Mandy Gaines, a talented, versatile vocalist and entertainer, with more than 35 years of professional experience, entertains and delights audiences throughout the world. Her performances are generally viewed as refreshing, soulful and exciting. From 1988 to the present, she continues to improve and grow through her gifted interpretations of Jazz, Pop, R&B and Soul classics as well as writing and performing her original works.

Mandy was born in Lincoln Heights Ohio, grew up in Evanston and Bond Hill and graduated from Walnut Hills High School Class of 1977.

Mandy began singing at an early age in school and church. She holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster, Wooster Ohio, in Speech/Arts. She has continued her studies through private vocal instruction and various workshops emphasizing oral interpretation, jazz improvisation, and vocal technique, theatre and broadcasting/media studies.

Throughout her career, Mandy has performed with such Jazz greats as, Wynton Marsalis, Dany Doriz, Randy Brecker, Scott Hamilton, ElDee Young, Red Holt, Rhoda Scott, Deborah Brown, Brad Leali, Leroy Jones, Bryan Lynch, Keith Loftis, Marcus Printup, Wendall Brunious, Vincent Gardner, Larry Price, Wes “warm daddy” Anderson, Michael Stanton and Victor Gaskins.

In 1988, Mandy was recruited by Coca-Cola Taiwan to become part of an original recording and performing group, “MIT”. With the band she toured island wide to promote their release, “We Can Be One”. She also went on to record with several Asian pop stars as well as maintaining a spot as an on-air radio personality at I.C.R.T., Taiwan’s number one American-Chinese language radio station.

From 1991 to 1994 Mandy returned to her theatre roots and was hired as featured vocalist at “The Oldenberg Dinner Theatre Entertainment Complex” and “The Star of Cincinnati”.

In 1995, Mandy began traveling to Europe. Upon meeting local musicians, she began to perform regularly throughout Belgium and France in local clubs, concerts and festivals and continues to be invited back annually.

In the fall of 1996, Mandy was selected to perform in Munich, Germany as a member of the “Sister City Cultural Exchange Program” and the following year she was selected to perform the same program in Zurich, Switzerland. She was also invited to entertain for the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, to commemorate the inaugural flight and joint venture of Delta and Sabena airlines.

Once back in Cincinnati, Mandy was chosen to be the opening act for Herbie Hancock and shortly after that, she was nominated “Best R&B” vocalist in Cincinnati’s annual music award show, “The Cammy’s”.

From 1998 to 2005, Mandy has performed throughout Asia and Europe in clubs, concerts and festivals. She has been a back-up vocalist for Asian Artist as Harlem Yu and Emil Chou. She has performed for British and American troops at Diego Garcia Military Base. She has been “Artist in Residence” at several 5-star hotels in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The spring of 2006 saw a return to Europe to perform at the “April Jazz Festival” in Helsinki, Finland and “Festival International De Jazz” in St.Louis de Senegal, Africa. She also had a European release of her cd, “With a Song in My Heart”. She was then selected as judge for “Sony Jazz Music Competition” in Riga , Latvia.

The spring of 2007, Mandy held music workshops in France. Teaching on jazz and gospel music emphasizing interpretation, improvisation, stage performance and vocal range. She also released her 2nd cd recording, “Taking a Chance”. In January 2008, Mandy was selected to perform at The American Embassy, Thailand, in commemoration of Black History Month.

Mandy was featured as vocalist in the Annual Cote Ouest Big Band Music Festival in Cote, France. In December 2008, Mandy starred in the musical revue, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” performed in Taipei, Taiwan.

From March to July 2010, Mandy was artist in residence at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Shanghai, China.

October 2010, Mandy returned to Russia for the 3rd time and performed her 1st Concert Tour, throughout the country. 15 Concerts in 9 cities including Siberia and Kazakstan.

In December 2010, Mandy performed in the Musical, “Anything Goes” as “Reno Sweeney” at the National Palace Theatre in Taipei Taiwan.

Mandy counts one of her biggest accomplishments to date as being inducted into 2018 Class of The Cincinnati Jazz Hall Of Fame.

Many performance videos can be viewed at You Tube. FaceBook page is Mandy Gaines Jazz.

Over the past 10 years, Mandy has released 6 CD recordings, “With a Song In My Heart”, “Taking A Chance”, “Have A Seat”, “It’s Just A Matter Of Time”, “Faith Journey”, and “Christmas This Year” all of which can be purchased/ downloaded through I-Tunes, Amazon and CDBaby.com

With the onset of Covid, Mandy had to stop her International Touring but now continues to perform locally in duo, trio, quartet settings and she has performed with The Cincinnati Pops and The Ohio Valley Symphony. She returned to Taiwan New Year’s Eve 2024 to perform with The Taichung National Big Band Orchestra and returned to Belgium and France last summer for her annual Festival Tour.

Mandy is currently Resident Vocalist with CCJO, Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and is featured on their Freshman recording project, “We Are The CCJO”.

Upcoming dates include September 2025, Cincinnati Landmark Production of Hairspray at the Incline Theatre in the role of MotorMouth Maybelle. November 2025 as Guest Vocalist in the Cincinnati Ballet Production of The Great Gatsby. January 2026, a performance with The Toledo Jazz Orchestra as Guest Vocalist for The Count Basie Tribute. March 2026 a performance with The Ohio Valley Orchestra in Gallipolis Ohio.

Mandy continues to perform locally at various venues, jazz clubs and corporate and private functions as well as traveling the world performing and recording while entertaining audiences along the way!