Janis Hansen (singer)
Encyclopedia
Janis S. Hansen is an American
singer, producer and writer.
as one of the singers in the group Sérgio Mendes
and Brasil '66. She is the voice in "The Look of Love
" (which hit the charts six months after she left the group).
Leading off their first album for A&M
, Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ‘66's explosive cover of Jorge Ben Jor
's "Mas Que Nada
" (which roughly translates to, "It's nothing") became their first hit. Hall (who was double-tracked
on the album) and Hansen (who joined when Herb Alpert
hired the group to open for the Tijuana Brass road tour) learned the lyrics phonetically
, but no one needed to understand what they were singing - the upbeat rhythm and lively vocal harmonies were enough to hook American listeners.
As well as singing with Lani Hall, she joined a line that included Bob Matthews (bass), Jose Soares (percussion) and Joao Palma (drums). She was in the group from 1966-1968. Although it is reported that Janis did not sing on their first album: "Herb Alpert
Presents Sergio Mendes
and Brasil '66",. she did appear on the cover of the album. Hansen did sing on the albums "Equinox
" and "Look Around
". She left the group in 1968 and was replaced by Karen Philipp
.
/Kim Fowley
protégé Terry Fischer ("Popsicles and Icicles"). The Carnival's Brasil '66-meets-The-Fifth-Dimension sound was largely the brainchild of legendary producer and engineer Bones Howe
. Bones gathered L.A.'s finest "Wrecking Crew
" studio musicians (Hal Blaine
, Larry Knechtel
, etc.) for this, the Carnival's sole album.
After The Carnival, Hansen went on to sing the praises of Ford automobiles in a band called "The Going Thing"(an idea of the J. Walter Thompson
advertising agency), with John
and Tom Bahler
of "The Love Generation
". They appeared in television commercials, performed at dealers conventions and recorded three promotional giveaway albums. The band included guitarist Larry Carlton
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, producer and writer.
Early career
Hansen joined Lani HallLani Hall
Lani Hall is an American singer and the wife of Herb Alpert.-Music career:Her first public appearances occurred in Old Town Chicago in early 1966. At one of those performances, she was heard by Brazilian Bossa Nova pianist/bandleader Sérgio Mendes, who happened to be on tour in Chicago...
as one of the singers in the group Sérgio Mendes
Sergio Mendes
Sérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
and Brasil '66. She is the voice in "The Look of Love
The Look of Love (1967 song)
"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale.-Songwriters:...
" (which hit the charts six months after she left the group).
Leading off their first album for A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ‘66's explosive cover of Jorge Ben Jor
Jorge Ben Jor
Jorge Ben Jor is a Brazilian popular musician. His characteristic style fuses samba, funk, and rock into samba-rock, with lyrics that blend humor and satire with often esoteric subject matter.-Early life and career:...
's "Mas Que Nada
Mas Que Nada
-Song information:In 2006, Mendes re-recorded the song with The Black Eyed Peas and additional vocals by Mendes' wife, Gracinha Leporace; a version that is included on his album Timeless. In Brazil, the song is well-known for being the theme song for the local television channel Globo's Estrelas....
" (which roughly translates to, "It's nothing") became their first hit. Hall (who was double-tracked
Doubletracking
Double tracking is an audio recording technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or "bigger" sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. It is a form of overdubbing; the distinction comes from the...
on the album) and Hansen (who joined when Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
hired the group to open for the Tijuana Brass road tour) learned the lyrics phonetically
Phonetical singing
Phonetical singing is when a singer learns and performs, the lyrics of a song by the words' phonetic sounds without necessarily understanding of the content of the lyrics....
, but no one needed to understand what they were singing - the upbeat rhythm and lively vocal harmonies were enough to hook American listeners.
As well as singing with Lani Hall, she joined a line that included Bob Matthews (bass), Jose Soares (percussion) and Joao Palma (drums). She was in the group from 1966-1968. Although it is reported that Janis did not sing on their first album: "Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
Presents Sergio Mendes
Sergio Mendes
Sérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
and Brasil '66",. she did appear on the cover of the album. Hansen did sing on the albums "Equinox
Equinox (Sergio Mendes album)
Equinox is the second album by Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '66, with vocalists Lani Hall and Janis Hansen.-Track listing:#Constant Rain #Cinnamon and Clove...
" and "Look Around
Look Around (Sergio Mendes album)
Look Around is the third album by Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '66, with vocalists Lani Hall and Janis Hansen. It was released in 1968. Mendes burst into mainstream prominence when he performed the Oscar-nominated Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "The Look of Love" on the Academy Awards telecast in March...
". She left the group in 1968 and was replaced by Karen Philipp
Karen Philipp
Karen Philipp is an American singer and actress. She first came to national prominence in 1968 when she was hired as one of the two female vocalists in the second iteration of Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66, debuting on their Top Ten best-selling album, "Fool on the Hill." She remained with Brasil '66 ...
.
After Brasil '66
She formed The Carnival in late 1967 with fellow ex-Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 band member Jose Suares, along with ex-MurmaidThe Murmaids
The Murmaids were a one-hit wonder all-female vocal trio composed of sisters Carol and Terry Fischer; and Sally Gordon from Los Angeles, California who, in January 1964 reached #3 with "Popsicles and Icicles".-Background:...
/Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
protégé Terry Fischer ("Popsicles and Icicles"). The Carnival's Brasil '66-meets-The-Fifth-Dimension sound was largely the brainchild of legendary producer and engineer Bones Howe
Bones Howe
Dayton Burr "Bones" Howe is a Grammy-award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association, as well as music supervision of several films...
. Bones gathered L.A.'s finest "Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew (music)
The Wrecking Crew was a nickname coined by the drummer Hal Blaine after the fact for a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. They backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful "groups" of studio musicians in music history...
" studio musicians (Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
, Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
, etc.) for this, the Carnival's sole album.
After The Carnival, Hansen went on to sing the praises of Ford automobiles in a band called "The Going Thing"(an idea of the J. Walter Thompson
JWT
JWT is one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is one of the key companies of Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP Group and is headquartered in New York. The global agency is led by Worldwide Chairman and Global CEO Bob Jeffrey who took over the...
advertising agency), with John
John Bahler
John Bähler is an American vocalist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer.John Bähler is brother of Tom Bähler and husband of Janet Lennon .-Early career:...
and Tom Bahler
Tom Bahler
Thomas Lee Bähler , is an American singer, composer, songwriter, arranger and producer.He is the brother of John Bähler.-Early career:...
of "The Love Generation
The Love Generation
Not To Be Confused with the Swedish Group Love GenerationThe Love Generation was an American pop rock band from the 1960s. The band was together from 1967 to 1969.-History:...
". They appeared in television commercials, performed at dealers conventions and recorded three promotional giveaway albums. The band included guitarist Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
.