Ann Whittington
Singer/songwriter Ann Whittington has been on the Santa Cruz music scene for many years. Born in Liverpool, England to an Irish mother and a father from the hills of West Virginia, her early influences were Irish folk and country music. "The fact that I stumbled into the jazz realms is not that far-fetched, I recognized in the jazz singer an archetype of the story teller, and this resonated with me."
Ann has two cd's with her band Caravan of original music. She is a featured vocalist with the band Warmth and is on two compilations of their music. As well as being featured on three of the Santa Cruz Jazz Society's Jazz compilations.
Over the years Ann has performed in many bebop musicals, written by local jazz musician/playwright Don McCaslin. These were always sold out events.
Ann also wrote and produced a one hour radio documentary on the Blues Queens entitled Seeds of Struggle, Flowers of Inspiration. This show placed into historical context the lives of the Blues Queens and was aired on National Public Radio.
Ann currently lives in Felton, Ca. With her husband and co-creator Phil Smith.
Phil Smith
Saxophonist/Flutist Phil Smith has toured with - among others - Bill Haley and His Comets, Martha Reeves (minus the Vandellas) and Gary "U.S." Bonds. His travels have taken him to distant corners of the world, but he now happily resides in a tree house among the redwoods in the little town of Felton, California, where he designs web sites like this.
