“My success began at an early age. I would waltz into the living room and start singing whatever song I had just heard over the radio. At about nine years of age, I happened upon a talent contest being sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department of Detroit, and decided to enter on a whim. I sang a Motown selection and wowed the crowd – the judges voted me the winner! From that moment on I knew that I wanted to sing. As a teen I had access to lots of records – my step-father was a popular Detroit DJ- and had literally every R&B, Soul, and Jazz record available. After school, against his wishes, I would regularly go through his collection and play all the latest songs on his hi-tech stereo system. I would mimic the artists voices, close my eyes and imagine myself onstage. Some days I was Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson or Sarah Vaughn, while other days I was Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, or Chaka Kahn.
I continued my musical education throughout high school, performing as a member of an all – female singing group. On our first gig, we sung three songs at a local night club (even though we were under age at the time). After the gig I was approached by the leader of a band who was also scheduled to play that day. He asked me if I wanted to be their singer. I said yes and I ended up performing with this band for the next several years. We were one of the top bands in the city at the time and performed every weekend at dances, concerts, and more.
I honed my writing talents while pursuing a degree in journalism at Wayne State University. This balance of music and writing skills has revealed itself as a match made in heaven, as I believe that having something to say while singing is just as important as hitting all the right notes. Singing other people’s songs was never enough; I needed the freedom to showcase not only the voice resonating from my chest, but also the voice inside my head. Reflective songs about the dimensions of human relationships, commentaries of social issues affecting our society today, and songs about love are the topics most dear and close to my heart. I took those themes to “heart” (no pun intended) with the release of my debut solo album, “Love Is”, tackling many different kinds of love – agape, familial, friendship, partner or spouse relationships – from a lot of different angles. I saw international success with that record on Expansion Records, charting the Neo-Soul charts in England. I’m just happy I was able to communicate something it seemed like people needed to be expressed. I work to embody, both in life and in song, the change I want to see.
Today, I continue to record and perform my music, and am constantly widening my horizons as a writer. Charles & I have new music we’ve been working on that I’m excited to release. I am also the founder of One Step Ahead, a non-profit organization committed to helping young people find scholarships to college, am a certified personal trainer, and have started my own health and wellness company, Health Options, dedicated to providing alternatives to sickness and over-medication through fitness and proper nutrition.”