Jennifer Warnes

Jennifer Warnes grew up in Seattle, where her father's jazz background gave her an early ear for different styles. She started performing in local clubs as a teenager, and by the early 1970s she had signed with Arista Records and released her self-titled debut album.

Her work with Leonard Cohen became particularly well-known, especially on the album 'Famous Blue Raincoat' which featured her versions of his songs. She also recorded tracks like 'Ain't No Cure For Love' and 'Coming Back To You' that showed her ability to inhabit a lyric with quiet intensity rather than dramatic flourish.

In 1987, her involvement in the film 'The Last Temptation of Christ' drew criticism from some religious groups, though she stood by the project. Her singing has always had a direct, unadorned quality that works whether she's interpreting other writers' material or writing her own songs like 'Somewhere, Somebody'.