a child. Starting Jr.High School, AVIS performed with her friends in talent shows and just before graduating joined a group called “The Blue Mystics” who fashioned themselves to be like Glayds Knight and The Pips and she did her first night club appearence.
As a young teen, she also sang with her Sisters in a recording group on RCA called “The Fawns”. She then went on to win the city beauty pageant and became “MISS BLACK AMERICA D.C.” She soon moved to Los Angeles where she starred in a musical called “Marjorie”. From there, Stevie Wonder sent her to the best vocal coaches in Los Angeles where she studied voice and piano with Seith Riggs, Vince Perrillo, and Roger Love. She also studied under the guidelines of Leonard Reed (The Apollo Legend for The Shim-Sham-Shimmy) and Phil Moore of The Phil Moore Workshop.
Under the management of her Mother and Alfred Parker, her first notoriety as a young recording artist was with her Sisters (The Fawns) as they recorded, performed and traveled the East Coast performing many local hits written and produced with some of music’s greats such as Max Kid, The Main Ingredients, Freddie Perrin, Eugine Todd, Bernard Gibson, Buzzie Willis of RCA, Fontz Mizzelle and many others. Some of their songs mostly lead by middle sister Ayana Harrell and a few by AVIS were Problem Child, Bless You, Wish You Were Here With Me, Our Melody, Is It Too Early, Girl In Trouble, The Other Woman, and I Like What You’re Doing, just to name a few.
AVIS has done back up recordings with Lamont Dosier on his “Bitter Sweet” album as well as has written for other artist such as the song “Sugar Froster Lover” for the artist “Flakes and “Boys Ain’t Nothin’ But a Bother” for the sister duo “Two Cute” and “Skin Tight Pants” for the artist Harold Green.
Still climbing and seeking apprenticeship with more established artists, AVIS did back up work, tours, and recordings with Ray Charles and Wayne Newton. KCET Television paid a tribute to Ray Charles and The Raelettes in a concert filmed a few years before his passing in Canada with “The Edmondson Symphony Orchestra”. During her 2 1/2 year tenure, AVIS recorded America The Beautiful with Ray Charles live at this concert. That DVD is in stores now.
While keeping busy and being the opportunist she is AVIS then joined Wayne Newton’s organization. When offered the job from Mr. Newton, she performed as the lead singer of his back up group, The Jive Sisters for 2 1/2 years as well. The high point of her stint with Wayne Newton was a soul stirring beautifully stylized rendition of “Endless Love” on Jerry Lewis’ Telethon filmed at Caesars’ Palace.
