Yolanda Adams

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Yolanda Adams
On the cover of her 2001 album Believe
Background information
Birth name	Yolanda Yvette Adams
Born	August 27, 1962
Origin	Houston, Texas, USA
Genre(s)	Gospel, R&B, Pop, Adult Contemporary
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1987 – present
Label(s)	Sounds Of Gospel, Benson, Tribute, Verity, Elektra, Atlantic
Website	YolandaAdams.org

Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1962 in Houston, Texas) is an American singer, with 4 Grammy Awards. She is one of the most popular gospel music artists of the contemporary period. Along with Kirk Franklin, Adams is among the artists who have achieved the greatest critical and commercial success in blending R&B styles and gospel music, an achievement which, while it initially caused criticism among the conservative Christian church, later helped gospel gain airplay in secular venues.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Early Career 3 Mountain High...Valley Low Fame 4 Back After Four Years Hiatus 5 Personal life 6 Vocal Profile 7 Discography 8 Awards 9 RIAA Certifications 10 Trivia 11 References 12 External links

[edit] Biography

Raised as the oldest of six siblings in Houston, Texas, Adams grew up in a household where she was exposed to musical influences ranging from classical to gospel to Motown. She sang throughout her teen years and continued performing on weekends. Adams graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979.^[1]

Following her graduation from college even as she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas.^[2] Inspired by her mother, she began to pursue music and garner significant attention as a lead singer. Eventually she gave up teaching in order to perform full-time.

[edit] Early Career

As a lead singer in the Southeast Inspirational Choir (including a powerful, enthusiastic turn as the lead on "My Liberty," - written by the late Carl Preacher - among others) she attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records. Sound of Gospel, signed her to a recording contract which yielded her debut album Just As I Am in 1988.^[3] Her strong, soulful voice and striking, statuesque beauty scored quickly with Gospel audiences, and the debut hit the Gospel top 10. She later signed to Ben Tankard's independent label Tribute Records in 1990 and began a string of top 10 Gospel albums that made her a staple on Gospel radio and awards shows.

[edit] Mountain High...Valley Low Fame

A decade after her arrival, Adams received her first significant attention outside the Gospel realm with her signing by Elektra Records and releasing Mountain High...Valley Low in 1999. Working with top producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary) and Keith Thomas (BeBe and CeCe Winans) made for a contemporary urban album while holding to the timeless moral and spiritual themes that Adams' core fanbase was built on.

Mountain High bore a basket of great cuts, including the up-tempo "Time to Change" and "Yeah", as well as the poignant song of loss and faith "Fragile Heart," dedicated to the memory of Yolanda's long time road manager who died in 1998.^[4] The album's biggest single came in the form of the ballad "Open My Heart" which took Urban Adult Contemporary radio by storm. This would be Adams' first ever top 5 R&B and top 40 Pop hit. "Open My Heart" stayed on the charts for over a year. It was also instrumental in winning Adams her first Grammy, a well-deserved "Best Contemporary Soul Gospel" award.

After releasing a Christmas album in 2000, Adams followed up Mountain High with a live album in 2001 simply entitled The Experience. Consisting mainly of material from Mountain High... Valley Low, the live album captured her magnetic stage performance and featured a standout cover of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." The album was enough to net yet another Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

Yolanda's next endeavor Believe, released later in 2001, was a safer, less ambitious disc that scored moderately with the single "Never Give Up," but failed to match the critical accomplishment of its predecessor. Thereafter, Adams then took a four year hiatus that included both a new baby and an unfortunate divorce. Yolanda also served as a spokesperson for the FILA Corporation's Operation Rebound program, addressing the concerns of inner city school children.

[edit] Back After Four Years Hiatus

The end of Yolanda's hiatus was perfectly timed to miss the label shuffle that resulted in Elektra Records being absorbed by Atlantic Records. Her eager comeback album Day By Day was well received and featured the singles "This Too Shall Pass" as well as "Victory". The latter was featured prominently in the movie The Gospel. Recently on Trinity Broadcasting Network's Praise the Lord, Yolanda told host Kirk Franklin that a new cd is forthcoming in 2007 along with her first clothing line.

Adams is now considered by many to be the "first lady of modern Gospel". She has fashioned an enviable career over the past 15+ years through a combination of class, grace and plain old great singing.

Adams sang the national anthem at the AFC Championship in 2007 as well as made an appearance on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition also performing the Star Spangled Banner.

Radio listeners are starting their mornings off hearing the voice of 5-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams, but she's not singing. The songstress is now breaking ground as the hostess of a morning show on Houston's Gospel KROI-FM (Praise 92.1). It is said to be the first daily nationally syndicated inspirational show in radio. The Yolanda Adams Morning Show has also launched in the following markets: Atlanta; Augusta, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; and Indianapolis.

[edit] Personal life

In 1988, Adams married Troy Mason. That marriage ended in divorce less than one year later. In 1997, Adams married former NFL player Tim Crawford. They had one daughter, Taylor Ayanna, in 2001. However, in August 2004, Adams filed for and obtained a divorce from Crawford.

[edit] Vocal Profile

This vocal profile of Yolanda Adams may contain original research or unattributed claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.

Voice

• Spinto Soprano^{[original research?]}

Highest note

• C#6 in "Holy Spirit (with Southeast Inspirational Choir)"^{[original research?]}

Lowest note

• C3 in "Never Give Up"^{[original research?]}

[edit] Discography

This list is abbreviated. For more information about her singles, albums, and videos, see Yolanda Adams discography.

• Just As I Am (1988)
• Through The Storm (1991)
• Save The World (1993)
• More Than A Melody (1995)
• Yolanda... Live In Washington (1996)
• Songs From The Heart (1998)
• Mountain High... Valley Low (1999)
• Christmas With Yolanda Adams (2000)
• The Experience (2001)
• Believe (2001)
• Day By Day (2005)
• Intimacy^[5] (TBA, 2007)

[edit] Awards

Won Four Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards

• 1992 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year - Through the Storm
• 1992 Traditional Gospel Song of the Year - Through the Storm
• 1999 Traditional Gospel Song of the Year - Is Your All on the Altar
• 2005 Special Event Cd of the Year - The Passion of Christ (song: How Many Lashes)

Won Seven NAACP Image Awards

• 2000 Outstanding Gospel Artist, Contemporary
• 2001 Outstanding Song for "Open My Heart"
• 2001 Outstanding Gospel Artist, Contemporary
• 2001 Outstanding Female Artist
• 2001 Outstanding Performance in a Variety Series or Special - Soul Train Awards
• 2002 Outstanding Gospel Artist, Contemporary
• 2006 Outstanding Gospel Artist

Won Four Grammy Awards and currently nominated for one

• 1999 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album - Mountain High, Valley Low
• 2001 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album - The Experience
• 2006 Best Gospel Song - Be Blessed from Day by Day
• 2007 Best Gospel Performance- Victory from Day by Day & Gospel Soundtrack
• 2007 Best R&B Performance Group or Duo w/Vocals (nomination - Everyday (w/Chaka Khan, Carl Thomas & Gerald Levert) from Madea's Family Reunion Soundtrack

Won One American Music Award

• 2001 Contemporary/Inspirational Artist (first to win in this category)

Won One Soul Train Music Award

• 2001 Best R&B Soul Single, Female - Open My Heart

Won Three BET Awards

• 2001 - Best Gospel Artist
• 2002 - Best Gospel Artist
• 2003 - Best Gospel Artist

[edit] RIAA Certifications

• Mountain High, Valley Low - CERTIFIED PLATINUM - September 14, 2000
• Believe - CERTIFIED GOLD - July 16, 2002
• The Best of Yolanda Adams - CERTIFIED GOLD - November 5, 2004

[edit] Trivia

• Yolanda's 2005 Yolanda Today Tour featured mainstream artists Chaka Khan and Ruben Studdard on select dates in order to attract a wider audience to a gospel concert.
• Yolanda was selected to pay tribute to Chaka Khan during a the 2006 BET Awards where Khan was to receive a Lifetime Achievement award. Yolanda performed "Sweet Thing" as well as later joining Khan, India.Arie, and Prince on "I'm Every Woman".^[6]
• She is sometimes referred to as the "Whitney Houston" of Gospel Music because of the two singers' similarly strong vocals.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Yolanda Adams at the Internet Movie Database
• Yolanda Adams at Atlantic Records
• Official Yolanda Adams Website
• Yolanda Adams Clothes Line Website - Could Be Under Construction