Jo Belle Yonely

Voice
Notes with a Purpose Teaching Artist
UNLV School of Music

Jo Belle Yonely is the jazz vocal instructor for the UNLV Division of Jazz and Commercial Music. She brings a wealth of experience as a jazz singer, songwriter, studio recording artist, and professional voice actor.

Born in Chicago into a show business family, Yonely grew up surrounded by legendary musicians, including family friends such as Louis Armstrong and Al Hirt. She performed widely on the Chicago jazz scene with artists including Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman, Eddie Johnson, Johnny Frigo, Willie Pickens, Howard Levy, and John Campbell.

Yonely has performed at jazz festivals nationwide, recorded nine albums, and performed for George H. W. Bush- with Lionel Hampton. She also co-founded the Brazilian jazz group Chizil.

In addition to her performing career, Yonely spent more than 20 years as a first-call Chicago studio singer and voice actor, recording thousands of national commercials.

She now lives in Las Vegas, where she teaches at UNLV and continues to perform widely.