Bio
An in-demand New York session singer, songwriter, jingle/voiceover artist, and performer, Elana Hayden has written, recorded, produced and licensed numerous songs, jingles and voiceovers for TV, film, radio and video including spots for Showtime, HBO, the NBA, WNBA, Maury Povich, The Montel Show, and several other shows as well.
As a performer, she has appeared and/or recorded with Bernard Purdie (Aretha Franklin), Jon Herington (Steely Dan), Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), Richie Cannata (Billy Joel), Brandon TAZ Niederauer, Crispin Cioe, Shawn Pelton, Mark Rivera, Harry Chapin, Patti LaBelle, Bob Hope, Tony Orlando, The Pointer Sisters, Willie Nelson, Boomer Esiason, and many others. Most recently, Elana did a Breakfast and Morning Show jingle for The Phil Ray UK radio show, radio identification spots for M-Radio, a web station in Germany and a Christmas ID spot for the FIZZ Radio Show in Italy. In addition, she recorded a jingle for German radio that was produced by Klaus Doldinger, leader of the internationally renowned jazz-fusion band "Passport."
As a member of the group Q-Club, Elana sang lead on the release of “I’ll Be There.” She continued her work as a recording artist in the United States and Europe as the featured vocalist on Force of 2’s single “Victory is Ours” (Tommy O Records), and appeared on Teddy Kumpel’s 1994 CD, “Nome Sane” (Hooney Records). In 1997, she sang lead vocals for the group “Push” on their single for Blank Frank Records and released a cover of the ABBA song, “The Winner Takes it All.” She has enjoyed success on the Reverbnation.com charts and Broadjam.com charts, including winning the Frustrated Song of the Month Contest with her song "Why Does Bad Feel So Good," co-written with Mike Leslie.
Elana has also recorded with the bands “Stiletto” and “Phillips Head,” as well as numerous other New York-based bands. She has toured Europe with the band “Renegade,” appearing in Germany and Austria several times and sang background vocals for All About Joel (formerly Songs In The Attic) - a NY-based Billy Joel Tribute Band.
She appeared in the cast of the National Touring Company of the Off-Broadway show Beehive, and appeared in New York productions of Gym, Carrie, Starmites and Goose. Film and TV credits include 20th Century Fox’s Unfaithfully Yours, starring Nastasia Kinski, Armand Assante, and Dudley Moore, and the ABC-TV After School Special "Over the Limit," which aired on network television in the U.S.
Elana was the Director of Bach To Rock Music School in Port Washington, NY for 8 years and also found time to record and release her debut album, "Carry You Home" on Dec. 31st, 2021! She is now working on an album of jazz standards and also writing a children's book with music. Elana was featured in Wendell Hanes' book, "Making 30 Grand in 30 Seconds! Vol 4. - Singing on Major TV Commercials" and she studied at Sarah Lawrence College – Liberal Arts, Music Theatre and C.W. Post College (Long Island University) – BFA in Musical Theatre.
A native New Yorker, Elana recently relocated from the Big Apple to Big Sky Country and now splits her time between New York and Montana. She is thrilled to be performing live in fabulous venues with seasoned musicians around her new stomping ground both as a solo artist and in her band, “Elana Hayden & The Sugar Daddies.” She loves bringing her passion for music and love of jazz and the Great American Songbook to audiences of all ages! Her goal is to engage, educate, empower, enlighten, entertain, and enrich lives - through music!