Yetunde - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I am what you get when you cross an artist and a soldier.Talented? Yes. Able to shoot a can off of a fence at forty paces? Yes, that too.I grew up in a house where music was ALWAYS playing. My mother, who grew up in Sierra Leone, introduced me to King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela when I was in diapers. My father, a native of St. Louis, taught me how to whistle to Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers and Billy Preston.Both parents could sing, as could my older sister. And as in most families, each sibling was given a clear role; my sister was the singer, and I was the writer.So for years, I stuck to that - until I started college at Marquette University.There, I met Rev. Barry Ward - who was starting a gospel choir at the school. And from that point on, my future always involved music.While at MU, I met and became good friends with a young man named Adi. Unbeknownst to either one of us, we would be doing music together.Rev. Ward showed me, often through brute force, that I had a voice. And after wiping away the tears and applying ice to my bruises, I saw the light.Or maybe that was just a mild concussion.But I digress.I soon studied jazz vocals at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Adekola Adedapo.In 1993, I joined a group of MCs called Growing Nation, and contributed some vocals to their tracks. After a couple of years, the group evolved into a live band - complete with a two lead vocalists (myself and Adi), a poet, an MC and background vocals.With Growing Nation, I was blessed to perform in New York, Martha's Vineyard, Chicago and Atlanta. We have opened for The Isley Brothers, Angie Stone, Charlie Wilson and Talib Kweli.I am currently working on a solo project. Working titles include:"High-Ass Medical Premiums", or "Starbucks Addiction"

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/10/2006
Band Members: Yetunde. And her mother, whenever she needs someone to play tambourine.

I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6 !

Influences: Donny Hathaway, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Prince, Sting, The Police, Van Hunt, Jill Scott, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, The Roots, Jay-Z, Tribe Called Quest, Run-DMC, Afrika Bambataa, Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti, Raphael Saadiq, John Mayer, Andre 3000, Erykah Badu, Growing Nation and Black Elephant. Also, anyone who is just all into their own heads, and only cares about making their own unique, and perfect expression.
Sounds Like: I hate being compared to other artists; it smacks of a lack of originality on behalf of the music industry. For some reason, there seems to be no room for something different - thus this ridiculous question.So, I guess you would just have to see (hear) for yourself.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Amazing! Sharon Stone eats her own foot!

So last night, while on some red carpet somewhere, surrounded by beautiful, malnourished celebrities, Sharon Stone finally distinguished herself from all of her counterparts. Although, perhaps not in ...
Posted by Yetunde on Thu, 29 May 2008 02:14:00 PST

an open letter (fictional - kinda)

Listen... I know that you've heard somewhere that I don't like children. But to the contrary, I LOVE them. You know, the way they laugh uncontrollably when tickled, their wobbly, drunken first steps. ...
Posted by Yetunde on Thu, 22 May 2008 03:13:00 PST

DOH! I meant to do that...

I had a lot of hopes for 2008. Mostly due to the awfulness of the past TWO years, the current presidential election and some other awesome opportunities that have presented themselves within the past ...
Posted by Yetunde on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:27:00 PST

2007

A good friend of mine told me once that there are three answers to every prayer: Yes, No and Wait. Up until ten years ago, I had never experienced the No or Wait. I was convinced that I was special; t...
Posted by Yetunde on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:40:00 PST

MERRY CRIMMUH!!!

Listen... I'm sick of playing that same old song, about how this season is too commercial, and standing in the middle of the mall and yelling "WHERE IS JESUS IN ALL THIS???" like I usually do around ...
Posted by Yetunde on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:12:00 PST

Ms. Johnson

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but God has a way of slapping me around sometimes. I'm not saying that I mind; quite frankly, I need it. Even in all my greatness and diva-esque qualit...
Posted by Yetunde on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:50:00 PST

August 2007 - the Biz Markie blog

Last week was almost too much for me; what with the dizzying highs and stomach wrenching lows. I came close to having one of those classic, 1950's cinema breakdowns. You know the ones. Where th...
Posted by Yetunde on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:27:00 PST

what the???

Mysteries of the Sexes Explained Provided by 4 (Harmless) Ways to Make a Man Jealous Posted by David Zinczenko on Mon, Aug 06, 2007, 10:14 pm PDT Post a Comment View all 2298 Commen...
Posted by Yetunde on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:35:00 PST

Joy & Pain

Joy & Pain, or: Growing Nation's Growing Pains. It's always hard being second fiddle. Especially when you're on first. But for some reason, it doesn't sting so bad when the first fiddle is...
Posted by Yetunde on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:24:00 PST

'Be Kind To Artists' Day

"Now keep in mind that I'm an artist. And I'm sensitive about my shit..." - Erykah Badu Okay, people. I think now's the time for me to clear some things up. First, Erykah ain't the only one. A...
Posted by Yetunde on Mon, 22 May 2006 11:58:00 PST