About

Melanie became inspired to sing on stage at the Sunday Blues Jam at the Blue Note in Lynn, Massachusetts where her sister Julie Dukas played flute in the house band The Derelicts. Before long, Melanie closed the jam every Sunday with the house band and the song they learned for her, “Damn Your Eyes” by Etta James, along with “Shaky Ground” and other blues tunes.

In the 90’s Melanie started her own band with her talented sisters, Julie on flute and Evangeline on vocals. The original Melanie Dukas Band featured Larry Power of the 12:01 Blues Band on guitar, Julie Dukas on flute, Brian Michaels on bass, and Leroy Pina on drums. Mike Shea and Dave Keon also played guitar for the band. The Melanie Dukas Band played in Marblehead at Michael’s House and The Landing, The Lobster Trap in Essex, Palmer’s in Andover, and The Madfish Grill and the Rudder in Gloucester.

The band broke up and Melanie stopped singing for a while to deal with personal issues. She started over in 2013 by learning to sing jazz with Ken Clark of the Ken Clark Organ Trio, and has played with a variety of jazz musicians including Marty Rowan, John Hyde and Mike Mele. Melanie has sung jazz at Chianti Jazz Sessions, private parties and played several jazz gigs at Aurora in Salem, Massachusetts.

During the pandemic of 2021, Melanie moved to Salem, Massachusetts where she began working with Salem resident and guitar player Eric Reardon. Melanie and Eric have developed a varied and eclectic repertoire of songs.

Melanie’s influences include jazz greats Billie Holiday, Astrud Gilberta, Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James, as well as more contemporary artists like Amy Winehouse and Corinne Baily Rae.