Renowned Jazz Vocalist. Devoted Mother. Spiritual Therapist.
Jazz singer Denise Thimes commands every stage she stands on with confidence and warmth.
As an entertainer for three decades, her lush and brilliant voice places her in the ranks of Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and Billie Holiday. As an actress, she has received eight Woodie Awards (named after Freedom Theatre Founder Woodie King) for her acting roles and musical performances.
In creating a strong family, Thimes dedicated herself to son Jabril, a graduate of Moorehouse College, and to daughter Simone, a ballerina who danced with the National Ballet Company. She is also the founder and executive director of the Mildred Thimes Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, working tirelessly to educate and create awareness about the disease that caused her mother’s death in 1997.
She discovered her gift for singing at age 7, with a solo of “O Tannenbaum,” at church. Singing continued at New Sunny Mount Baptist Church, where she was instructed by choral director Ronald Metcalfe, a former Broadway performer. Her musical career was also influenced by her father, Lou “Fatha” Thimes, a pioneer radio DJ, known for playing the blues.
Confidence exudes so easily from Thimes, you wouldn’t know how hard she fought to achieve it, but the rewards have been worth the struggle. She was a gospel singer until voice polyps made her move to jazz, which causes less wear and tear on the vocal chords. The singer has performed with Tony Bennett and Wynton Marsalis, among many jazz greats. She has sung for the Queen of England, President George W. Bush and for her idol Aretha Franklin’s 71st birthday party – an occasion which made her exclaim: “Stick a fork in me because I’m completely done!”
I have spiritual intuition.
I am able to recognize when somebody is in pain because I’ve been there. Once in New York City on the train, there was a young lady with two children – not well kept – whose boyfriend was on the phone yelling at her. God nudged me to give her my last $20 (which I needed to take a cab to the airport). Afterward, a calm and peacefulness befell her.
We’re all God’s ambassadors.
If we’re not here to help each other, then what are we here for? God shows me my purpose and who to help. My love of God came from my grandmother, Mary, whom we called “Big Mom.” Her words and teachings had such influence. She gave me the idea of vengeful God until I eventually reached my own understanding of God.
My mother never ever raised her voice.
She was the most beautiful woman, both inside and out. Her love for family, for her husband, and for her mother made her powerful. She taught me to do things right the first time. So when my kids complained that their friends didn’t have to do all the things that they had to do, I said, “You are going to be aliens amongst your peers.”
I can finally say I am a successful singer.
My grandma taught us to be humble, so for a long time it was hard to feel good about my success. As a singer, I’m proud that people come to my concerts and events and love to hear me sing. And I appreciate all the people who made my career possible. I don’t take their support lightly. I appreciate the Stewards, the Kranzbergs, Ameren, Enterprise, Centene, BJC and so many more.
I am loving me some me – every single curve.
By fifth grade I already looked different from the other kids. My dad was 6 feet, 2 inches, and my mom was 6 feet, 1 inch. It’s taken me 40 years to see my gorgeousness. To all my voluptuous, curvy girls, we rock. Don’t body-compare yourself to anyone. Stop allowing yourself to be manipulated by things and people who aren’t real.
“You couldn’t be me for a day.”
That’s what I say – very gently – to my friends of different persuasions when we discuss Black Lives Matter. They don’t understand how much discrimination there is in little things – just existing – going to the bank, to the hotel, grocery store, getting on an airplane. That’s why I’m so tough.
