Lillian Boutté

Lillian Theresa Boutté (born August 6, 1949, New Orleans) is an American jazz singer.^[1] She is the older sister of jazz singer John Boutté.

Boutté in 2006

Boutté performing in Denmark, 2007

Boutté sang in the Golden Voices Choir as a child and won a singing contest at age eleven. She received a bachelor's degree in music therapy at Xavier University of Louisiana and worked as a session musician in New Orleans, performing as a backup singer with Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Patti LaBelle, The Pointer Sisters, Neville Brothers, and Dr. John. From 1979 to 1983 she toured internationally with the musical One Mo' Time.^[1] She collaborated with the Olympia Brass Band on a gospel record in 1980 and recorded her first jazz album in 1982. During her tours of Europe she began recording with groups in Norway and Denmark and married Thomas L'Etienne [de], with whom she formed the ensemble Music Friends.^[1] She has performed frequently in New Orleans in addition to touring regularly in Europe, performing with Humphrey Lyttelton,^[1] the Barrelhouse Jazz Band, Chris Barber, Oscar Klein, Dirk Raufeisen [de], the Maryland Jazz Band of Cologne, and Pee Wee Ellis.

Discography

• Music Is My Life (Timeless, 1985)
• I Sing Because I'm Happy (Timeless, 1985)
• A Fine Romance with Thomas L'Etienne (GHB, 1987)
• Lillian with Humphrey Lyttelton (Calligraph, 1988)
• Lipstick Traces with Christian Willisohn (Blues Beacon, 1991)
• The Gospel Book (Blues Beacon, 1993)
• The Jazz Book (Blues Beacon, 1994)
• But...Beautiful (Dinosaur Entertainment, 1996)
• Come Together with Christian Willisohn (Art by Heart, 1997)