Yolanda Adams: Biography

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• Fred Hammond
• Tramaine Hawkins
• 4Him
• Beverly Crawford
• The Winans
• William Becton
• The Williams Sisters

• James Cleveland
• Nancy Wilson
• Stevie Wonder
• Edwin Hawkins
• Kirk Franklin
• Vickie Winans
• Sandra Crouch

• Tarralyn Ramsey
• Mary Mary
• Lakisha Jones
• Crystal Aikin
• Michelle Williams
• Bianca Ryan
• LaShell Griffin

• V. Michael McKay
• Gregory Curtis
• Ben Tankard
• Armirris Palmore
• Fred Vaughn
• Carl Preacher

Born:

Jan 1, 1964 in Houston, TX

Genres:

Gospel & Religious Music, Contemporary Christian Music, Gospel Music, Contemporary

Decades Active:

1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Another in the line of gospel artists putting the soul and fervor back in RB music, Yolanda Adams was a school teacher in Houston during the mid'80s and occasionally did modeling work. Her mother had studied music while at college, so Adams grew up listening to jazz and classical music as well as gospel artists such as James Cleveland and the Edwin Hawkins Singers and RB vocalists like Stevie Wonder and Nancy Wilson.

Yolanda Adams' debut album, Just as I Am appeared in 1988 on Sounds of Gospel. Though she was initially criticized in the Christian community for embracing secular music and fashion to accompany her gospelthemed music, the growth of publicly popular gospel in the mid'90s pushed her into the spotlight; Adams toured with Kirk Franklin the Family, and her 1996 album Yolanda Live in Washington was nominated for a Grammy. Songs from the Heart followed in 1998, and a year later she returned with Mountain High Valley Low which topped her live album by winning a Grammy. In 2000 she ventured into new territory by issuing a Christmas album, A Yolanda Adams Christmas. Experience followed a year later.

- John Bush, All Music Guide