Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Albert
Hi Carol, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
A rural town like Hiram, Georgia may not seem a likely start or an international recording artist, but that is exactly where I started. In early childhood, I loved nothing better than to share the piano bench with my grandmother. “My grandmother lost an arm to cancer, so she played the bass with her left hand and taught me to play the treble with my right. She also composed songs in her sleep and taught them to me. In sharing her melodies, my grandmother imparted her love for me as well as her love of music.” As my music experiences grew, so did my love for classical piano. I earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Georgia State University, and then embarked on a music career which has led me to national and international experiences.
Currently I’m recording my 11th Studio Album to be released in 2025 and Performing Shows across the US. The most current hit Single “Sunshine Yellow” featuring Peter White hit #1 on Billboard Charts and stayed on the Chart for 23 weeks in 2024. Other recent Albums “Magic Mirror”, “Stronger Now”, and “Fly Away Butterfly” have gained national recognition with three #1 Billboard Hits and 12 Top 10 Billboard Hits. Some describe my music as unique in that it draws from my classical training to create a blend of melodic contemporary jazz and rhythmic grooves. I’m very grateful that fans have streamed my music on Spotify to accumulate over 13 million streams on the Album “Stronger Now” and my monthly listeners keep growing.
A little background from my Bio… “Before breaking through to the greatest commercial success of her career with a high energy twist on the classic “Mas Que Nada” (from her “Fly Away Butterfly” album) in 2017, the classically trained pianist, composer and producer received an Emmy nomination for her acclaimed work composing for television and released a multitude of recordings whose vibes range from singer/songwriter to solo piano arrangements and improvisations. .She was a Baldwin Artist alongside the likes of Bily Joel and Bruce Hornsby. Her 2019 . 2020 and 2022 nominations for Artist of the Year by the Smooth Jazz Network (alongside genre luminaries like Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson) cap a dynamic roll over the past few years. These include an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) nomination for Best Jazz Song (“Femme Flight”); designation as Georgia Composer of the Year by the National Women Pen’s League Association in 2018; a nomination for Best New Artist 2017 by Smooth Jazz Network; and an HMMA Best Contemporary Instrumental nomination for “Transition”; and an Alkahest Award for her “Mas Que Nada” video in 2016.In addition, her composition “Lovely Time for a Child” won a first place award in the Professional Jazz category from the Atlanta Songwriter’s Association, and she won in the New Age Category of the 2016 Global Peace Song Awards for “Dreamer,” a song from her 2015 album Christmas Mystique.
Over recent years audiences have enjoyed her performances at Myrons Jazz at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, the Lyman Center in Connecticut, Berks Music Festival, PA , Elmira Music Festival NY, Middle C Jazz Club, Suite Lounge Atlanta, Catalina Jazz Trax Festival, Brass City Music Festival, and City Winery to name a few.”
I started out with early pop/rock club dates out of college and gigged basically every week of my life.
While I was in college I served as a staff accompanist for the Georgia State University Music Department (my alma mater), Agnes Scott College and the Atlanta Ballet. When I graduated I started playing for trade shows, corporations, organizations and public venues. An opportunity came along to play overseas on Cruise Line out of France and also toured Northern Europe in Sweden and Germany three separate tours.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Music is not for the faint of heart. There have been many ups and downs in my music career as with life. Studying Classical Music in college was demanding and rigorous and required a lot of discipline to graduate with a Performance & Music Education Degree. Playing Clubs after college was also an entry into a world I knew nothing about but learned to be flexible and resilient as well as a work ethic to show up, do my best, and do what I said I would do. I had a Recording Contract that fell through after 2 Albums and never received a penny of royalties from the company. But I moved forward and was fortunate to work consistently but finances were always on my mind. In 2007 I broke my ring finger and had to have two surgeries and wear a cast for 6 months. When the cast came off I couldn’t move my left hand fingers and had to rehabilitate that hand to be able to play again. With many experiences traveling I learned about gratitude for the great things in my life and all the wonderful people I met to offset any of the difficulties I experienced. I started my own label and have been able to write my own music and manage my own career. .
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally I am a Pianist, Composer, Recording Artist, Producer and Educator. I specialize in writing and recording my own music in many styles. I am most known for my contemporary Jazz recordings. I bring many different elements to my music creating a landscape of different styles mixed to create a blend of melodies , creative arrangements and rhythms.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My definition of success has changed over the years. I used to think it meant being famous and making a lot of money. My definition of success now means I find joy and fulfillment in my work while I can do what I love while making enough money to live on. Validation is nice with Achievements and Recognition but it doesn’t change who I am as a person.
I feel fortunate to enjoy a musician’s lifestyle over the years while also being a wife and mom, One of the things I’ve loved most about my success as a smooth jazz artist is the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the fans who tell me how much my music means to them. It’s been very rewarding to see how my music has resonated, and the radio airplay and appreciation from listeners are a wonderful confirmation that I’m on a strong creative path and achieving my goals on this very personal quest.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolalbertmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/carolalbertmusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/Carol-Albert-Music/609716262476270?fref=ts
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolAlbertMusi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@carolalbertmusic
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/jkknQ6CVKbDRVtmK7
- Other: https://pinterest.com/CarolAlbertMus
Image Credits
Mil Cannon Photography
Tracy Paige Photography
Ed Foster
