Take a little bit of old school soul, throw in some Dave Mathews, add a little pinch of Nina Simone, and you'll come out with the acoustic-soul fusion of Verlette Simon. “A voice that is resonant, liquid, and alluring” says Ray Ruskin of the former Kensington Coffee House.

Verlette has been hailed as one of the best Urban Contemporary voices on the Washington, DC music scene.  She won the Washington Area Music Award in 2003 for “Best Urban Contemporary Vocalist” and has been nominated for that same award every year for the last four years. A soulful, intelligent songwriter, she has won two WAMMIES for Best Vocalist and Best Recording in the Urban Contemporary Category for her 2003 release Elements, a collaborative effort recorded with guitarist Michael Willis.

Verlette released her sophomore CD on Twisted Folk Music in 2007 entitled Proof of Life where she continues to expand on her folk roots with a jazzy, gospel-tinged spin on bouncy pop conventions. She added the talents of Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey In The Rock, Local phenom Cletus Kennelly, and the production talents of Marco Delmar to create what she considers to be some of her best work yet.

A soulful, intelligent songwriter, she cites her major influences as The Indigo Girls, Nina Simone, and a host of soul singers and songwriters that she grew up listening to.

Verlette was born in Brooklyn, New York. She spent the early part of her career performing in musicals, and singing in the church choir and her school’s chorus. At 17 she discovered rock-and-roll and was the front person for a number of bands, most notably the New York-based band, Buddah. Verlette was also one of the youngest writers for the musical I’m Growing As Fast As I Can. She has worked as a vocalist with The Fine Young Cannibals and Mony Love, just to name a few groups. She has worked as a jingle singer, a voice teacher, a middle school teacher, and a drum-and-bass music distributor.  She is currently a personal chef and Holistic Health Counselor.

Verlette Simon has performed throughout the DC area. She has perfomed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Music Center at Strathmore Hall, and appears at many music festivals, concert halls and clubs in the US. She currently performs as a trio with Mark Sylvester and Erik Sharar and occasionally with her full band.