- YahZarah
Dana Williams, known by her stage name, YahZarah (pronounced "yah-zah-rah"), is an American R&B/
neo soul singer fromWashington, D.C. Harrington, Richard. "Marcus Johnson's Three Keys to Success", "The Washington Post ", 2003-12-12, p. T06.]Growing up in
Durham, North Carolina ,Tullis, Eric. " [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A262048 Purple St. James (Yahzarah)'s The Prelude] ", "Independent Weekly ", 2008-08-06. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.] YahZarah (whose name loosely means "Queen Mother is the brightest star", a tribute to her deceased grandmother fromGhana )Fact|date=September 2008 was greatly influenced as a child by artists likeTina Turner , Prince,Chaka Khan , George Clinton, andMinnie Riperton , as well as the music of the church. She studied music at theDuke Ellington School of the Arts and attendedNorth Carolina Central University on a full scholarship in the jazz program. [Greenlee, Cynthia R. " [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A15909 Double shot of soul: The debut record by Neo-Soul artist YahZarah is also the first release for local R&B label Keo Music] ", "Independent Weekly ", 2001-05-16. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.] Her break into the industry was singing back-up vocals forErykah Badu , on the "Mama's Gun" album and tour.Later, Williams took on the YahZarah moniker and went solo. She released two albums, "Hear Me" and "Blackstar". [" [http://2008.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/70473.html YahZarah Performing as Purple St. James] ",
South by Southwest , 2008. Retrieved on 2008-09-29.] Her music video "Wishing" was shown onBET . [" [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-609445941.html YahZarah makes her debut with the album Blackstar] ", "Chicago Defender ", 2003-11-26.] "Blackstar" reached number 44 on "Billboard"'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=333&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Albums&ci=3052095&cdi=8088410&cid=12%2F27%2F2003 "Blackstar" (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart)] , "Billboard",December 27 2003 .] As a performer, YahZarah has shared the stage with artists includingStevie Wonder andAnita Baker ,Fact|date=September 2008 and has opened shows for others, includingEarth, Wind & Fire ,Musiq Soulchild ,Floetry ,Rahsaan Patterson , andR. Kelly .Fact|date=September 2008A classically trained vocalist, YahZarah is also noted for her ability to sing in the
whistle register ,Fact|date=September 2008 displayed on tracks such as "Baby" (from the "Blackstar" album) and a rendition of "My Funny Valentine " on jazz pianistMarcus Johnson 's "In Person - Live at Blues Alley" LP.YahZarah is also featured on the album "Connected" by
The Foreign Exchange and theLittle Brother album "The Minstrel Show ".Re-introducing herself by the new stage name Purple St. James, she released an eight-song EP, "The Prelude", in September 2008.
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