EBONY MAN (March 1996) pg.8
"EM Up Front: Tamia"
Tamia is putting a move on music lovers with her sensational
sound and sultry good looks.
The 19-year-old beauty is tiding the music charts with her debut
single "You Put A Move On My Heart" on Quincy Jones' hit album,
Q's Jook Joint.
Tamia, who hails from Windsor Ontario, Canada, met Jones in 1994
at a party for Luther Vandross. The party was hosted by her
manager, Brenda Richie, ex-wife of superstar Lionel Richie.
A few months after the party Jones called Tamia's manager and
told her he had a song he wanted Tamia to record for his new
album. Jones mailed Tamia a demo tape, and Tamia went into the
studio with Jones to record the song.
"I was really thinking, "This is Quincy Jones, and I'm going to
sing it the way I think he wants the song done,'" Tamia says.
But Jones, whose current album includes the likes of Stevie
Wonder, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson and Chaka Khan, told Tamia to
sing the song her way.
"How do you hear it?" Tamia says Jones would ask. "I want you to
sing it like you hear it. Just be yourself. Imagine you are just
so in love with someone that they put this incredible move on
your heart," she recalls Jones telling her.
As the song continues to race up the charts, Tamia realizes that
Jones' information was tight. She performed the song her way.
"That's why it was good. That was Tamia. All the things were
right; the lights, the music, the song," she enthuses. Tamia
adds, "It's a great honor to have Quincy Jones even acknowledge
you as an artist. I'm feeling very blessed, and I'm just trying
to take it day by day."
The talented songstress learned to develop her voice by singing
in church at age 6. The first song she sang was "Move On Up The
Mountain." As time went on, she began to sing the Winans'
contemporary gospel tune, "Tomorrow."
Tamia has taken voice, acting and singing lessons since age 10.
She has performed in numerous local theater and choral
productions. She also won Canada's prestigious YTV Vocal
Achievement Award in 1993.
Her biggest musical influence is gospel vocalist CeCe Winans. She
recalls how she recently had a chance to meet CeCe Winans, but
was too shy to introduce herself. "I've met quite a few people,
and I'm not shy. But I couldn't say anything when I saw CeCe."
She had attended a performance by Winans' brothers, The Winans.
"I was standing near her, and I was going to say something but I
couldn't," Tamia laughs. She looks forward to meeting her idol.
Looking ahead, the gifted Tamia is working on her debut album.
Jones will serve as executive producer, and produce some of the
songs.
Hit-making songwriters and producers Babyface and Rod Temperton
are among those who will contribute tunes for the album, which is
slated for release in May.
The album should touch the hearts of many listeners. "It's going
to show both sides of me. I love ballads. So there will be some
ballads on it and some hip-hop and a little funk."
(
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/lounge) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip)