Glenda's musical talent ranges from songwriter, producer to vocalist and entertainer. She loves combining musical styles from around the world, whether it be the Qawwali music of Pakistan, North African Rai, sultry Latin rhythms, or pure Oakland R&B grooves, her music conveys a story of passion that takes you from one end of the globe to the other.
Her lyrics speak the words that are unspoken. She is best known for her lyrical arrangements that speak about the day after. Truly spellbinding in both her lyrical approach to songwriting and her mesmerizing vocal ability, she charms her audience with her sultry raw sound towards an angelic heavenly cadence. Her four octave vocal range is only part of her voice's versatility. Like the classic Jazz divas of old, Glenda captures a powerful mystique that enraptures her audience.
Glenda has sung with house-hold superstars such as Toto and Teddy Pendergrass. She has also collaborated with many top Producers and Songwriters including two-time Grammy winner Tony Saunders who has helped shape the musical careers of many stars including Eric Clapton, Patti Labelle and Stevie Wonder; Simon Britton and the Red Rhythm writing and production team who produced super stars such as Ashanti, Eminem and Sting; Gospel great Howard McCrary who has worked with Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan, to name a few; and James McKinney who musically helped brand Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore and Chaka Khan.
Releasing her first album in 2000, "Completion" fused both R & B and jazz. J. Michael Rivera of The Daily California stated, "(Completion) is a smooth blend that uplifts the spirit and calms the nerves." Glenda collaborated with songwriters James McKinney, Howard McCrary, John Sanders, and Michael Allen Harrison for her self-produced album, "Feed Your Soul" (2004). The album is an eclectic mix of R&B, Soul, World, and Latin sounds. From the political anthem "Liberate Me", inspired by the treatment of the women in Afghanistan, to the sultry "Black Raven" about an unrequited love affair, Glenda's heartfelt lyrics touch upon the unspoken. With soulful vocals and danceable beats, her words capture the essence of what she truly believes is her purpose for inspiring audiences. Her intention is to give her audience something that rests their soul and helps heal some part inside of them.
Whether it's about love or politics, Glenda's haunting and uplifting lyrics define humanity and offer a new vision for a better world. A tireless advocate for many causes including cancer research and peace activism, Glenda is constantly supporting organizations through benefit concerts, including the Sulha Peace Project and the Rainforest Action Network, to name a few.
She performs all around the world including such venues as the Cannes Film Festival, The Brava Theater in San Francisco, The Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.
History Trivia:
Born in Oakland, California, to the parents of Italian (father) and Scottish/English (mother) decent, Glenda had an unrelenting desire to be a musician at the early age of 14. Her professional singing career started at the age of 16, where she began singing in weddings and then with several popular bands out of the Pacific Northwest (Calvin Walker band, 1-800 band). She enrolled in a community college to major in music, but found herself pulled away when an opportunity appeared to tour with a rock band throughout Canada. Eventually, she toured the Western States and the entire Pacific Rim from Barstow to Anchorage and Seoul to Tokyo. During this time, she sang nearly every night for 10 years, which gave her the experiences to help shape her unique musical sound, mixing Jazz, R & B, Middle Eastern, Latin and many world influences.