Diana Jean Krall was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, to Adella A. (Wende),an elementary school teacher, and Stephen James Krall, an accountant, whose ancestry was a rich blend of Czech, German, English, and Scottish heritage.
Growing up in the small community of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Krall's passion for music began to flourish at a young age. She started performing professionally as a jazz pianist at the tender age of 15, a feat that would lay the foundation for her future success.
In 1981, Krall's talent earned her a prestigious Vancouver Jazz Festival scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, after a year and a half of intense study, she returned to her hometown of Nanaimo.
It was during this time that renowned bassist Ray Brown stumbled upon Krall playing at a local venue in Nanaimo and was so impressed that he convinced her to move to Los Angeles. With the support of a Canadian Arts Council grant, Krall had the opportunity to study with the legendary Jimmy Rowles, who encouraged her to explore her vocal talents and supplement her already impressive piano skills.
Throughout her illustrious career, Krall has released numerous successful albums, earning her numerous awards and accolades, including Canada's Juno Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2000 and a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in the same year.
In recognition of her contributions to the jazz world and her role as a good-will ambassador for British Columbia, Krall was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2000. She has also been praised for her ability to epitomize Canadian culture and her outstanding citizenship.
To this day, Krall remains proud of her roots in Nanaimo, where her journey as a musician began. She continues to be an inspiration to jazz enthusiasts around the world, and her dedication to her craft has solidified her position as one of the greatest talents in the jazz field to emerge in a generation.
