Diamanda Galás

About

Experimental musician and visual artist known for her distinct vocal abilities and performance art. She has put out over 11 studio albums and seven live albums. She was heavily involved in activism around the AIDS crisis during the 1980s. 

Before Fame

In the 1970s, she joined the jazz band Black Music Infinity. She released her first album, If Looks Could Kill, in 1979. Her 1986 album "Divine Punishment" has been critically acclaimed.

Trivia

She is a soprano sfogato which means she is a mezzo-soprano that can extend her range. She has an estimated range of between 3 and 8 octaves. She is also a painter and her art has been shown in installations around the world. Her voice has been used in films such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Conan the Barbarian. 

Family Life

Her mother is Georgianna Koutrelakos-Galás, a Maniot Greek-American, and James Galás, an Egyptian-American who had Greek heritage. While both her parents were raised in the Greek Orthodox Culture, they were both agnostic. 

Associated With

She has worked with a number of artists including experimental jazz artist John Zorn and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.