Janiva Magness

In many ways, the fascinating life story of singer-songwriter Janiva Magness reads like fiction. The Detroit-born singer, whose early life was marred by a series of deeply tragic events, eventually found salvation as an underage attendee of an Otis Rush show, one that she points to as a critical turning point in her life. Since then, Magness has fashioned herself into one of today’s finest blues and Americana performers, releasing 15 albums and collecting some of the industry’s most prestigious awards. In 2009, the Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, making her only the second woman to be so honored. Magness has also earned seven Blues Music Awards with 26 similar nominations, an indication of both her excellence and longevity. Her tumultuous life, which has included periods of immense peaks and valleys, clearly informs her stirring music, which is founded on her strong voice and passionate phrasing.