Legendary gospel singer Yolanda Adams
There is something inherently comforting and “rehabilitating” about gospel music. Its growing popularity is attributable to early period influences, evolving towards a clever blend of white and black gospel songs and the subtle and not so subtle variants of this genre.
No one will argue the fact that gospel singers will ride the waves higher and will fly to the top of the charts if they continue to touch the hearts of music lovers who follow gospel music with a certain degree of reverence.Yolanda Adams is on a roll. She’s been described as a consummate gospel artist. And with good reason. If growing up in a house full of music is a sure ticket to musical success, then Ms. Adams fits that description to a “T.” Her mother was a student of music – imagine the exposure that young Yolanda received all those years!
The church also played a meaningful role in the singer’s life. She combined her talent and spiritual calling by taking on the lead of the Southeast Inspirational Choir. It was soon afterwards that she waxed her first Gospel record, leading her to many more for Tribute Records.
Yolanda’s Career takes off
The next journey for Yolanda. Adams was with Elektra Records – certainly not a bit player in the recording industry. Stellar Awards and the Grammy nominations sealed her fate. She continued into the secular market, without deviating from the core of her inner being.
Like most human beings who need a break, hers came. She was on hiatus for close to four years, but was again back on her feet with Atlantic. That was in 2005. Before singing for Atlantic, she devoted her energies to the Voice of an Angel Foundation, an organization she promoted to further the career aspirations of high school students in the field of education. She also pushed for low-income family kids to get immunizations, and this was while she worked for the US Department of Human Resources.
Who would have thought that “Just as I Am” would steer her into full stardom? That was her first recording. The 2000 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Album went to “Mountain High, Valley Low” soon followed which Yolanda Adams recorded for Elektra.
The flames of inspiration did not ebb away. Yolanda. Adams went on to win a top 10 R&B citation for “Open My Heart”, earned a second Grammy for “The Experience”, and received the Image Award as Outstanding Gospel Artist not once, not twice, but THRICE (2000, 2001 and 2002)…