Joanne Mackell is a veteran singer/songwriter with a voice that could stop a mack truck and songs that make you remember the first time you fell in love. Her passionate delivery, outstanding vocal range and commanding stage presence consistently raise the roof and rock the house. 

 

Born in Boston and raised in Montreal, this daughter of hockey legend Fleming Mackell [Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins] was signed to United Artists at age 23.

 

Joanne's first album included musical legends Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Martha Reeves, among others. The debut record was hailed by critics and got the attention of some of LA's heavy hitters including Bonnie Raitt who helped Joanne put together her next recording, a demo that received airplay on LA's premier FM station at the time.

After several years in New York and California she returned to Toronto to release "LOCAL GIG IN PARADISE." The highly praised CD is a collection of 11 original songs ranging from throaty ballads and classic country swing, to flat-out honky tonk, all textured with her r&b/soul roots.

Joanne followed up that release with BRAND NEW LONESOME.... a high flyin' ride across the wide map of roots music.  Traveling through full throttle honky tonk with This Better Be Good,  to bluegrass on Red Yellow Blue,  some memphis style soul/blues for This Close and I'm the One,  americana country on Queen of Hearts, spanish harlem soul on I Fall in Love tex mex crooning for Soon Come Tomorrow  sixties era dylan  with the radio friendly Sumac and finally coming home to a true Canadian lonesome road ballad  A Thousand Miles. The record was produced and written by Joanne who called on some of Toronto's finest musicians to make these gems shine.they include; Christine Bougie (guitar and lap steel), Steve Briggs (guitar), John Switzer (bass), Marc Pizer (drums), Shelley Coopersmith (fiddle and mando), and Evelyne Datl (keys), plus Kevin Quain, Pat Carey, Howard Moore and a featured appearance by the Creaking Tree String Quartet...then there's a gang of singers from far and wide.  Amelia Curran, Laura Hubert, Catherine MacLellan and Linda McRae are some names you may have heard before.
Available at cdbaby.com

WANDERLUST is Joanne's latest CD. Culled from mile after mile of driving across the highways of North America, these songs are road worn and true. Recorded live in studio, this beauty will have you singing along and lookin' for a dance floor. The reviews are still coming in and they are impressive. Comparisons to Steve Earl and Gram Parsons are just the beginning.  The tight playing from Victor Bateman, Christine Bougie, Al Cross, Shelley Coopersmith,Evelyne Datl, and Nichol Robertson gives focus to Joanne's brilliantly simple song writing. Songs that tell the uncommon stories about everyday people.
As a vocalist, Joanne can both get up close and personal or lean back and holler with an easiness that charms her listeners and puts them in the palm of her hand. Her songs are built up from the ground with the kind of writing that only comes with experience. If you like lyrics that make you listen and groove that gets into your bones, JOANNE MACKELL is all that and more.