Vanessa Rubin was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, grew up in a musical household to parents from Trinidad and Louisiana. After achieving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Ohio State University.

She received a standing ovation for her performance of “God Bless the Child” while competing in the Miss Black Central Ohio Contest, which convinced her that her true calling was to sing in the jazz tradition.

This Billie Holiday masterpiece has since become her ”official” theme song. Ms. Rubin returned to Cleveland, where she began singing in many of the city's clubs and hotels and performing with the best of the city's musicians.

She also formed and managed her first group, consisting of organ, guitar, vibes and drums. Soon after she moved to New York City in 1982, Ms. Rubin performed at Sweet Basil and the Village Vanguard with the Pharoah Sanders Quartet.

She then began to study with pianist Barry Harris at his Jazz Cultural Theatre. Since that time she has worked with an impressive list of musicians including Kenny Barron, Lionel Hampton, the Mercer Ellington Orchestra, Cecil Bridgewater, Etta Jones, Toots Thielemans, Steve Turre, Cedar Walton, and Grover Washington, Jr.

More recently she has completed international tours with Herbie Hancock, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Jazz Crusaders.