Sunny Sumter

Born in the nation's capital, Sunny's musical studies began at Washington's Duke Ellington High School for the Performing Arts. "I owe much to pianist Kevin Toney (formerly of the Blackbyrds) who gave me my first gig at 14, got me an audition at Ellington, and introduced me to all kinds of music." Following Ellington, she performed in clubs around New York City, and spent six months in Italy where she performed with Sergio Caputo, one of that country's most popular entertainers. Sunny later entered Howard University, where she studied with renowned drummer/vocalist Grady Tate, and pianist/composer Geri Allen. "When I decided to become an artist, I knew jazz was the platform, with its enormous well of history to draw from.