As a creative talent, Stevie Wonder is nearly untouchable; his distinctive soulful expressions and honeyed melodies are nearly impossible to reach. Yet Boston, MA-based vocalist Kimberly Keating not only covers Wonder's 1985 smash “Overjoyed" on her new album, but she spikes it with a Latin twist that reinvigorates the song. Furthermore, Keating's crystalline delivery echoes the awe-inspiring prettiness of the original. Her performance on that tune alone, which she also named the record after, reveals her deep-seated affection for music. “Singing has always come easily for me, and I have loved music and singing for as long as I can remember," she explained. “For me, it's a way to express myself. I believe the best singers are true artists, meaning that they can deliver a song and you feel it deep within."
A professional singer for over 20 years, Keating chose to cover some of the classics that have inspired and influenced her throughout her career. Keating's version of the Carpenters' 1974 “I Won't Last a Day Without You" features some of her most heartbreaking vocals, a mournful ache that recalls the late Karen Carpenter's emotional desperation. “When I was growing up in the '70s, I loved Karen Carpenter," Keating revealed. “I still do. To me, she has such a beautifully pure voice, and I wanted to sing just like her."
Although jazz and pop icons played a huge role in her evolution as a vocalist, Keating feels her teachers deserve substantial credit as well. “I was very blessed throughout my school years with the most wonderful teachers," Keating said. “Shirley Smith was my first music teacher at Kennedy Elementary School, and when I was 8 or 9 I joined the chorus. In high school, I met another great instructor, Dr. Paul Cox, who in later years became a true mentor and a friend. Once I started college, I continued vocal lessons with Eunice Alberts."
A professional singer for over 20 years, Keating chose to cover some of the classics that have inspired and influenced her throughout her career. Keating's version of the Carpenters' 1974 “I Won't Last a Day Without You" features some of her most heartbreaking vocals, a mournful ache that recalls the late Karen Carpenter's emotional desperation. “When I was growing up in the '70s, I loved Karen Carpenter," Keating revealed. “I still do. To me, she has such a beautifully pure voice, and I wanted to sing just like her."
Although jazz and pop icons played a huge role in her evolution as a vocalist, Keating feels her teachers deserve substantial credit as well. “I was very blessed throughout my school years with the most wonderful teachers," Keating said. “Shirley Smith was my first music teacher at Kennedy Elementary School, and when I was 8 or 9 I joined the chorus. In high school, I met another great instructor, Dr. Paul Cox, who in later years became a true mentor and a friend. Once I started college, I continued vocal lessons with Eunice Alberts."
