Yolanda Adams

Gospel vocalist Yolanda Adams was born in Houston, Texas on August 27, 1961. With nearly 10 million albums sold worldwide, Adams is known as the ‘Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music’. Her musical career started after graduating from Texas Southern University. She had already started a career as a school teacher and part-time model, but gave up the former when she decided to pursue singing. Adams was discovered when she was the featured lead singer on the 1982 single “For My Liberty” by Houston’s Southeast Inspirational Choir. She signed with the Sound of Gospel label and, in 1987, released her debut album Just As I Am. She moved over to the Tribute label for her 1991 album Through The Storm. The album was embraced by gospel and smooth jazz fans. By her third album, Save the World (1993), she had established herself as a success with songs like “The Battle is the Lord’s”. While she continued to be a popular urban and gospel star, her sixth album, Mountain High… Valley Low (1999), was her commercial breakthrough, reaching Number 1 on Billboard’s Gospel, Christian, and Heatseekers charts. The album, which featured production assistance from the likes of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Keith Thomas, won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Her 2001 album Believe earned her yet another Grammy Award. Adams successful recording career continued, even as she branched into other projects including her radio program The Yolanda Adams Morning Show. In 2011, Adams released her 11th studio album, Becoming, which featured the single “Be Still”, followed three years later by Sunny Days (2024).