Oleta Adams

American soul, gospel, & jazz singer and pianist, born May 4, 1953, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

She grew up in Yakima and spent her formal years in the church singing in the choir as well as playing the piano and directing prior to her teenage years. After rejecting a scholarship to study opera at a Lutheran university, she decided to shoot her shot into the music industry, however, she was turned down by music executive's who favored disco music at the time. Undeterred, she moved to Kansas City and after a stint of hotel residency, she would be discovered by Tears For Fears who recruited her for their 1989 album, release. The single, release features Adams on vocal duties and became a Top 40 Hit across ten territories including the U.K. and America.