Tess Henley is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from

Kent, Washington Kent is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan area and had a population of 136,588 as of the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest municipality in greater Seattle and t ...

, United States. Born into a musical family, Henley studied and performed since childhood before launching a career performing

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...

. Since 2008, she has released several full-length albums, EPs, and singles and made her television debut on ''

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...

'' in 2015.

Early life

Tess grew up as a middle child born to a professional singer. She is the younger sister of musician Carson Henley. She started taking

Suzuki Method The Suzuki method is a music curriculum and teaching philosophy dating from the mid-20th century, created by Japanese violinist and pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki (1898–1998). The method aims to create an environment for learning music which para ...

piano lessons at the age of 3. Henley graduated as valedictorian from Kentlake High School in

in 2006 where she played year-round basketball and soccer. In 2010, Henley graduated from

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattle a ...

with a degree in Communications.

Career

In 2008, Henley released her debut album, ''Easy to Love''. In 2011, Tess won Budweiser’s National Superfest Summer Block Party competition to win $25,000 and opened for Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton (musician). Also during 2011, Henley was a top three finalist in R&B category for the

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

Worldwide Songwriting Competition, the winner of the 2011 International Song Competition for SoulTracks. and the winner of an Independent Music Award in 2012. After releasing a deluxe edition of ''Easy to Love'' through Tower Records Japan in September 2011, Tess released a 7" vinyl in October 2011 of the duet, "What You Won't Do for Love", featuring Mycle Wastman from ''The Voice'', for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. In September 2012, Tess' track "Boy in the Window" film '' Hello I Must Be Going''. This song also garnered her an Independent Music Award. In May 2013, Henley released her sophomore studio album ''High Heels & Sneakers'', produced by Dice Raw from

The Roots The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...

and Khari Mateen. Also in 2013, Tess received the Vox Pop R&B/Soul Independent Music Award for "Daydreaming." Henley was then named grand prize winner of the Show Me The Music Songwriting Contest with her song, "Who Are You." Tess Henley 2015

Producer Don Was selected Tess as the Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter III grand prize winner in March 2014. She became the first female winner in the competition's history, receiving $25,000, music gear, and an EP to be recorded with Don Was. In mid-August 2014, Henley went to Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles with producer Was and session musicians Mike Finnigan,

James Gadson James Gadson ( James Edward Gadson; born June 17, 1939) is an American drummer and session musician. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B. He is also a singer and ...

, Mark Goldenberg, James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Davide Rossi, and Michito Sanchez to record. The album ''Wonderland'' was released in early 2015. On January 22, 2015, Henley made her national television debut on ''

'', performing "Positively Me" and "Wonderland" from the album. ''

Teen Vogue ''Teen Vogue'' is an American online publication, formerly in print, launched in January 2003, as a sister publication to ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'', targeted at teenagers. Like ''Vogue'', it included stories about fashion and celebrities. Since ...

'' premiered the music video for "Wonderland".

Discography

;Albums ;Singles

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Henley, Tess 1987 births Living people Singers from Washington (state) American soul singers People from Kent, Washington University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni 21st-century American singers