Tracey Whitney

A former Ray Charles "Raelette," Tracey Whitney began singing professionally at age 11 as a member of her family singing group, The Whitney Family, an ensemble that included her mother, Louise Whitney, and seven siblings, Glynn, Nick, Phillip, Ellis Ray, Cozette (Cookie), and twins Louise and Louanda. From 1971 - 2000, the Whitney Family toured the U.S. and abroad, played Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe (opening for acts like Debbie Reynolds), and shared the stage with Ginger Rogers, Donny and Marie Osmond and even former First Lady, Nancy Reagan. They recorded albums for Warner Curb Records (AIRWAYS featured Let Me Be Your Woman, a Billboard magazine Top Singles Pick), and United Artists Records. They made guest appearances on several local and national TV shows, including Burt Sugarman's famed The Midnight Special (1975) and The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars (1980), and were featured in several teen magazines, most notably Tiger Beat and Right On! As a solo artist, Whitney's mother, Louise Whitney, also performed He Said He Loves Me on the soundtrack to The Lost Man (1969) starring Sidney Poitier, and the Emmy award nominated Early In The Morning from Minstrel Man (1977) starring Glynn Turman. Whitney struck out on her own at age 22, becoming a hit nightclub act in Los Angeles before landing her role as a Raelette in Ray Charles' 1991 tour of the United States. In 1995, she won a featured spot on Barrymore in Hollywood, British TV show host Michael Barrymore's American special. From late 1995-2000 she lived in Japan, a highly sought-after solo performer in various nightclubs and hotels in Tokyo, Yokohama and Tokushima. During this period, she also did session work or performed in concert with Japanese superstars Sing Like Talking, Namie Amuro and Tokiko Kato. In 2006, Whitney launched Babydoll Entertainment & Records, releasing two critically acclaimed CD's; Love... A Fable In 9 Acts (2007) and I Am Singing... Songs I Love (2012). She relocated to Albuquerque, NM in 2012 to open her BabyDoll's House of Jazz & Blues club.