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Yolanda Adams

Information sourced from wikipedia.org

Yolanda Adams (born Yolanda Yvette Adams on August 27, 1961(1961-08-27)) is a American Gospel music singer and radio show host.

Early years
The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979.[1] After graduating from Texas Southern University, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas. [2][3] Eventually she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.

Musical career

Adams attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer in the Southeast Inspirational Choir. She signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.[4] In 1990, she signed to Ben Tankard's independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm.

Two years later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first signature song "The Battle Is The Lord's". Her next release was 1995's More Than A Melody, which featured production work from Ben Tankard, O'Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans. The single "Gotta Have Love," from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream notoriety and was her first single and music video. Yolanda... Live In Washington, released the following year, featured versions of material from her first two albums. The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD.

Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records and included "Only Believe" which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included "Still I Rise," a dedication to Rosa Parks which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.

Adams' first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James "Big Jim" Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans). The album went Platinum in 2000 and won her a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include Yeah", "Fragile Heart", and "Open My Heart".

In 2000, Adams released a Christmas album, and in 2001 she released a live album (The Experience). The Experience netted Adams a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe was released later in 2001, and included the hit "Never Give Up". Believe was certified Gold in 2002.

After nearly four years without releasing an album, Adams returned in 2005 with Day By Day. The album featured the singles "Be Blessed," "Someone Watching Over You," "This Too Shall Pass", and "Victory" which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel.

After ending her long association with Atlantic Records, They released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of Me in May of 2007.

Adams signed with Columbia Records in 2007. Columbia released What a Wonderful Time, a holiday collection with production including Michael Powell, and Maxx Frank in October of 2007. "Hold On" was released as a radio single.

She has stated in a few interviews that she is currently in the planning stages for a new album which is untitled at the time. Her official website states that it will be a duets project including possible collaborations with Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, Trin-I-Tee 5:7, and Mary Mary. In a recent interview with Commercial Appeal [1], Adams stated that Chaka Khan, and Shirley Caesar might be on the new project also.