For more information on Kathryn Grimm contact:

grimmmusic@yahoo.com  

 

The old adage, “big things come in small packages” definitely rings true for the diminutive musical dynamo, Kathryn Grimm. Small in stature but not talent or drive, Kathryn’s perseverance has earned her admiration worldwide.  

Kathryn was born and bred in Seattle, “the most boring place on earth before Grunge.” Inspired by her two older sister’s record collections, she began singing and playing guitar at age 13. “I’d sing harmonies to Joni Mitchell for hours.” Not much of a guitarist, “I played the same three chords for years,” she considered a career as a studio engineer after high school. She enrolled in the University of Washington’s Musical Engineering program and began working part-time in a recording studio. Before Kathryn could finish her degree, the program was dissolved due to a lack of funding. Restless with her job, “I was treated like a chick; besides, I wanted to be the musician, not the one behind the knobs,” she decided to pack up and head south. After saying goodbye to family and friends, she loaded her ’65 Bonneville with all her worldly possessions and soon arrived in Los Angeles ready to make her mark.  

Kathryn settled in Hollywood, an extreme place compared to Seattle, “where life is improvised.” She enrolled in a one-year musical trade school, an experience she calls “…a big waste of money. I still played the same three chords when I left.” Her real musical education came afterwards when she began performing in a slew of bands. She recalls, “I eventually learned how to play from the numerous bands I floated in and out of.” Kathryn’s roller-coaster career as a singer/guitarist was supported by numerous day jobs including everything from waitressing and temp work (“the worst”), to dancing in videos. “I’ve had more jobs than my 70 year old mother.”  

Her musical experiences were as diverse as her jobs. Scouring the want ads in L.A.’s beloved “Recycler”, she found “The Screamin’ Sirens” (Restless Records), a notorious all-female country-punk band known for their heavy partying and crazy antics. “They thought it was odd that I chose working-out over drinking, but I was just happy to be playing my guitar” she recalls. She soon formed her own band, “Group Therapy,” who played the local clubs extensively and won the L.A. Rock Award for “Best Video.” The band featured legendary Columbia Records artist, Jeff Buckley, backing her on guitar and vocals. (After Jeff’s tragic demise in ‘97, Kathryn was invited to sing for his Memorial at St. Anne’s Church in Brooklyn along with Marianne Faithful and Elvis Costello. She refers to that poignant performance as “the hardest gig of my life.”).  

In ’97, Kathryn decided to return to school to complete her degree. In 2000, she graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Los Angeles, with a degree in Jazz Studies. “I like to finish what I start, no matter how long it takes.” Studying jazz extensively during this time led to a newfound love of the style. “My mother is a great jazz singer, but I didn’t appreciate it growing up,” she reflects. “A whole new-world opened up to me.” She released “Jazz According to Grimm” featuring her own arrangements of eight renowned standards. Kathryn continued her education by getting a Masters Degree in Commercial Music. In 2002, she single-handedly produced “Kitchen Sink,” a wild collection of mostly original music of all styles from jazz, rock and country to blues, techno and classical. “I’ve now mastered the current digital recording software, coming full circle from my first job in a studio.” 

Kathryn’s most recent release “Grimm Again” on Real Music Records is a ten song, all-original electric blues CD bringing her back to her roots. “The blues feels like home to me.” The CD features some name players such as Marcy Levy (of “Lay Down Sally” fame), percussionist Billy Hulting (Lou Rawls, Patty Labelle…) and monster bassist/producer Leon “Randy” Randolph (Chaka Kahn…). Kathryn hopes to do a tour this summer with her band “KGB” (The Kathryn Grimm Band) to promote the CD.  

For more information on Kathryn Grimm visit:

www.kathryngrimm.com