TamiaI am an urban R&B singer/songwriter who released self-titled debut album in the spring of 1998. A native of Canada, i got an early start in the music industry, singing on "You Put a Move on My Heart," the first single from Quincy Jones' 1994 hit album Q's Jook Joint, when i was only a teenager. That paved the way for the release of my debut album in 1998.I was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. As a child, i took acting and singing lessons, eventually performing in a number of local choirs and theatrical presentations. I soon earned a reputation and several awards, including the YTV Vocal Achievement Award in 1993. The following year, i won the Steve Ross Music Scholarship at the American Academy of Achievement's Annual Salute to Excellence in 1994. That same year, i attended a party her manager Brenda Richie held for Luther Vandross. At that party, i met Quincy Jones, who became taken with my talent. By the end of the year,i had sung "You Put a Move on My Heart" for Jones' new album, Q's Jook Joint. The song became a Top Ten R&B hit and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance; another song on the album, a duet with Babyface entitled "Slow Jams," was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. I also sang "Missing You" with Brandy, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan on the soundtrack for the 1995 film Set It Off. "Missing You" was also nominated for a Grammy, making for a total of three nominations for me before i had even released an album.Such exposure, plus nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and the Soul Train Music Awards, made me a hot commodity in the music industry. I carefully crafted my debut album over the course of 1996 and 1997, taking time out to play a small role in Speed II: Cruise Control in 1997;I also sang "Make Tonight Beautiful" for the soundtrack. I finally released my debut album, TAMIA, in April 1998. The album boasted an impressive list of collaborators and producers, including Jermaine Dupri, Keith Crouch, Tim Kelly & Bob Robinson, Stevie J., Mario Wynans, and Quincy Jones. Two years later and newly signed to Elektra, I released my sophomore effort A Nu Day, featuring production collaborations from Missy Elliott, Dallas Austin, and Shep Crawford. The single "Stranger in My House" became a surprise Top Ten hit in 2001, and my second album for Elektra (Still) followed in 2004. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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