Ola Hemphill is a unique and versatile vocalist and pianist who has performed in the Detroit area for several years. Her performance credits include being band leader of an all female contemporary jazz band in the 1980's. She was also one of the keyboard players for the hit gospel play, Perilous Times, that was performed at the Fisher theatre and Music Hall throughout the 1990's and early 2000's. During the play run she had an opportunity to meet several famous actors and singers who were contracted by her playwright brother, T.J. Hemphill, writer, director and producer of Perilous Times. The hit list of actors and singers included such names as Tommy Ford from the Martin Show, Lawrence Jacobs from Welcome Back Carter, John Amos from West Wing and the tv series Men In Trees, gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Vickie Winans, Karen Clark-Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and the versatile Deniece Williams.

During the 1980's Ola had the opportunity to hear famous and now deceased jazz vocalist Betty Carter perform at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, MI. Ola immediately fell in love with Betty's creative singing style. This experience reinforced Ola's desire to study jazz piano with several well-known pianists that included Ben Jones Sr. and Teddy Harris Jr. (both deceased), Charles Boles and Matt Michaels. Ola also persued vocal studies with Frances Brockington and Kay Aerts. In 1992 Ola had an opportunity to interact vocally with Betty Carter during a jazz vocal workshop being conducted by Carter prior to Carter's performing in the 13th Annual Montreaux Detroit Jazz Festival (Sept. 7, 1992). Ola says, "Betty Carter gave me the highest compliment I will probably ever receive as a singer when she said 'You have a wonderful sound.' I was fortunate to have the interaction captured on videotape." When Betty Carter died in 1998 Ola was asked to sing at Baker's Keyboard Lounge for a channel 50 newscast videotaping that was prepared to air information about Carter's death. When aired, Ola was shown at the beginning of the newscast singing an excerpt of the jazz classic 'You Go To My Head.' The excerpt continued into the beginning of a presentation that showed former president Bill Clinton presenting Carter with a Congressional Medal for accomplishments in jazz. Ola says, "There are no words to describe how honored I was to be asked to participate in a newscast about Betty Carter who to this day continues to be my favorite jazz singer." 

Ola's jazz piano studies have proven to be a major factor in her ability to sing and scat jazz. Ola says, "I learned years ago that I have perfect pitch. I'm sure this and the fact that I play piano contribute to my ability to sing and scat jazz. I also hear so many interesting patterns and notes in chords played by wonderful jazz musicians. Having the opportunity to scat with many of these musicians that include world famous saxophonist James Carter and world renown trumpeter Marcus Belgrave has certainly contributed to my ability to scat the way I do." Although she chooses not to perform on a regular basis, Ola currently has a reputation for being one of the most serious and versatile jazz singers in the Detroit metro area.

Ola's performance as a jazz vocalist includes performing at Baker's Keyboard Lounge throughout 1997 into early 1998 with a jazz quartet that featured Charles Boles on piano. She was also featured in the March 1999 issue of the Jazz Quarterly Magazine. Her most recent performances include singing on a 'Motown Sings Gospel Concert', August 21, 2005. Famed singers who also participated on this concert included Duke Fakir of The Four Tops, Bobby Rogers of The Miracles, Annette Sterling and Rosalind Ashford of The Original Vandellas and Al Chisholm of The Contours. Actress Roz Ryan who just happened to be in the audience appreciatively referred to Ola as 'Scattarina' after hearing her 'scat' on a gospel/jazz tune that was arranged by Ola. Performance credits also include performing in the jazz opera, Murder At The Ford Rouge Plant. (The Millennium Theater, Southfield, MI, 2005)

Ola currently participates in a weekly jazz jam session at Bert's Market Plce, Detroit, MI. She is one of several performers who host the jam session yearly and is scheduled to host this year on June 24th. Ola is also completing her first recording project that's scheduled to be released summer 2010. The gospel jazz & jazz CD, In The Mix, will feature Ola utilizing all of her vocal and piano stylings that originated with gospel music, progressed to rhythm and blues and now straight up jazz. The project will include original songs that were written and arranged by Ola. She says, "This is a creative venture I've looked forward to for a long time as I continually define and redefine myself vocally. It's important to give audiences something fresh and meaningful to hear. With the help of my producer, gospel and jazz pianist Demetrius Nabors who has captured my arrangements in a very creative and exciting way, I will accomplish this goal."

Ola feels blessed after retiring from Detroit Public Schools in 2001 to have the opportunity to focus on education and entertainment goals. She says, "I love my work as a classroom management consultant who's helping so many teachers improve their opportunity to teach and as a performer who has so many people interested in what I do. It's a wonderful challenge to balance my time to do both. I have the best of two worlds and hope to continue what I'm doing for many years to come."

Information for upcoming performances will be posted on this website. To receive infomation about Ola's upcoming performances please sign the guest book accompanied by your request. 

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