Born in Wilmington, DE and raised in Oakland, CA, Sue's vocal roots were firmly planted. Her earliest memories of singing was at the age of five.  As a baby her mother said she was singing before she could talk. Growing up in the 70's she was exposed to all kinds of music from soul R&B to rock & roll and knew every word to all the commercials and to most songs.  This still rings true today!  She was always singing around the house but her musical talents didn’t emerge until she joined her high school choir The Castleers in 1977, led by her most influential teacher, Phil Reeder. He taught Sue and all his students the proper tecniques of singing. She uses those techniques to this day! Castlemont High School is where she met her long time friend and partner in rhyme, Sweet Nectar member Maureen Smith, bringing that sweet melodic West Coast harmony! As a Castleer Sue toured Chicago, Hawaii and Mexico for regional vocal competitions.  Phil Reeder led the Castleers to gold and silver medals respectively!  Sue also spent three years in the Young & Gifted Musicians program at the University of California Berkeley under the direction of Michael Senturia and Phil Reeder.

 

After graduating high school Sue began singing background for her father and in the early eighties, she met the great E.C. Scott for whom she sang background, recorded and traveled with for many years. A mother of two, Sue has performed and recorded with many artists including her father the legendary blues man Jimmy McCracklin, Zakiya Hooker (daughter of the legendary blues great John Lee Hooker), Curtis Lawson, Sugar Pie DeSanto,  Ernie Johnson, Tia Carroll, Big Cat Tolefree, J. Blackfoot, Toni Green, Miz Dee, Narada Michael Walden, Mighty Mike Schermer, Frank Bey, the Anthony Paule Band, Chick Rodgers, Theo Huff, Prince Michael Phillip, Wee Willie Walker, Bernard “Pretty” Purdy (the most recorded drummer in history!), George McCrae (Rock Me Baby), Bobby Rush, Derek Martin, Sax Gordon, Joe Arnold and currently backing the beautiful and talented Lara Price. (Check out Lara Price's new cd "I MEAN BUSINESS" on the Vizztone Label Group).

 

Venues mesmerized by Sue’s sultry lows include the Blues Estafette 96 in Utrecht, Holland, House of Blues, Paramount Theater in Oakland (with BigCat opening for BB King and with her father Jimmy), King Biscuit Blues Festival in Arkansas, Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, Boz Scagg's Slim's as well as the Black and White ball in San Francisco, The Great American Music Hall, the Monterey Blues Festival, Marin County Blues Festival, Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco, The Little Fox Theater in Redwood City, Porretta Soul Festival in Italy, Spain’s Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival and the Blues Cruise just to name a few.

 

Sue's group Sweet Nectar travels and performs all over the world and she is now embarking on her first solo project. She is currently making plans to record a tribute cd to her father Jimmy McCracklin, singing some of her favorite songs by him. She is hoping to do other things to honor her father as well. Stay tuned!