Sure New Orleans is renowned as a music haven and certainly names like the Neville Brothers,    The Dixie Cups, and Jean Knight quickly come to mind. But recently a young lady who has shared the stage with these great notables is making her own thunder.

Grace Darling started the piano at age seven and later joined the choir and school band on saxophone. She also spent her summers acting in local theater and studied dance as well. By age 13 she had decided to pursue a career as a musician, vocalist and songwriter. Her dedication to this was quickly rewarded and by the time she was 18 Grace had toured Europe, Costa Rica, and performed twice at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Since then, Grace has grown into a respected solo and session artist in her home town of New Orleans where she has been drawing the attention of the music industry throughout the world. She has entertained everyone from the President of the United States to throngs of fans at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival where she is a regular performer.

She can be seen at local venues, both large and small, and in places as far away as Singapore or as close as Dallas. And when she isn't busy spreading her N'Awlins flavored music, which she describes as "Pop Gumbo", you can usually find her writing or recording something fresh and new. And now Grace Darling fans really have something to be excited about... the long awaited release of her first CD, Imaginary Lover, under the wing of legendary producer and songwriter Allen Toussaint. 

With Darlings' power house band backing her and special contributions by Al Kooper and Sonny Landreth, this debut on NYNO Records is first class all the way, presenting Grace's talent and original style of music creatively. But her uniqueness is not just that she happens to be a  beautiful woman who plays the "heck" out of a saxophone, or that she sings with all her heart and soul... it's that Grace is one of those rare performers who can reach out and literally grab an audience... drawing them into whatever emotion, whatever message, that she is trying to convey. Be it one of her hard funk numbers reminiscent of The Meters, or a torchy love song... you will always feel the underlying influence of her hometown. No matter where you hear or see Grace Darling, you know you are in a little piece of N'Awlins.