Jennifer Warnes (born March 3, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer renowned for her emotive alto voice and contributions to film soundtracks, backup vocals for major artists, and interpretive covers of contemporary songs.[1][2][3]Born in Seattle, Washington, and raised in Anaheim, California, Warnes displayed an early talent for singing, performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" publicly at age seven and becoming a local favorite by age ten, though her father declined an initial recording offer on her behalf.[1][4][5] Influenced by the 1960s folk revival and artists like Joan Baez, she honed her skills in Los Angeles clubs before signing with Parrot Records in 1968 and releasing her debut album, I Can Remember Everything (also released as Jennifer), which featured covers of songs by Joni Mitchell and others but did not chart commercially.[3][6][7]Warnes gained prominence in the 1970s as a prolific backup vocalist for artists including Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, and Leonard Cohen, while releasing solo albums like Jennifer Warnes (1977), which included the hit "Right Time of the Night," and Shot Through the Heart (1979).[8][9] Her breakthrough came with soundtrack work, singing "It Goes Like It Goes" for the 1979 film Norma Rae, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1980.[10][3] This led to further successes, including the 1982 duet "Up Where We Belong" with Joe Cocker for An Officer and a Gentleman, which topped charts worldwide, won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1983, and sold over four million copies.[4][2][11]In 1987, Warnes achieved another global #1 with "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," a duet with Bill Medley for Dirty Dancing, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and another Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, while the soundtrack sold over 32 million copies.[4][2][11] She also released the critically acclaimed tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat (1986), featuring Leonard Cohen's songs, which received platinum certification.[12][13] Later solo efforts include The Hunter (1992), The Well (2001), and Another Time, Another Place (2018), a collection of covers by artists such as Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Mark Knopfler, and John Legend.[12][14][15] Over her five-decade career, Warnes has earned three Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Grammys, and numerous soundtrack contributions to films like When Harry Met Sally... and Twilight Zone: The Movie.[10][2]
Personal life
Early life
Jennifer Warnes was born on March 3, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, and soon after moved with her family to Anaheim, California, where she was raised.[4][1] She grew up in a supportive family environment, with her father passing away when she was 11 years old and her mother providing strong encouragement for her musical interests. Warnes had three sisters—two of whom later passed away—and one brother.[16] By the age of 10, she had become a popular performer in church and community concerts in the Anaheim area, making her public debut at age seven singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, wrapped in the American flag and accompanied by 300 accordions.[4][17][1]During her childhood in the 1950s, Warnes was exposed to the emerging folk music revival, which profoundly shaped her early artistic development. She drew inspiration from figures like Joan Baez and the Greenwich Village folk scene, gravitating toward folk as her primary mode of expression despite training in opera. She attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Due to her strong Catholic faith, she briefly entered a convent after graduating in 1965 before pursuing music. In her teenage years, she participated actively in Southern California's local folk and theatre communities, performing in light opera productions and starring in school plays while honing her skills in professional theatre around the region.[3][9][4][18][19]As a teenager, Warnes immersed herself in the folk scene, forming a musical duo with Doug Rowell and sharing stages with emerging talents such as Jackson Browne and José Feliciano. After graduating from high school, she forwent an opera scholarship to Immaculate Heart College and theatre opportunities in favor of pursuing a career in folk music. Her father's rejection of an early recording contract offer when she was seven years old allowed her to develop her talents more organically during these formative years.[4][20][16]
Family and health
Warnes has kept her personal relationships largely private, describing herself as single and without children in a 2012 profile. She has no publicly known long-term partner or marital history, aligning with her overall stance of maintaining a low media profile away from professional endeavors.[21]She maintains close ties to her extended family, which includes a surviving brother and numerous nieces and nephews; Warnes relocated from Los Angeles in the early 2000s to be nearer to them following the deaths of two of her three sisters. This family-oriented shift influenced her lifestyle during a prolonged period away from recording new music, spanning 17 years after her 2001 album The Well.