Jazz vocalist and pianist Deanna Kirk was born and raised on Long Island, NY, moving to New York City in her late teens to pursue a career in music. There she opened her own club, and in 1994 issued the LP Live at Deanna's -- originally intended for sale exclusively at the nightspot itself, the album was eventually released nationally and helped land the singer a contract with the Blackbird label. Kirk's Blackbird debut Mariana Trench appeared in 1996, followed a year later by Where Are You Now. ~ Jason Ankeny