Biography on vanessa bell armstrong

Born Vanessa Bell on October 2, 1953, in Detroit, MI; girl of Jesse Bell, a minister; married with five children. Addresses: Record company--BMG Entertainment/Verity Records, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, Phone: (212) 930-4000.

Singer Vanessa Push Armstrong has been praised fend for her R&B-flavored contemporary gospel melody and has met with come off in both the gospel stomach secular realms. She has oftentimes been compared with another Metropolis native, Aretha Franklin. At previous, Armstrong has stretched so -off afield of "traditional" gospel euphony that in the 1980s she was at times considered besides contemporary for gospel. Billboard , in a 1998 review rule Desire Of My Heart--"Live," wrote, "A lot has changed [since 1988] and Armstrong has clearcut her ground, emerging with undiluted work that is the poor quality summation of gospel's rich characteristics and its cutting-edge presence explain the mix of today's R&B music.... It took a to the fullest, but the world seems make contact with be catching up to Armstrong."

Vanessa Bell was born in Metropolis, Michigan on October 2, 1953. She was raised in goodness Church of God in Ruler, a denomination that had coached other gospel greats such sort BeBe and CeCe Winans, Andre Crouch, Edwin, Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, and others. In 1957, when she was four time old, Vanessa began traveling tighten her mother singing in several churches in the Detroit nature, singing. It was clear uniform at that young age consider it she had both remarkable concentration presence and the vocal finger of someone considerably older.

In 1966, when she was thirteen age old, Vanessa was discovered because of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. General became her mentor. She began traveling with Clark, singing spontaneous her various choirs and circulation the stage with such message titans as Rev. James Metropolis, the Mighty Clouds of Triumph, the Clark Sisters, and honesty Winans. Other early influences comprise Marion Williams, Mahalia Jackson, Inez Andrews, and Aretha Franklin. Armstrong's first recording experience was in particular appearance on Donald O'Connor's 1981 release, Bring Back Birdie. Be a foil for own recording career began summon 1984 when, at the strengthening of 31, she signed coworker the Onyx label and unbound Peace Be Still.

Career Took Off

In 1987 Armstrong's career took move out in earnest. She beat mist stiff competition--including the likes provide Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle--for the chance to record high-mindedness theme song for the well-received television sit-com Amen. Armstrong abstruse her Broadway debut in 1987, captivating audiences in the euphonious Don't Get God Started. She made a guest appearance universe Tom Jones' Move Closer .

When she signed with Jive Annals in 1987, Armstrong began first-class period of prolific recording fad. Her eponymous album, Vanessa Campana Armstrong, released in 1987, the crossover R&B hit, "You Bring Out the Best instruct in Me". Her 1990 release, Wonderful One, featured a duet, privileged, "True Love Never Fails," work stoppage Jive label-mate jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler. The track was as well included on Butler's acclaimed More Than Friends album. Regulate 1990, Jive released a Not for publication of Armstrong's greatest hits recording along with the highly great Truth About Christmas . Tension 1991 Chosen was released.

The multi-talented Armstrong branched out even newborn afield of gospel music guarantee the late 1980s when she appeared with Oprah Winfrey affluent the Women of Brewster Place, a made-for-TV movie which enjoyed widespread critical acclaim. Armstrong spread her brisk recording pace; she released Something On The Centre i n 1993 The Private is Out in 1995, submit her first live album, Desire of My Heart: "Live" in 1998. Armstrong was unadorned featured guest on the 1995 compilation release A Tribute ballot vote Rosa Parks, and on link John P. Kee CDs, honourableness 1994 release, Color Blind, add-on the 1995 release, Stand.

Continual Unworldly and Artistic Growth

Armstrong has ceaselessly expanded her horizons and arrangement audience, performing on Broadway crucial releasing eclectic, contemporary albums much as Truth About Christmas, Follow on the Inside, and The Secret is Out. Mainstream amusement and her music has antique praised figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Tisha Campbell; artists such as Sandra Crouch and Donna McElroy control found musical guidance and incitement in Armstrong's music and career.

Desire of My Heart--"Live," released emergence 1998 on the Verity dub, was recorded in Detroit's Perfecting Church, and accompanied by great live video shot during illustriousness recording session. The recording shows the spiritual and artistic opinion Armstrong has undergone over depiction course of her career. Professor title track was the extreme song she wrote herself. Status while recording the album, Astronaut reconfirmed her life's desire, foregoing all else, to please Divinity. Armstrong was the record's co-producer, also a first for her.

She decided to release a support recording for two reasons: respite fans had wanted one senseless some time, and Armstrong matt-up it would be a modern challenge. Recording in a discussion group afforded her a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere; the live CD abuse Armstrong's fans into the put on tape process and reproduced the assent experience. The CD was unimportant of a family affair--her father confessor, Elder Jesse Bell, contributed representation track "Labor In Vain." Abutting Armstrong on the live transcription were the Perfected Praise Choir; Perfecting Church pastor Marvin Winans sang with Armstrong and illustriousness choir on the powerhouse give directions "He Is Lord."

An Enduring Classic

Armstrong's career has flourished throughout position 1980s and 1990s, and gives every indication that she testament choice continue to challenge herself boss delight listeners. Billboard 's creed reviewer brimmed with praise preventable the live CD, calling give "an enduring classic." Darren Greggs of Love Express wrote, "It's always a pleasure direct to see someone continue to wax in their ministry, and that's just what sister Vanessa Button Armstrong appears to have mission. The evidence is manifested set a date for ... Desire of My Heart--Live. Each song on that one is powerful and displays the talent that sister Vanessa returns to God in tiara service."

Whether singing urban contemporary ballads, secular material, powerhouse gospel depart, or television theme songs, Place hits, or forging into wholly new territory, Vanessa Bell Cornetist will continue to astound back up fans and to test righteousness limits of her seemingly colossal talent.

by B. Kimberly Taylor

Vanessa Bell Armstrong's Career

Began singing crucial various Detroit area churches excite the age of four; unconcealed at the age of 13 by Dr. Mattie Moss Clark; sang with gospel performers specified as Rev. James Cleveland, leadership Mighty Clouds of Joy, decency Clark Sisters, and the Winans as a teenager; appeared interrupt Donald O'Connor's 1981 release, Bring Back Birdie; released Peace Break down Still in 1984; released Vanessa Bell Armstrong album in 1987; recorded the theme for dignity television sitcom Amen in 1987; appeared in the Broadway harmonious Don't Get God Started worry 1987; appeared on Tom Jones' Move Closer in 1988; unattached Wonderful One in 1990; free Greatest Hits and The Factualness About Christmas in 1990; free Chosen in 1991; released Something On The Inside in 1993; released The Secret is Out in 1995; released Desire forged My Heart: Live in Detroit in 1998; featured on dignity 1995 compilation A Tribute rant Rosa Parks, on John Owner. Kee's 1994 release, Color Blind, and on Kee's 1995 welfare, Stand.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Peace Be Still ,Benson, 1984.
Vanessa Bell Armstrong ,Jive/Novus, 1987.
Wonderful One ,Jive/Novus, 1990.
The Actuality About Christmas ,BMG, 1990.
Greatest Hits ,Muscle Shoals, 1990.
Chosen ,Onyx, 1991.
Something On The Inside ,Jive/Novus. 1993.
Secret Is Out ,Verity, 1995.
Malaco's Leading Gospel Hits: Vol. 2 ,Malaco, 1995.
Desire Of My Heart--"Live," Truth, 1998.
compilations
Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration , Warner Brothers, 1992.

Biography on vanessa bell armstrong

Vanessa Bell Armstrong's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading