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Her name is LaTasha. Born in Harlem on October 21, 1973, the oldest of six children, she grew up living and breathing great gospel and R&B music. An aunt had sung with the legendary Sam Cooke and her grandmother had performed with James Cleveland, John Sellers and with a gospel group called the "Tears of Music."So, it might be safe to say that little LaTasha had great vocal genes, but it might also be safe to say that not only did she just plain WANT to sing, but her extended family--grandmothers, godmothers, godfathers aunts and others, all had important influences on this young girl as they encouraged her by taking her along to church on a regular basis, where she would "wow" the parishioners with her amazing vocal prowess, even at age 2! By the glorious, "mature" age of five, she had learned her first song, "This Little Light of Mine," and it would be the beginning of her fame in the gospel world in Harlem, New York and eventually extend around the U.S. and Europe.LaTasha also liked to dance. By the second grade, she had won a full scholarship to the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend due to the costs of travel to and from the Ailey school. Still, the music and the rhythm thrived in her.By 5th grade, ten-year-old LaTasha was invited to go to visit the legendary Apollo by a friend who didn't tell her that she had secretly entered her in the Apollo competition for Amateur Night at the Apollo! Frightened and shy when LaTasha found out that she had been entered to audition, she was pushed out onto the stage and sang a soulful rendition of "Goin' Up Yonder."Impressed and amazed by this young voice, the judges called her back to sing once more, and this time against fifty other contestants! Not only did she win THAT competition, but she continued to win NINE competitions, until the Apollo staff finally had to say that she just couldn't compete anymore! She had simply won too many times.These early successes and appearances launched a young career in nightclubs when Apollo host Ralph Cooper took her under his wing and arranged gigs for her, along with a spot on Andy Warhol's "Fifteen Minutes" television program, at the experienced age of 11. By age 13, she had already appeared at dance clubs such as the Latin Quarter, Club World, Club Area, Danceteria and The Lime Light. Shortly after, she had moved on to concert club venues wowing audiences at spots like The Village Gate and Sweetwaters and people listened.Alongside all of the club work, LaTasha never lost her gospel roots--she joined the St. Luke A.M.E. Youth Choir of more than 200 singers under the direction of the esteemed Ms. Yvonne Clarke who watched over the teenaged LaTasha with great diligence and care. This stellar choir won the 1984 McDonald's Gospelfest, the nation's preeminent Gospel celebration, bringing joy, inspiration, encouragement and hope to millions of Americans.LaTasha also joined The Eternal Light Community Singers, and under the direction of noted choir director Selwyn Rawls, she learned how to "minister to the people" during her charismatic gospel performances, feeding and beguiling her audiences to yet another level of excitement. She listened carefully and studiously to recordings of Mahalia Jackson, The Clark Sisters, The Hawkins Family, Yolanda Adams, Richard Smallwood, The Thompson Community Singers and The Mississippi Mass Choir. Through her association with Eternal Light, she met and was befriended by superstar Luther Vandross, who encouraged and influenced her music and life further. He also said that he hoped to one day record her.After several years at the High School of Music & Art and more and more performances and solo opportunities with choirs, LaTasha soon became in demand for backup and solo work on top studio sessions and tours with distinguished artists and groups such as Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Walter & Edwin Hawkins, George Michael, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, Celine Dion, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Boys To Men, Jessica Simpson, Gerald Austin, Deborah Cox, The Trans Siberian Orchestra, Yolanda Adams,Rev. Robert Lowe and Generations, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker and many others. Grammy® award winning producers such as Lorris Holland and Tony Prendatt and Stanley Brown took notice and hired her talents. She was asked to join the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir with whom she performed frequently at B.B. King's Club for their noted Sunday Gospel Brunch and in addition, LaTasha appeared in, acted and/or sang in the off-Broadway productions of "God's At War," "Old Time Religion," "He didn't Have To," "Mama Don't," "Gospeltality," and "Arms Too Short To Box With God".She has also performed in the Broadway musicals "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and Sophisticated Ladies.With an effervescent and electrifying gift such as this, LaTasha is now working on the recording of her very own CD, to be released soon.
