Local jazz singer is hitting all the right notes

KSDK -- Denise Thimes photo album looks a little different than yours and mine, but then her voice is also a little different than ours.

"I was nine years old when I knew I could sing," Thimes remembers.

Legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry has said she ranks with the all-time greats. Considering she was hand chosen to sing for Queen Elizabeth II, it's hard to argue with him.

"That led of course, to the White House with President Bush," Thimes explains.

Her story begins like a lot of singers, a simple childhood dream.

"I wanted to be a big star. I wanted to be on the Johnny Carson show, I wanted to dance with Danny Kaye," she adds.

One out of three isn't bad and playing the White House might make up for the other two.

"When I'm done, that's when I go holy smoke, I just did the White House," Thimes says with a big smile.

She also performs all over the world.

"Germany, Italy, Thailand, Singapore. Now that's another incredible thing when people don't even know the language but they can feel what you're saying that's pretty darn incredible," she says.

Her career is also pretty darn incredible, but it hasn't been an easy road.

"I was working part-time jobs. I've done sales, I've done telemarketing, I've done everything to keep afloat," Thimes explains.

However, for the past five years, she's been able to focus on her career as a singer and impressive gigs continue to fill up her schedule.

"I've been invited back to the Embassy of Quay to do a gala that is in celebration of a young lady who is decorating the private quarters of the white house for President Obama and Michelle so hopefully it will lead to the White House again," Thimes says.

She's also heading back to Thailand, and of course, she'll be singing around St. Louis, a place she says always outranks the rest. Maybe it's because it's where she started or maybe because St. Louisans line up to see her.