D Martinson Cocktail Jazz Duo  | Diane's Wedding Ceremony Music  | D Martinson Jazz Swing Band Combos  |  The Caroling Company  |  Elevation Variety Dance Band

Diane Martinson Music Samples
	Don't Know Why
	Come What May (Moulin Rouge)
	Ave Maria
	You Got What It Takes
	(video)It Had To Be You
if the audio samples won't start click here

For many more audio samples see these pages: Wedding Ceremony, Jazz Combo, Jazz Duo, Variety Band

"I will always remember your beautiful singing, it gave me goose bumps, very powerful!!" —Margaret Erhardt

"What a wonderful singer you are and how wonderful it was to listen to you. It was exactly the music we had hoped to have. Your voice is mesmerizing. Thanks again —Josh and Nancy B. Winkelman

"Diane, you have the kind of voice that gives you chills when you hear it..wonderful to hear you!" —Melanie C.

"Thank you for doing an outstanding performance. Everyone loved your cocktail / dinner music. You will be highly recommended. I would be happy to recommend you to anyone" —Phoebe Srinivasan

"Again, thank you so much for being the vocalist at our ceremony; it was simply beautiful and really moved us!" —Sharon D.

"Diane, The song You Raise Me Up really did bring tears to my eyes. I have had many complements on the music." —Sincerely, Vickie Radle

"Diane,You have one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. The Prayer song and One Hand One Heart were beyond beautiful!.." —Linda M. Koenig

"We thought the music was fabulous. It turned out even better than we imagined! We would be glad to be a reference for you." —Teri and Steve Pullen, bride & groom

"Your voice is absolutely stunning. When I heard Ave Maria, your voice brought me to goose bumps and I still have them!" —Kathryn Johnson

Artist Profile - Diane Martinson - vocalist / business owner

Diane Martinson Music, Inc. | Live Special Event Music

Diane is a professional vocalist and business owner/director coordinating live entertainment for special events in the Twin Cities. She performs as a soloist and with her core group of musicians providing both classical and popular styles includes (jazz, swing, 1930's to 2000 variety music.)
After a long part time and alternating full time career as a professional singer and touring theater performer over 2 decades, she then formed her own music business- Diane Martinson Music, Inc. in 2001 as her official full-time musical passion and occupation. Her thriving music business has proven to be a wonderful vehicle for her talent, having provided live music for over 425 events through out the Twin Cities metro and western Wisconsin area. Diane is also hired to sing at concerts, church services, studio and live performance back up singing, and theater shows. She is band leader / lead vocalist for her Martinson Jazz & Swing Combos, Elevation Variety Band, director of Diane Martinson Wedding Music and The Caroling Company singers.
Diane manages a collaborative of professional musicians that she has worked with over the years and together provide terrific live music for corporate events, wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, private parties, and special occasions such as concerts in the park.

Diane also writes and publishes music, and is a member of ASCAP. She co-wrote The Apache Wedding Blessing Song for voice, piano and strings with partner JJ Saecker along with other wedding, holiday and jazz music.

She enjoys being involved in a number of music endeavors including singing with other local musicians, She has added back - up vocals for studio and live performances with other musical acts, and she performs annually at First Avenue night club on Good Friday's to sing the role of Mary Magdalene in the popular rock concert production of J.C. Superstar, and as a featured singer in the annual local concert Chelsea Hotel: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen's music.

Background; Diane Martinson grew up mainly in the Minneapolis area, with a few middle years spent in the south eastern U.S. As a child she sang in the church choirs, studied musical instruments and played in the school bands and orchestras, trained in theater and dance and began singing professionally as a teenager. At 13 she performed in professional Children'ss theater and at 16 she had her first professional singing job with an 18 piece big band. She continued studying theater arts and vocal music at the University of Minnesota, appearing in main stage shows, the Showboat summer musical productions, and in the Symphonic choir. She was awarded a scholarship to study musical theater, and vocal jazz at the MacPhail Center for music where she was tutored by Ellen Rosewall and local jazz musician Vicky Mountain. She has been featured in many national theater and music productions. Outstate performances locations include The Medora Musical, N.D., Springfield Little Theater, MO., Perseverance Theater, Juneau Alaska, and Local productions include shows with the Northstar Opera Company, Minnesota Musical Theater Workshop, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, the State Theater, Opera Cabaret, 3 years with the Dale Warland Symphonic Choir, and tours in musical productions with Minneapolis based, Troupe America Inc.

About Vocalist Diane Martinson:

Diane is known for her beautiful clear tone, lyrical phrasing,soulful passionate delivery, abundant vocal range, and mesmerizing performances. She has a friendly demeanor on and off stage. Music has always been a joyful uplifting and healing force in Diane's life, and she sings with great emotion and prefers to focus on positive meaningful music. She revels in music's ability to unite people, and create a positive atmosphere with a lasting impression.

Q & A with Diane Martinson

What do you do in the music industry?

I am a full-time freelance vocalist, and director of Diane Martinson Music, Inc.(DMMI). I provide my vocal talent and professional musicians for entertainment at weddings, corporate functions, and special events. As a vocalist I enjoy a variety of performances at: wedding ceremonies and receptions, corporate functions, church and spiritual gatherings, memorial services, theatrical musical productions, concerts, private parties and a bit of studio work. I provide clients with live music services, and event planning guidance. I manage a collaborative of 30 terrific musicians. I have a wonderful piano accompanist and songwriting partner, J.J. Saecker, who has been with me for over 12 years now, together we lead the bands, and write and arrange special music for all of the DMMI groups. I offer the most efficient, easy, live music planning by providing all the information online that's needed to hire quality musicians for a very special celebration.

How did you get started in Music?

I got my start in singing at age of 4 in the Mount Olivet church choir. I started performing professionally as a teenager. I was contacted after a musical show I performed in, and asked to sing with my first Big Band at age 16 at the old Bloomington Radisson South hotel. I went on studying musical theater, classical and jazz vocal music, and acquired a working knowledge of a variety of music performance styles from some terrific musicians.

What style of music is your favorite?

That's tricky, because I feel drawn to a wide variety of music. I enjoy performing Ave Maria as much as I love singing a cabaret torch song, or an R & B tune, and many styles in between. In fact I can't make up my mind as to what my favorite music to sing is! I feel my best when I have shared a real connection with people through music. I am passionate about giving my all to each performance.

What motivated you to start your company?

I had always wanted to be a full-time musician. It's a long story, the Readers Digest version is; after I had toured in musical productions for several years, I worked part-time as a professional musical performer in town (with a day job) for many years. I was "moved" from my school system job in Special Ed. due to lack of funding (for the 3rd time), and that was the push I needed to go to full time vocalist /business owner, the stars aligned, and I incorporated my full-time music company.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I am most impressed with music's ability to heal, teach, transform, and simply make people happy. It's wonderful to have a company where I get to sing all the styles of music that I love, and share the experience with a lot of wonderful people that I meet. I also have a great team of professional musicians that I work with, to be sure, I feel very blessed.

Who are your musical influences?

I love singers who are good musical story tellers and emotionally draw their audience in. That applies to a lot of varied music styles! So my influences are all over the map- Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah McLachlan, Peggy Lee, Diane Schuur, Keeley Smith, Linda Eder, Sarah Brightman, Barbra Streisand, Mahalia Jackson, Janis Segal (Manhattan Transfer), Sandy Patti, Jane Monheit, Martina McBride... Do I need to narrow it down?? I think I could list almost as many male singers too! Other musicians with a great influence on my work are mentor- local musician Carol Murray, and my partner/ pianist JJ  Saecker, we create all kinds of wonderful music!

All content ©2007 Diane Martinson Music, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota