As a little girl, Melody Diachun was never at a loss when it came time to blow out her birthday candles. While some may have faltered, overwhelmed by the possibilities, she knew exactly what she wanted most in the world--to one day become a singer.

Thanks to Diachun's talent and the support and influence of her family, her long-held desire has become a reality and she leads a successful career as a jazz musician. With Juno Award and National Jazz Award nominations to her name, the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter has a number of performances on the horizon, including three at this year's Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Born in Montreal, Que., Diachun was introduced to music at an early age, the result of her father Bill, a high school English teacher who played piano and sang in bands on the weekends.

"He was really influenced by Ray Charles and also the R&B and blues singers," Diachun says. "I remember anytime I was singing with him, if I would do something out of the ordinary, like say I would take a melody and change it a little bit--that was something that I would do when I was little even--he would respond favourably: 'Yeah, yeah! Do that! That sounds wonderful!' He really liked it when I was playing around with the melodies."

Another influence on the aspiring songstress was her godfather Don Hahn, a well-known recording engineer who worked with Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, the Count Basie Orchestra, Peter, Paul and Mary, Barbra Streisand, The Band, Chet Atkins and Dionne Warwick.

"He used to send us LPs that he recorded," Diachun says. "I remember hearing these jazz recordings when I was maybe five and six. I didn't know that it was jazz back then. I didn't categorize my music the way we do as adults. But looking back now, I really, really liked all those old jazz recordings."

Diachun started studying music at age six, when her family moved to Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. She took piano lessons and was an avid member of her schools' band programs, singing and playing electric bass and French horn.

Diachun believes her father's own interest in becoming a professional musician and decision to pursue teaching instead influenced their support.

"I think he kind of regretted maybe not following music the way he wanted to," she says. "So I guess it was easy for him to say that I should follow my dreams."

Diachun heeded their advice and enrolled in McGill University's jazz performance program. Later, she was fortunate to receive a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study with jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan in New York for 10 months.

Diachun continued to perform in Montreal, and eventually moved to Banff, Alta., for a stint at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Great for her career, the move also proved fruitful in terms of her personal life as she met her future husband Doug Stephenson, a bass and guitar player, songwriter and producer. The couple moved to Vancouver, where they've called home for the last 10 years and continue to play and write together, and perform at the weekly Sunday jazz brunch at Nu restaurant.

Diachun is working on the follow-up to her third album, EQ. She's also excited about her three engagements with the jazz festival, each at a unique venue including a free gig at North Vancouver's Capilano Suspension Bridge.

"That setting is really, really something so I'm looking forward to that," she says.

Diachun performs at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival June 28, 7:30 p.m. at Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz Club; July 2, 8 p.m. at Fairmont Pacific Rim; and July 4, 7 p.m. at Capilano Suspension Bridge at 7 p.m. Tickets and info: www.coastaljazz.ca.

emcphee@nsnews.com