BIO

Lady Champagne was born in Louisiana. The place where she first heard some down home Blues. By age twelve she started performing in talent shows along with school glee club and church Choir. At age fourteen, her family left Louisiana and moved to the west side of Detroit where she attended Northwestern High School. That is where music became an important part of her education as well as a part of her life. Age thirty, she went to some of the most popular Detroit Blues clubs that was located in the Metro Detroit area like the 20 Grand, Ethels Lounge, Henry's Palace and Phelps Lounge to see and hear what the blues was really talking about. Thanks to one of her family members she was very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and share the stage with some of the great Blues artist like Johnny Taylor, B.B.King, Bobby Blue Bland and Tyrone Davis.

 

Blues, Gospel and R&B has also been a part of her singing career. she joined New Bethel Baptist Church where the late great Queen of Soul singer Aretha Franklin attend and her father Reverend C.L. Franklin was the pastor.  Lady Champagne was a church member for several years singing in the choir. Combining her love for Gospel and Blues has awarded her the rich and soulful sound she call my own. In recent years, She had the pleasure of sharing the stage and singing background for the great gospel singer Rev Ortheia Barnes, Lady Champagne also had the honor of performing on recording artist Mr. L.J Reynolds of the Dramatics latest video entitle you been cheating on me.

 

Lady Champagne shared the stage with many great R&B artist Mr. E.J Johnson the lead singer from the group the Enchantment, Alyson Williams, Comedian George Lopaz, recording artist Regina Bell, Mitch Ryder, Motown recording Jazz artist and former member of the funk brothers Dennis Coffey, The Phenomenal National recording Jazz  Quartet featuring Mr James Carter, Gerard Gibbs, Ralphe Armstrong and Alex White.  Also had the honor sharing the stage with the beautiful Motown Recording Artist Miss Martha Reeves of the Vandellas.

​

In 2006 lady Champagne performed on stage with some of the greatest Blues Artist from KoKo Taylor, Johnny Bassett, Alberta Adams, Blues man Chick Willis, writter of Mustang Sally Sir Mack Rice, Blues man Larry McCray, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Blues man Billy Davis, Legends of the Blues Jimmy Johnson and Jimmy Burns out of Chicago. Her band was chosen to open and warm the stage for The legendary Grammy Award winning Blues man Bobby Rush. And Also the Legend of the Blues concert featuring the late great Mr. Bobby Blue Bland and also the living Legends blues man Theodis Earley, Clearance Carter and Latimore. 

 

1. In 2010, 2013 and 2014  she was Nominated for Best Blues singer from the Detroit Black Music Awards Association.

2. In Late Nov 2012, lady Champagne was honor to receive the Happy to have the Blues award sponsor by Big City Blues Magazine.

3. March 2014 she received an outstanding award for being inducted into the Detroit Blues Hall Of Fame for Great Blues artist.

4. August 3, 2014  she became winner for Best Blues Singer of the year from the Detroit Black Music Award Association along with 2015 Life Time Achievement Award.

5. Sept 2017 she was honor to recieve the Diamond award for Best Blues singer of the year from the City of Pineville Louisiana

6. Dec 16th MVMA Midwest Video Music Award for best blues performance.

7. 2019 she was honored to be the winner for Best outstanding blues artist from Detroit Music Award held at the Fillmore Theater.

8. In 2019 lady Champagne received an special award officially Inducting her into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall Of Fame.

 

This amazing Blues singer wear several hats in the music business, Producer, Event planner, band leader and lead vocalist.  Her group is called Champagne and the Blues Connection Band. This is a 7 piece music ensemble with Rhonda K on Bass, Lester Hambone Brown on Guitar, Eddy Keyzz on Keyboards, Lorell Holton on Drums, Alonza Harrison on Trumpet and John Calhoun on Trombone, her latest CD is call You Don't Know What Love Is. A great CD with a lot of great musicians to spice up the flavor. 

 

Champagne and the Blues Connection Band had the honor of performing at a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, host by Mitch Album of WJR 760 AM. And also a special interview by radio personality the blues man Mr. Jay Butler 101.9 FM. Blues lady Champagne is currently hosting her Blues radio show on WHFR.89.3 the station that's making waves every Tuesday evening from 4pm till 6pm.

Her band has played in some of the greatest night clubs and dinner clubs located in the Metro area such as Station 885, Portofino's, Andiamo's, Rockerfeller's, Memphis Smoke, UDetroit Cafe, Bert's Market Place, Como's, Rosie O' Grady's, Bakers Keyboard Lounge, Cobo Hall, Zarr Club in Benton Harbor, Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills, Buddy's Guys Legends Club in Chicago, The House of Blues in Chicago, Kingston Mine in Chicago, Music Hall Cafe in Detroit. Special events held at the Renaissance Ball Room, Ritz Carton, Greenfield Village Ball Room and the fabulous Villa Penna Banquet Hall. And also the yearly outdoor fun with the Windsor Festival, African World Festival, Luna Pier Blues Festival, Ribs n Soul Festival located at Detroit Hart Plaza, Ferndale Blues Festival, Pontiac Dream Cruise and Classic Cars Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival along with the Michigan Blues Festival in Lansing, Chew the Blues Festival Holly Michigan, International River Day Festival, Pontiac Piggy Back BBQ Festival, Detroit Beacon Park, Detroit Campus Martius Park, New Center Park and the Detroit Winter Blast Festival.

 

Lady Champagne can't say enough about all the musicians and singers that she had the pleasure of performing with and venues she had the pleasure of performing in. Lady Champagne is a  blues lovers that keeps the blues alive. Lady Champagne come this far by keeping God Number 1 in her life. With him all things are possible.