Yolanda Adams (born Yolanda Yvette Adams on August 27, 1961) is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Gospel music singer and radio show host. As of September 2009, she had sold 4.5 million albums since 1991 in the United States, according to SoundScan.

On December 11, 2009 Billboard Magazine named her the #1 Gospel Artist of the last decade. In the same chart, her album “Mountain High…Valley Low” was acknowledged as the best gospel album.

The oldest of six siblings, Adams was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Sterling High School in Houston in 1979. After graduating from Texas Southern University, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston, Texas.^[5][6] Eventually she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.

Adams first attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer with Houston’s Southeast Inspirational Choir affiliated with the Church of God in Christ, under the direction of Carl Preacher, Brenda Waters, and Shirley Joiner. The choir released the single in 1982 “For My Liberty” with Adams as the featured vocalist. In 1986, Adams was featured on the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Choir release “Give Us Peace”, with a performance titled “My Trust Lies In You”. Later, she signed a recording contract with Sound of Gospel which yielded her first album Just As I Am in 1987.^[7] In 1990, she was discovered by producer/keyboardist Ben Tankard, signed to his independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm. Tankard’s goal with Tribute Records during this time was to develop an audience for a smoother gospel/jazz sound. He featured Yolanda’s jazzy vocals on his album and concept video single ” You Bring Out The Best In Me ” on his 1994 release ” Play Me In Your Key “. The collaboration received positive response from gospel,jazz and “quiet storm” formats.

One year later, Adams followed with Save the World, which included her first signature song “The Battle Is The Lord’s”. Her next release was 1995′s More Than A Melody, which featured more production work from Tankard with contributions from O’Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans. The single “Gotta Have Love,” from that album featuring Tony Terry on background vocals, gained mainstream notoriety and was her first single and music video. Yolanda… Live In Washington, released the following year, featured versions of material from her first three albums. The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD and CD. During this time Tribute Records’ parent company Diadem Music Group, merged with Benson Music Group which was eventually bought by New York based Zomba/Verity Records.

Mainstream breakthrough

Songs from the Heart was her final release for Verity Records and included “Only Believe” which was popular songs on contemporary radio. The album also included “Still I Rise,” a dedication to Rosa Parks which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.

Adams’ first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High… Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records. Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James “Big Jim” Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans). The album went 2X Platinum in 2000 and won her a Grammy Award. Notable singles from the album include Yeah“, “Fragile Heart”, and “Open My Heart“. “Fragile Heart”, was dedicated to the memory of Adams’ long time road manager who died in 1998.

In 2000, Adams released a Christmas album, and in 2001 she released a live album (The Experience). The Experience netted Adams a second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Believe, which included the hit “Never Give Up” was released in 2001 and reached gold status according to the RIAA. She would later go on to perform this song at “The Salute to Gospel Music” at the White House during President George W. Bush‘s administration. In 2001, Adams also released a compilation CD entitled The Divas Of Gospel; it included the legendary Grammy Award Winner Albertina Walker, who is considered the “queen of gospel music.”

Adams recorded a song for the 2003 film, Honey titled “I Believe” that played during the last scene in the final dance.

Adams was also a judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists’ careers.

Day by Day

After nearly four years without releasing an album, Adams returned in 2005 with Day By Day. Although charting higher than Mountain High…Valley Low on the Billboard 100 and Billboard R&B Albums chart, it did not receive RIAA certification. The album featured the singles “Be Blessed,” “Someone Watching Over You,” “This Too Shall Pass“, and “Victory” (which was prominently featured in the movie The Gospel).

After ending her long association with Atlantic Records, Atlantic released a greatest hits collection entitled The Best of Me in May 2007.

Adams signed with Columbia Records in 2007. Columbia released What a Wonderful Time, her second holiday collection, in October 2007. “Hold On” was released as the lead single.

Morning Radio Show and Book Release

After the release of “What a Wonderful Time”, Adams embarked on the radio market with her “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show.” The show proved to be a huge success, taking over 26 markets in just two years. Currently, the show is heard in 39 markets.

On December 25, 2009, Adams performed on BET‘s The Mo’Nique Show, where she sang “Already Alright,” from her 1999 Mountain High…Valley Low album. Mo’Nique stated that the song is one of her favorites.

In 2010, Adams released her first book, “Points of Power.” The book is based on one of the segments of her radio show under the same title.

Yolanda Adams appeared on the 2011 BET Honors to sing her signature song “The Battle Is the Lord’s” in honor of Cicely Tyson. Later, she appeared at the 53rd Grammy Awards where she took part in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, along withJennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, and Martina McBride. Adams performed Spirit in the Dark – Franklin’s classic from 1970. On several occasions, Franklin stated that she “especially loved” Yolanda’s performance.^[10][11] On May 29, 2011, Yolanda sang at the prestigious National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC to honor the U.S. soldiers.

Becoming

Adams’ eleventh studio album, highly anticipated “Becoming” was released on 3 May 2011. The new single, “Be Still” debuted on Tuesday, 19 April on the Yolanda Adams Morning show. Becoming was released by Walmart as an exclusive deals.

 

“Open My Heart”

[Verse 1]
Alone in a room
It’s just me and you
I feel so lost
‘Cause I don’t know what to do
Now what if I choose the wrong thing to do
I’m so afraid, afraid of disappointing you

[Chorus]
So I need to talk to you
And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my world is so cloudy
Guide me until I’m sure
I open up my heart

[Verse 2]
My hopes and dreams
Are fading fast
I’m all burned out
And I don’t think my strenghts gonna last
So I’m crying out
Crying out to you
Lord I know that you’re the only one
Who is able to pull me through

[Chorus]
So I need to talk to you
And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my life is so cloudy
Guide me until I’m sure
I open up my heart

[Bridge]
So show me how
To do things your way
Don’t let me make the same mistakes
Over and over again
Your will be done
And I’ll be the one
To make sure the it’s carried out
And in me, I don’t want any doubt
That’s why…

[Chorus]
I need to talk to you
And ask you for your guidance
Especially today
When my life is a little bit cloudy
Guide me until I’m sure
I open up my heart

[Chorus 2]
All I need to do
Is hear a single word from you
I open up my heart
Just one word could make
A difference in what I do Lord
I open my heart to you

You’re the lover of my soul
Captain of my sea
I need a word from you
That’s why I open up my heart