Yolanda Adams, Donald Lawrence, and Marvin Sapp

Prior to belting her soaring vocals on stages across the world, Adams graduated from Texas Southern University and worked as a school teacher and part-time model. Later, during her time with Houston’s Southeast Inspirational Choir, she was the featured vocalist on the singles “For My Liberty” and “My Trust Lies In You”, which caught the attention of Thomas Whitfield of South and Gospel Records. Having signed with the label, Adams released her debut album “Just As I Am” in 1987, after which she moved to producer Ben Tankard’s indie label Tribute Records, releasing the album “Through the Storm”. Tankard’s vision for Adams was for her to hone a unique gospel/jazz style and sound, which was apparent on his 1994 video single “You Bring Out the Best In Me” on which she featured.

In 1993 Adams released the album “Save the World” led by the single “The Battle Is The Lord’s”. Aided by the subsequent singles “Let Us Worship Him” and “This Joy”, the album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums. The record introduced the singer’s soulful gospel to a national audience as did its successor “More Than a Melody” in 1995. Featuring contributions from O‘Landa Draper and BeBe Winans, the singer supported the record with a national tour, which resulted in the live album “Yolanda…Live In Washington” in 1996.

Led by the single “Only Believe” Adams released her sixth studio album “Songs from the Heart” in 1998, after which she moved to Elektra Records and enjoyed her most successful period to date. “Mountain High… Valley Low” was issued in September 1999 and spawned the popular gospel/R&B numbers “Open My Heart”, “Yeah”, and “Fragile Heart”. Peaking at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and topping the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart, the album went on to win the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

Adams’ first Christmas album “Christmas with Yolanda Adams” arrived in 2002, followed by her eighth studio album “The Experience” in 2001, which also earned the singer a Grammy for Best Contemporary Gospel Album. Led by the hit single “Never Give Up”, the full-length “Believe” was issued by Elektra Records in September 2001, after which she performed at the White House for George W. Bush. Following a four year break Adams returned to released “Day by Day” in 2005, “What a Wonderful Time” in 2007, and “Becoming” in 2011.

Sapp was born in Grand Rapids in Michigan, USA on 28 January 1967. He spent his childhood and teen years singing with at church with various gospel groups. In 1991 he was asked to sing with the gospel group Commissioned. He sung with the group until 1996 and appeared on three of their albums, which were called ‘Number 7’,’ Matters of the Heart’, and ‘Irreplaceable Love’. After he quit the group, he decided to establish himself as a solo artist of contemporary gospel music.

As of 2014 he has recorded seven studio albums and achieved enormous success in his genre. Whilst his music is Christian at its core, and he sings songs of worship, his music also contains crossovers with R&B and Hip Hop. His 2007 hit ‘Never Would Have Made It’ earned him his first dose of real fame as the song was a crossover of the genres. It peaked at number 14 on the R&B/ Hip Hop US chart and at number one on the US Gospel chart. The song featured on his 2007 album ‘Thirsty’ which sold over half a million copies during the time of its release, making it his best-selling album ever.

Sapp has won several awards, most notably his seven Gospel Stellar Awards and two BET Awards.