Vocalist, musician, composer; acoustic, country, Americana, pop, jazz; solo, duo, band performer. Jill's singing and songwriting come from the heart and are delivered with an authenticity that touches the hearts of her listeners.
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What's New for Jill Detroit?
"Take the High Road," Jill's 44th album was released in late summer 2024, following the spring release of "Full of Grace," a collection of many of Jill's original devotional songs. These albums continue Jill's legacy with more original songs that range from jazzy to folk to pop as well as some traditional songs - all performed in Jill Detroit's unique style. Jill's albums are available on Amazon and other online marketplaces, with digital downloads also on Spotify, itunes, and right here on broadjam.
Jill Detroit Bio
Jill Detroit was born to sing. According to sources close to the artist (her mother), Jill sang before she talked. Her love of music inspired her to take up the violin, followed by a short-lived attempt at string bass, and then the piano. But it was truly "love at first sight" when Jill discovered the guitar. Although intended as a gift for one of her brothers, Jill quickly confiscated it and, according to the same sources, "we didn't see her for a couple of years" while Jill holed up in her room, playing until her fingertips begged for mercy.
To her parents' dismay, Jill dropped out of college to follow her dream of performing. From solo gigs to vocalist for big bands, folk to country to pop to jazz, Jill's career has taken her from Detroit to Las Vegas, from England to Japan, and places in between. She has worked with artists such as Earl Klugh and Luis Resto and released songs under various names, such as Ruby Lipps and Larrice ("Bop Til I Drop," produced by Bruce Nazarian for Streetwise Records). You've also probably heard her voice on national commercials or television shows, including "Xena, Warrior Princess" and "Hercules."
An accomplished keyboard player and guitarist, Jill began writing poetry at an early age and, upon discovering the guitar, began putting her poems to music. Together with her playwright brother, Scott Phillips, Jill created a musical called "Paris on the Brain," and released songs from that musical in the spring of 2009. Her second album, "Life of My Own Choosing," was released in April 2010, followed by "The Sea," which takes its title from one of Jill's earliest attempts to marry melody with poetry. In February 2011, Jill released "Tall Oaks and Tanglewood," and, soon after, "Devil May Care,", featuring songs from the 2nd Detroit/Phillips musical. "Heart Felt," debuted in the summer of 2011 followed by "Play Me Like a Saxophone," "No Man's Land," "Little Feet" and "Back to Square One." The spring of 2013 saw the release of "Old Folks At Home," with songs from the 3rd Detroit/Phillips collaboration, and "Real Love," with a decidedly more jazzy vibe.
"I'm Outta Here," debuted in the fall of 2013, followed in early 2014 by "In the Presence of Grace," Jill's 1st devotional album. Next came "Fight Like a Girl," followed in February 2015 by "Jill Jazz," and "Wedded Bliss (Abyss)," with songs from the 4th Detroit/Phillips original musical. Jill finished the year with "Eclipse," and "Around the Corner." Jill's 20th album, "See You Later," was released in August 2016 and, soon after, "The Hippie in Me" appeared. Jill's first album of cover tunes, aptly entitled "Under the Covers," was released in the spring of 2017, followed by "Pompeii, the Musical," with songs from the 5th Detroit/Phillips play, "Step Up To The Plate," and "Be Careful What You Wish For."
Jill's silver album, "Under Cover Again," with more cover tunes, "Under the Influence," her 2nd devotional album, and "Songcatcher," were released in spring 2018 and she closed the year out with "Welcome to America." Jill's 3rd devotional album, "Grace Full," was released in the spring of 2019, followed by songs from the musical "Burr, the One WHO Won," the 6th Phillips-Detroit musical, "Finding My Happy," and "Gracious" with devotional, patriotic, and original songs. Her 34th album, "Soul Full," was released in June 2020, followed by "Stay in Your Lane," and, in February 2021, "Friends With Benefits." Three compilation albums, "Friends 'Til the End," "Love Letters," and "It's All About the Kids," were followed by "Christmas With Jill" and, in the spring of 2023, "Solitary Confinement," with songs from the 7th Phillips-Detroit musical, and, soon after, two more compilation albums: "Love Lessons" and "Full of Grace."
After living several years in northern California, where she began recording her musical memoirs with producer, Bill Bentley, Jill now makes her home in Florida. Her unique writing and vocal style can best be categorized as "fusion," reflecting all the musical genres she has absorbed and performed since that first melody escaped her lips.