Carol Vasquez
Carol Vasquez grew up in a house that was filled with music, especially her mother’s glorious singing voice. Although Carol’s mother did not sing professionally, her voice had a strong and lasting impact on Carol’s pursuit of music. Carol started singing and acting in grade school where her natural talent and inherited voice landed her all the leading roles in the productions at school and local theater.
Carol majored in Theater and received her BA at Wagner College, Staten Island, NY. Once again she was selected to play leading roles in professional quality productions of Once Upon a Mattress, Guys and Dolls, Carnival, The Robber Bridegroom and Romeo and Juliet.
It was a seamless move from there into Equity productions of children theater tours with Producer’s Foundation Theater for Young Audiences. Carol then performed in summer stock and regional companies, as Maria in West Side Story, Eva Peron in Evita, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance as well as leading roles in Hello Dolly, Out Of This World and Nine with these same companies. At that time, she also could be found performing in a number of feature films (ie: Woody Allen’s Radio Days and Crocodile Dundee) as well as spots in the soap opera The Guiding Light.
Executive Director/Choreographer for New York City Theatrical Events, Joe Lanteri chose Carol as a featured vocalist for his live industrial shows and special events. Clients have ranged from IBM and Schering-Plough to Rite-Aid among many others. Here she shared the stage with noted Broadway performers Andrea McCartle (original Annie), Tony Award winner Lee Roy Reams, Michael-Demby Caine (Smokey Joe's Café), which went on to tour Tokyo, Istanbul, the Caribbean as well as many International Cruises. Carol also performed her own one-woman show Broadway at Sea on the S.S. Rotterdam during that time period.
Carol, while raising her two fantastic boys, found a way to sing and stay here at home in the New York area, when she was discovered by some of the most successful New York bands and orchestras giving her the opportunity to perform in such venues as The Rainbow Room, Waldorf Astoria, Plaza Hotel, Metropolitan Club, Copacabana to name a few. Carol has worked with great musicians and vocalists such as Dave Stryker, Andrew Lippman (Tonight Show), Joe Caroselli (Looking Glass), Dan Sovak (Sesame Street), Jimmy Brown (Guitar World Magazine), Judy Palma Albano (James Taylor), Don Giantomasi (The Temptations). Working with these fine musicians helped to produce a love and appreciation for jazz and American Standards. Listening to the soulful sounds of Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald strongly influenced Carol’s singing.
Carol’s debut CD I Have Dreamed, was released in the Fall of 2011. Collaborating with Jan Stevens, producer, pianist and arranger, they accomplished a creative and beautiful project. This compilation of songs from the American Songbook, Broadway and pop music as well as an original work by Carol and Jan features performances by jazz greats, guitarists Dave Stryker and Charlie Hunter as well as Vinny Cutro, Ray Monte, Bailey Gee in addition to an outstanding cast of players.
Carol had become inspired to branch out as a songwriter, and has been writing and performing original music for Sunday services at Unity of Montclair, where she is currently music director. Her new CD consists of all original material in a variety of styles: pop, jazz, rock, doo-wop and even a little disco thrown in for good measure! Carol states that, "It has been so much fun creating this music, and it is my hope that these songs will help to spread uplifting and positive messages to a world that could use a little “joy boost!”