associated_acts article_title name background birth_date instrument genre origin birth_name
count basie dennis rowland
 dennis rowland solo_singer february 3 , 1948 jazz singer jazz detroit , michigan dennis rowland
dennis rowland

dennis rowland is a jazz vocalist born and raised in detroit , mi .
having grown up in a household of jazz enthusiasts , rowland developed an appreciation for jazz music at an early age .
at the age of five or six rowland heard the vocals of joe williams of the count basie orchestra , which has influenced his approach to singing ever since .
rowland 's voice is rich and deep , and throughout the early 1970s , rowland worked detroit 's local jazz and acting scene .
in 1977 rowland was hired by count basie as a vocalist on his tours , filling the same role his idols joe williams and jimmy rushing had occupied for so many years .
for rowland , it was a dream come true and he would tour with basie for the following seven years .
during his time with basie , rowland had the chance to share the stage with such icons as sarah vaughan , ella fitzgerald and tony bennett .
rowland was seen recently as jimmy baker in the film real gone cat by film director robert sucato .
he currently resides and performs regularly in phoenix , arizona .
december 19 , 2012 dennis rowland is hospitalized at barrow neurological institute in phoenix after suffering a severe stroke .
