Oleta Adams Bio
Being the daughter of a minister, it's no surprise that Oleta
Adams' roots are in gospel, as she often performed in her father's
church. But her formal introduction to the masses began rather
unexpectedly. While performing in a Kansas City hotel, Oleta Adams was
discovered by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears, and she
was invited to participate in the recording of the British band's
follow-up to the immensely popular 1985 album Songs From the Big Chair.
When Tears for Fears unleashed the long-awaited The Seeds of Love in
1989, listeners were taken aback by the soulful female voice that was
prominently featured on the album. Her vocal contributions to The Seeds
of Love helped it generate generally positive reviews. In 1990, Tears
for Fears' Roland Orzabal and Seeds of Love producer Dave Bascombe
produced Oleta Adams' debut release, Circle of One. One of the album's
standout tracks was a stunningly performed rendition of "Get Here,"
written and originally performed by Brenda Russell. Whereas Russell's
version was a bit on the cutesy side, Adams virtually reinvented the
song as an aching, gospel-tinged ballad. "Get Here" soared into the Top
Ten, and the single's success helped Circle of One achieve gold status.
When Oleta Adams' second album, Evolution, was released in 1993, she
inched closer toward the adult contemporary ballad schlock that has
plagued such gifted vocalists as Anita Baker. Despite ample production
from Stewart Levine (Patti LaBelle, Simply Red) and Oleta Adams' vocal
prowess, generally weak material marred the album, though it included a
stirring version of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." 1995's
Movin' On attempted a more R&B approach, but too much outside input
made it a disjointed affair. The album boasted credits from producers,
including Vassal Benford (Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton), Michael J.
Powell (Anita Baker, James Ingram), and Alan Rich and Jud J. Friedman
(Whitney Houston), but again the songs were weak, and the slick
production undermined the raw intensity of Adams' always glorious
vocals. The religious album Come Walk With Me followed in 1995, and she
returned to R&B with 2001's All the Love. ~ William Cooper, All
Music Guide
Written by William Cooper
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