Raison D’Etre, a women’s trio from Northern Kentucky, embraces tight vocal stylings arranged either a cappella or with sparse guitar, keyboard, and percussion accompaniment. The group is made up of Vickie Ellis and sisters Violet Rae Downey and Roberta Schultz.
Raison D’Etre’s eclectic vocal arrangements often span centuries in a single set. The repertoire ranges from medieval tunes to 18th-century traditional pioneer ballads to Shaker hymns. The three singers are also right at home in the modern, often incorporating into their programs swing tunes such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”; songs by such contemporary artists as Joni Mitchell, Karla Bonoff, and Bruce Cockburn; and their own original compositions.
Over the past 10 years, Raison D’Etre has performed throughout the Cincinnati and tri-state area in a wide variety of venues. The group is now available to tour through the Kentucky Arts Council’s Performing Arts On Tour Program.
